Christopher Bell's dramatic victory at Atlanta Motor Speedway ended Joe Gibbs Racing's eight-month winless streak, validating the organization's recent strategic changes for the 2024 NASCAR season.

Bell, who previously won at New Hampshire in June, secured his ninth win in the Next Gen era on Sunday night, surpassing teammate Denny Hamlin for most wins among JGR drivers.

The win follows significant organizational changes at JGR, including:

• Denny Hamlin partnering with crew chief Chris Gayle
• Ty Gibbs teaming with Tyler Allen from the Xfinity Series
• Chris Gabehart's promotion to competition director, overseeing all four teams

"Last year we led a lot of laps, but we didn't win races like we should," Joe Gibbs explained. "We went to work in the offseason... it's great for us to get off to a good start here with the second race of the year to get a win."

Adam Stevens, Bell's crew chief, emphasized that while the winless period was challenging, the team maintained competitive performance throughout. He expressed confidence in the recent organizational changes, noting improved qualifying results and overall competitiveness at both Daytona and Atlanta.

The victory is particularly meaningful for Bell, who finished fifth in the 2023 championship standings and narrowly missed the Championship 4 after a controversial finish at Martinsville Speedway, where William Byron was awarded the final spot following a race manipulation review.

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