Joe Gibbs Racing drivers continue to seek answers at road courses

ELKHART LAKE, Wis. — Joe Gibbs Racing drivers hold the final two playoff spots after the organization failed to score a top-10 finish for the second race in a row on a road course.

No JGR car finished in the top 25 at Sonoma last month. David Wilson, president of Toyota Racing Development, called Toyota’s performance at Sonoma an “embarrassment.” Joe Gibbs Racing showed progress this past weekend at Road America but still placed no car in the top 12. 

Tyler Reddick’s victory leaves only three of 16 playoff spots available to winless drivers. Christopher Bell has the final playoff spot. JGR teammate Martin Truex is the next highest winless driver in the playoff standings. 

Eight races remain — including road course events at Indianapolis (July 31) and Watkins Glens (Aug. 21) — before the regular season ends.

Joe Gibbs Racing’s struggles on road courses have been among the issues the team has faced this season with the Next Gen car. 

After the struggles at Sonoma, each of the four Joe Gibbs Racing cars had different setup this past weekend at Road America.

Truex led the group, finishing 13th at Road America. 

“I think we definitely gained on it a little bit,” Truex told NBC Sports. “We’re lacking something in the rear. Just loose, can’t brake with those guys, can’t drive off the corner with them and, man, just burn the rear tires off with laps.

“We know what our cars are compared to theirs and how the downforce is different. Kind of feel like we’re handcuffed here on these kinds of tracks. It is what it is. We’ll keep digging and keep working. We gained on it for sure but not enough.”

Bell, who leads Kevin Harvick for the final playoff spot by 20 points, finished 18th at Road America. 

“It seemed like we got halfway