Toyota Racing is on the verge of a historic milestone as the NASCAR Cup Series Chase heads to World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway on September 12. The manufacturer currently holds 693 wins and needs just seven more to hit the 700-win mark. Christopher Bell and Denny Hamlin are the primary drivers pushing this effort, with Bell seeking back-to-back victories after his Southern 500 win at Darlington.
The statistical dominance of the brand is undeniable. Toyota drivers have led the point standings after every single race this season. They currently occupy five of the top six spots in the standings. This includes Denny Hamlin in first, Christopher Bell in second, Tyler Reddick in fourth, Chase Briscoe in fifth, and Ty Gibbs in sixth. No other manufacturer has ever had six unique winners in a single Cup Series season until this year.
Bell And Hamlin Chase History At Gateway
Christopher Bell has a stellar track record at World Wide Technology Raceway that makes him the favorite to win again. The Oklahoma native finished in the top 11 in all four of his starts at this specific track. His recent victory at Darlington moved him up to second in the point standings, but he wants to prove he can win anywhere. A win here would give him two straight victories, a feat he has never accomplished before in a Chase.
Denny Hamlin is chasing his own history while helping the team reach the 700-win goal. He already claimed Toyota’s first Cup win at this track last year, which was also his 200th NASCAR Cup Series victory for the brand. Another victory this weekend would push the team closer to the milestone. According to Speedway Media, the team has had six unique winners this season: Reddick with five wins, Hamlin with four, Gibbs with two, Corey Heim with two, Briscoe with one, and Bell with one. Gateway could easily become the place to make it seven.
The Depth Of Toyota Drivers Matters
The strength of the team is not just about the top two drivers. The entire lineup is performing at an elite level. John Hunter Nemechek and Bubba Wallace both finished in the top 10 at this track one year ago. Wallace paced the field for 73 laps during that race, showing he has the speed to run with the leaders. This depth makes Toyota dangerous in every position on the grid.
Joe Gibbs Racing has shown they are solid at Gateway as well. In the series return to this track last season, Team Toyota had three of the top six finishers in the O’Reilly Series. William Sawalich finished second and Brandon Jones finished fourth. Taylor Gray also scored a seventh-place finish in the ARCA series, while Jones took tenth. These results prove the cars are fast on this specific layout.
The Chase Is Tightening Up
The ARCA title battle continues to be tight as they close in on the end of their season at Salem Speedway in Indiana. JGR’s Brandon Jones and Taylor Gray had solid starts to their Chase runs with top-10 finishes at Darlington. This momentum is crucial as the season winds down. Brent Crews added to the top-five tally by finishing third in his race at Darlington. Every single point counts now as the teams fight for the championship.
Toyota has six unique winners in a single Cup Series season for the first time in its history. The team currently has 693 race wins across NASCAR’s top three series. A victory this weekend would help Toyota continue to close on another major milestone of 700 wins.
