Joe Gibbs Racing announced Monday afternoon that Toyota development driver Christopher Bell will replace Erik Jones in the team’s No. 20 Toyota Camry for the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season.
The move was expected when JGR dropped Erik Jones from the organization last Thursday night following the conclusion of the 2020 Cup Series season.
Bell, 25, has spent his rookie aboard the No. 95 Leavine Family Racing Toyota, but the Bob Levine-owned team announced early last week that the team will cease operations following the season-finale at Phoenix (Ariz.) Raceway.
While LFR has been purchased, Bell was never expected to stay within the organization’s confines setting the domino effect for the No. 20 Toyota for next season.
“We are excited to bring Christopher into our Cup Series program starting in 2021,” said Joe Gibbs, owner of Joe Gibbs Racing. “He obviously had tremendous success in the Xfinity Series with us and we look forward to his return to JGR.”
After 22 Cup races this season, Bell has earned one top-five and five top-10 finishes, including a career-best fourth in the first Pocono (Pa.) Raceway race in June. He sits 20th in the championship standings with four races remaining in the regular season.
“I’m so appreciative of the opportunity I have this year with LFR and I want to finish this season strong for Bob (Leavine) and everyone there,” said Bell.
“At the same time, I’m extremely excited to return to Joe Gibbs Racing starting in 2021. It’s an organization I’m very comfortable with and have had a lot of success with.”
Prior to LFR, the Norman, Okla. native spent two seasons in the NASCAR Xfinity Series for JGR, where he notched 15 victories, including a rookie-record seven wins in 2018. Last year, he earned eight wins, led over 2,000 laps, captured six poles, netted 20 top-five and 21 top-10 finishes in 33 races.
With Toyota’s leadership, Bell transitioned from a successful United States Auto Club (USAC) career to the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series in 2015 with Kyle Busch Motorsports and later captured the Truck Series championship two years later in 2017.
Bell also won three-consecutive Chili Bowl titles (2017, 2018 and 2019) driving a TRD-powered Midget for Keith Kunz Motorsports.
Follow Chris Knight on Twitter @Knighter01.
