NASCAR: Could Erik Jones, Christopher Bell both compete in Cup in 2020?

Could Erik Jones and Christopher Bell both compete in the NASCAR Cup Series next year despite there only being four seats at Joe Gibbs Racing?

Erik Jones has stated on several occasions that he is either not worried about reaching a contract extension with Joe Gibbs Racing for beyond the 2019 NASCAR Cup Series season or that the two sides are “close” to getting a deal done.

Meanwhile, Joe Gibbs Racing Xfinity Series superstar Christopher Bell has already re-signed with the team for what is set to be his third consecutive season with them next year.

However, perhaps most notably, it has not been confirmed whether the 24-year-old Norman, Oklahoma native will be returning to Joe Gibbs Racing’s Xfinity Series team next year, which has prompted all kinds of rumors regarding not only his future but the future of Jones.

More from NASCAR Cup Series

Kyle Busch, Martin Truex Jr. and Denny Hamlin are all set to return to Joe Gibbs Racing’s Cup Series team next year, so Bell moving up to the Cup Series would result in him replacing Jones behind the wheel of the #20 Toyota Camry.

But in the midst of all the rumors, the 23-year-old Byron, Michigan native has responded by launching himself up into 14th place in the championship standings and 28 points above the playoff cut line, and his average finish in the last five races is a series-best 8.80. He is now riding consecutive season-high third place finishes as well, and only Busch, Truex Jr. and Team Penske teammates Joey Logano and Brad Keselowski have recorded more top three finishes than he has this season.

While he has not won a race in more than a year and has only one career victory to his name, Joe Gibbs Racing would be silly to let him go.

But could Jones and Bell both end up competing in the Cup Series next year anyway?

Joe Gibbs Racing not re-signing Jones and Jones signing with another team such as Stewart-Haas Racing to replace either Clint Bowyer and Daniel Suarez makes this a possibility, but it is still a possibility even if Joe Gibbs Racing and Jones do come to terms on a new contract.

Leavine Family Racing switched their manufacturer from Chevrolet to Toyota ahead of the 2019 season, and they formed a technical alliance with Joe Gibbs Racing to field the #95 Toyota for Matt DiBenedetto. They have stated that they are interested in becoming a two-car team, but their priority remains on continuing to make the #95 Toyota competitive.

After DiBenedetto started the season with a top finish of 12th place and an average finishing position of a lackluster 24.47 in the season’s first 15 races, his average finish in the last five races is 12.00, and he has recorded three top eight finishes, including two top five finishes, in those five races, so they are clearly on the right path.

Given the success that DiBenedetto has had this season, especially over the course of the last month or so, it is hard to picture him losing his ride behind the wheel of the #95 Toyota, so Bell’s entry with the team would have to be via a second car.

Here is what Leavine Family Racing team owner Bob Leavine had to say about expansion back in March, according to SportsMap.

"“Yes, we are working on expanding for 2020 right now. It’s just a matter of sponsorship because we can put the people on it, and we have the organization and Toyota Racing Development will support that. So yes, we are working to expand.”"

Bell believed, as did 99% or more of NASCAR’s fanbase, that he was ready to make the jump to the Cup Series ahead of the 2019 season.

If he ends up staying with Joe Gibbs Racing for a third consecutive Xfinity Series season, that could put him in a position where he looks to break away from the organization, perhaps even from Toyota, after next year to avoid the same thing happening again and potentially returning to the team for a fourth consecutive Xfinity Series season.

This is not something that Joe Gibbs Racing can afford to risk happening, so they would be wise to put additional pressure (and, perhaps most importantly, money) on Leavine Family Racing to sign Bell as their second driver so that he can effectively stay within the organization until one of the four seats at Joe Gibbs Racing opens up.

Next. Top 10 NASCAR drivers of all-time. dark

Will both Erik Jones and Christopher Bell compete in the NASCAR Cup Series next season even if Jones re-signs with Joe Gibbs Racing?

Home/NASCAR Cup Series