Silly Season 2020

Joe Gibbs' driver lineup for 2020...?

Busch, Truex, Jones, Bell...?
Busch, Truex, Hamlin, Bell...?
Busch, Truex, Hamlin, Jones...?

Lots of possibilities here. Who is more "family" between Hambone, that Jones Boy, and Bell?

Also the possibility of Jones, Hamlin, or Bell driving for Leavine Family (which may expend to two cars, or may stay at one).
 
LewTheShoe said:
Joe Gibbs' driver lineup for 2020...?

Busch, Truex, Jones, Bell...?
Busch, Truex, Hamlin, Bell...?
Busch, Truex, Hamlin, Jones...?

Lots of possibilities here. Who is more "family" between Hambone, that Jones Boy, and Bell?

Also the possibility of Jones, Hamlin, or Bell driving for Leavine Family (which may expend to two cars, or may stay at one).
Click to expand...

Or Bell going elsewhere.
 
LewTheShoe said:
Joe Gibbs' driver lineup for 2020...?

Busch, Truex, Jones, Bell...?
Busch, Truex, Hamlin, Bell...?
Busch, Truex, Hamlin, Jones...?

Lots of possibilities here. Who is more "family" between Hambone, that Jones Boy, and Bell?

Also the possibility of Jones, Hamlin, or Bell driving for Leavine Family (which may expend to two cars, or may stay at one).
Click to expand...


Be real the question is who has the most money between Jones, Hamelin and Bell and that will answer who will be driving for Gibbs in 2020. Sad but true how the sport is now
 
I am also of the opinion LFR will expand and be incorporated more - it sounded like they wanted to this year and even came pretty darn close. I agree Jones has underwhelmed but it’s too early to write him off. And running with LFR will be easier to transition to Cup with for Bell, with more manageable expectations while also being exposed to a big-time Cup operation.
 
Can't see Bell at LFR unless they cough up a ton of guaranteed TRD support money. And / or unless they dump one of the Gibbers. So the fate of the Jones Boy's renewal or not will be pretty telling. Leavine Family has an average finish of mid 20's this year and that hasn't mattered if they ran Matt D, or Regan Smith, or McDowell, or Kahne. Bell would be crazy to go there.
 
You say Toyota needs more teams and they want to have more cars. And LFR would be a good place to expand also.

I am getting older but if my memory doesn't fall me. I think maybe there was once a 78 & 77 Toyota team with a strong owner and team in place. I think I am remembering correctly. I mean I am just a common race fan and who am I to question the wisdom of mighty Toyota. Who would have thought that this western team would have been good for expansion and a place to put all their drivers that Toyota has spent so much money on developing.
But like I said maybe my mind is playing tricks and there never was such a team in a far away place.
 
I'm sure everyone has heard about the hot rumor of Chastain replacing Kurt in the 1 car...but if you haven't that's been going around for a while...I'd take it with a grain of salt though.
 
StandOnIt said:
Can't see Bell at LFR unless they cough up a ton of guaranteed TRD support money. And / or unless they dump one of the Gibbers. So the fate of the Jones Boy's renewal or not will be pretty telling. Leavine Family has an average finish of mid 20's this year and that hasn't mattered if they ran Matt D, or Regan Smith, or McDowell, or Kahne. Bell would be crazy to go there.
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Nobody is going anywhere. LFR has already vastly improved, and there is more to come. TRD has the capacity for eight teams. I think by the time we are worrying about where Bell will go, there will be options beyond the mothership and LFR. Stay tuned.
 
Revman said:
Nobody is going anywhere. LFR has already vastly improved, and there is more to come. TRD has the capacity for eight teams. I think by the time we are worrying about where Bell will go, there will be options beyond the mothership and LFR. Stay tuned.
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Hmmm interesting....CGR?....Do you know something we don't? Lol
 
nitetrain said:
You say Toyota needs more teams and they want to have more cars. And LFR would be a good place to expand also.

I am getting older but if my memory doesn't fall me. I think maybe there was once a 78 & 77 Toyota team with a strong owner and team in place. I think I am remembering correctly. I mean I am just a common race fan and who am I to question the wisdom of mighty Toyota. Who would have thought that this western team would have been good for expansion and a place to put all their drivers that Toyota has spent so much money on developing.
But like I said maybe my mind is playing tricks and there never was such a team in a far away place.
Click to expand...

