NASCAR: Joe Gibbs Racing aiming to keep Christopher Bell and Erik Jones

Joe Gibbs Racing team owner Joe Gibbs would like to retain both Christopher Bell and Erik Jones for their long-term futures in NASCAR.

Joe Gibbs Racing’s Christopher Bell has been the subject of several recent rumors regarding where he might sign for the 2020 NASCAR season and if he would be willing to continue driving in the Xfinity Series for another year if that ends up being the only way he can continue driving for Joe Gibbs Racing.

With Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin and Martin Truex Jr. all set to return to Joe Gibbs Racing for at least the 2020 Cup Series season, the only driver who Bell seems to have a reasonable shot at replacing at the four-car powerhouse Toyota team next year is Erik Jones.

However, Jones and Joe Gibbs Racing are reportedly working on a contract extension so that the 22-year-old Byron, Michigan native can continue driving the #20 Toyota that he has driven since taking over for veteran Matt Kenseth ahead of the 2018 season.

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If this happens, Bell would either have to settle for a third consecutive season driving for Joe Gibbs Racing in the Xfinity Series or drive for a team other than Joe Gibbs Racing in the Cup Series, perhaps even a non-Toyota team.

In fact, Bell has already admitted that he doesn’t seem himself replacing any one of Joe Gibbs Racing’s four drivers ahead of the 2020 season.

The 24-year-old Norman, Oklahoma native gives Toyota a ton of credit for getting him where he is in his racing career, but he has made clear in the past that he will not commit to remaining within the organization at all costs.

While the chances of both Bell and Jones driving for the Joe Gibbs Racing Cup Series team in the 2020 season are minimal (if they even exist), Joe Gibbs Racing team owner Joe Gibbs has made clear that he wants to retain both drivers for their long-term futures in NASCAR.

Here is what Gibbs had to say about the matter, according to RACER.

"“I think for us, you don’t comment much on the future other than to say Christopher has a place with us long-term, and so does Erik. That’s our goal. That’s what we’ll keep working on. It’s great to have young people coming, young talent. It’s very important for us. We all know.”"

Is retaining both Christopher Bell and Erik Jones for the long-term future a viable option for Joe Gibbs Racing? Is retaining both of these drivers for the 2020 NASCAR season, even if both don’t drive for the team in the Cup Series, even a viable option?