Christopher Bell’s “Oops Moment”: How He Accidentally Announced Chase Briscoe’s Move to Joe Gibbs Racing
Sometimes, even the pros let a big secret slip, and for Christopher Bell, that moment came just ahead of the NASCAR Cup race at New Hampshire. Bell, while discussing his growing role at Joe Gibbs Racing, inadvertently confirmed a major rumor: Chase Briscoe would be joining the team to replace the retiring Martin Truex Jr. What followed was a whirlwind of reactions and a hilarious story that Briscoe himself later recounted.
When Christopher Bell Let the Cat Out of the Bag
Stewart-Haas Racing had already announced plans to sell most of its charters, and when Martin Truex Jr. revealed his retirement, speculation naturally pointed to Chase Briscoe as the top candidate for the No. 19 Toyota seat at Joe Gibbs Racing. During a media session, Bell casually confirmed the rumors, unknowingly sparking a social media frenzy.
The kicker? Briscoe had no idea this had happened until much later.
Briscoe Reacts to Bell’s Blunder
Briscoe shared the hilarious aftermath on Dinner with Racers. He recounted, “At New Hampshire, there’s no signal. As soon as you get outside the motorhome lot, we don’t have StarLinks. I was heading to a sprint car race when Christopher texted me, saying, ‘Chase, I really f—ed up, I’m sorry.’ I had no idea what he was talking about.”
While Briscoe was racing in a network dead zone, Bell’s comments had already gone viral. When a reporter approached Briscoe at the track to ask about the slip-up, the Indiana native was caught completely off-guard. “The reporter showed me the clip on his phone, and it was really funny,” Briscoe added.
A Friendship That Changed Everything
Despite the slip, Briscoe harbors no ill feelings toward his longtime friend. In fact, the pair have a bond that dates back to their childhood. “I’ve known Christopher since I was eleven. He used to come spend the night at my house. Truthfully, he’s probably a big reason I’m even sitting here,” Briscoe admitted.
It was Bell who encouraged Briscoe to pursue the opportunity at JGR. “He told me, ‘I’m on the inside and can see the writing on the wall.’ He encouraged me to knock on their door and said he’d do whatever he could to help me get that seat,” Briscoe revealed.
Looking Ahead to 2025
With Briscoe joining Joe Gibbs Racing, the team is eager to rebound after a challenging end to the 2024 season, where they went winless in the final 18 races and failed to place a driver in the Championship 4—a streak they had maintained from 2019 to 2023 with stars like Truex, Bell, and Denny Hamlin.
Briscoe’s move to JGR is seen as a fresh start for both the driver and the team. As he steps into the No. 19 Toyota, the pressure will be immense, but Briscoe seems ready for the challenge. “Christopher has always been in my corner, and now we get to race as teammates. I’m excited to see what we can accomplish together,” he said.
Can Chase Briscoe carry the torch left by Martin Truex Jr. and help JGR return to dominance in 2025? Only time will tell, but one thing’s for sure—he owes a big part of this journey to Christopher Bell’s unintentional reveal and unwavering support.