Team was funded out of the pocket of a furniture salesman, and he got tired of doing it. The two car year and associated expansion was courtesy of Toyota. A few here like to tell the tale of JGR running the furniture guy out of the sport, but cannot provide any true evidence, yet it is good drama. In fact, furniture guy said himself, that JGR's asking price was not an issue. Cute post BTW.
 
Revman said:
Nobody is going anywhere. LFR has already vastly improved, and there is more to come.
Click to expand...
Vastly improved? Leavine Family has an average finish of mid 20's this year and that hasn't mattered for years if they ran Matt D, or Regan Smith, or McDowell, or Kahne who were all mid 20's. Bell would be crazy to go there.
 
StandOnIt said:
Vastly improved? Leavine Family has an average finish of mid 20's this year and that hasn't mattered for years if they ran Matt D, or Regan Smith, or McDowell, or Kahne who were all mid 20's. Bell would be crazy to go there.
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Eh, you have to look a little deeper, and understand that this has always been a transition year. They have a ton more speed, but aren't in a place to turn that speed into finishes. They are building an infrastructure to house TRD development drivers. LFR is not ready for a talent like Bell, but I promise you, when the time comes, they will be....or there might be other alternatives.
 
Fordracing7 said:
Hmmm interesting....CGR?....Do you know something we don't? Lol
Click to expand...

When LFR signed, David Wilson made it pretty clear that five cars was not enough....and there is room......
 
Revman said:
When LFR signed, David Wilson made it pretty clear that five cars was not enough....and there is room......
Click to expand...

Too much extra work "sigh", Sure Dave O ;) I bet other racing teams would find a car, in fact all it takes is a motor for one team and it is a fellow Yoter. .
Team owner Bob Leavine said last year he planned to ask Toyota for an engine to be able to run Bell occasionally.
“That’s for them to decide,” Leavine said. “We’re just going to be available if they want to do it to put it all together and make it all work.

David Wilson, president of Toyota Racing Development, told NBC Sports last weekend at Texas Motor Speedway, that “for the moment there is no plan, there’s no consideration to put Christopher in one of those (Cup) cars (this year).”

Wilson cited the extra work needed to put a car together for Bell this season but also added that “you never say never.”

https://nascar.nbcsports.com/2019/0...g-through-an-extension-with-joe-gibbs-racing/
 
FLRacingFan said:
Bell honored by the chatter but likes it where he is
https://racer.com/2019/04/05/bell-honored-by-the-chatter-but-likes-it-where-he-is/
Click to expand...

This really doesn't surprise me in Bell be comfortable where he is. He's always up front being able to win races and the Xfinity cars suit him more IMO. Him coming to Cup will not be an issue, but I think he will have similar issues to Larson with this year's aero package. A lot more off throttle time Xfinity compared to the Cup series and if Bell is cool and Gibbs is cool, there is really no reason to push him.

LFR would be a great spot, if he decides and gets the needed sponsorship for the next level.
 
Jones isnt doing anything just like suarez didnt do anything and bell wont either. Gibbs cars make anyone look good in xfinity, even no name drivers are way up near the front in those cars. Look at hornish i know hes a big name, but he sucked in penske in cup. But put him in a gibbs xfinty car and what happens? He lead every lap and won his first race
 
AuzGrams said:
Bell should take the first top tier ride he can get if a 2nd LFR car isn't funded by Toyota and JGR support
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Why leave a good situation though? I think Bell is there to stay and Toyota really likes him. I doubt he leaves the fold, not unless Tony Stewart or Jeff Gordon gets into the mix. Then that maybe problems for JGR and Toyota.
 
AuzGrams said:
Bell should take the first top tier ride he can get if a 2nd LFR car isn't funded by Toyota and JGR support
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He is sitting in the cat bird seat and he knows it. Toyota or anybody else for that matter can't keep him in Xfinity if he wants out. reading between the lines it looks like he is out of contract at the end of this racing year. But on the other hand he could hang in Xfinity until a good ride comes along I bet. LFR isn't his level.
 
One thing for sure. Toyota has nothing for him in cup right now, and it doesn't look like any of the top 5 teams do for that matter. But it could change..and that makes it interesting.
 
FLRacingFan said:
Bell honored by the chatter but likes it where he is
https://racer.com/2019/04/05/bell-honored-by-the-chatter-but-likes-it-where-he-is/
Click to expand...
I guess one could safely assume Christopher Bell is not enamored with the thought of racing under Cup rules, with flaccid engines and excessive downforce. No, he didn't come right out and say that, but read what he did say and let me know what you think...

Christopher Bell says it’s cool and an honor that there’s chatter about his potential future in the NASCAR Cup Series, but he loves where he’s at right now.

“Honestly, I love these Xfinity cars,” Bell said Friday at Bristol Motor Speedway. “They’re a ton of fun to drive, and I sent Wayne [Auton, Xfinity Series managing director] a text this last week saying that I love the Xfinity rules package right now.

“I don’t know if it’s the small spoiler, the small splitter, whatever it is, but I feel like dirty air is not really that big of a deal in these cars. So they’re a ton of fun to drive, and they’re a lot of fun to race too.”
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Also, the article reports that Bell "admits he has no control over the future, and he’s not asked or heard what will happen in 2020." This makes me think Bell may have a contract situation similar to Erik Jones in 2016. Gibbs had Jones under a long term contract, but Gibbs (or TRD?) was obligated to provide a Cup ride by 2017 or Jones could opt out. I wonder if Bell has a deal like that.
 
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StandOnIt said:
Too much extra work "sigh", Sure Dave O ;) I bet other racing teams would find a car, in fact all it takes is a motor for one team and it is a fellow Yoter. .
Team owner Bob Leavine said last year he planned to ask Toyota for an engine to be able to run Bell occasionally.
“That’s for them to decide,” Leavine said. “We’re just going to be available if they want to do it to put it all together and make it all work.

David Wilson, president of Toyota Racing Development, told NBC Sports last weekend at Texas Motor Speedway, that “for the moment there is no plan, there’s no consideration to put Christopher in one of those (Cup) cars (this year).”

Wilson cited the extra work needed to put a car together for Bell this season but also added that “you never say never.”

https://nascar.nbcsports.com/2019/0...g-through-an-extension-with-joe-gibbs-racing/
Click to expand...

They aren't going to run Bell in a POS, and by your own assertion LFR isn't ready to be a contender, so what are you asking TRD to do? I will help you....you aren't asking them to do anything.....you are just ranting and babbling again. Okay, good fun.
 
They are all over Bell. He is playing em like a fiddle. May the highest bidder win ;) Hmm dealing Barney out could come back to bite em.
 
LewTheShoe said:
I guess one could safely assume Christopher Bell is not enamored with the thought of racing under Cup rules, with flaccid engines and excessive downforce. No, he didn't come right out and say that, but read what he did say and let me know what you think...



Also, the article reports that Bell "admits he has no control over the future, and he’s not asked or heard what will happen in 2020." This makes me think Bell may have a contract situation similar to Erik Jones in 2016. Gibbs had Jones under a long term contract, but Gibbs (or TRD?) was obligated to provide a Cup ride by 2017 or Jones could opt out. I wonder if Bell has a deal like that.
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Makes sense considering his background.

I wouldn't mind Bowyer retiring and Bell replacing him at SHR :) but I think he stays within the TRD fold. They will find something for him and as much as he prefers the Xfinity style of driving the opportunity to get that bread will be hard to pass up.
 
Pretty much why I think lets see if the Jones Boy gets what he thinks he is going to get. The preacher can be ruthless. He's been known to string drivers along and then :swords:
 
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Silly. Bunch of drama queens around here. Jones signs. Bell stays. Hambone stays. KB stays. MTJ stays.....and a couple more get added on down the road. Plenty for everybody. All good.
 
Revman said:
Silly. Bunch of drama queens around here. Jones signs. Bell stays. Hambone stays. KB stays. MTJ stays.....and a couple more get added on down the road. Plenty for everybody. All good.
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LOL you can keep saying that but I guarantee this time last year you didn't expect Furniture Row to be gone things change Toyota isn't God... I wouldn't be surprised for them to be at five cars next year and Bell to not be in one of them
 
Fordracing7 said:
LOL you can keep saying that but I guarantee this time last year you didn't expect Furniture Row to be gone things change Toyota isn't God... I wouldn't be surprised for them to be at five cars next year and Bell to not be in one of them
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How many wins did they lose in that process? Why wouldn't you be surprised? Bell is not going anywhere.
 
Fordracing7 said:
LOL you can keep saying that but I guarantee this time last year you didn't expect Furniture Row to be gone things change Toyota isn't God... I wouldn't be surprised for them to be at five cars next year and Bell to not be in one of them
Click to expand...

I agree. History says Toyota will pony up with JGR for a 5th JGR car but we could see a Keselowski situation because it's not like this sport is booming like it was for sponsorship. Bell would be ridiculous to spend another year in NXS.
 
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