JOLIET, Ill. – Joe Gibbs Racing has picked up Christopher Bell’s contract option for the 2020 season, keeping the 24-year-old Oklahoma native with the organization for another year.

Bell confirmed the extension to reporters on Friday, ahead of opening practice for the NASCAR Xfinity Series at Chicagoland Speedway.

“It’s really good that I have a job. Driving for Joe Gibbs Racing is where I want to be at,” said Bell. “I’m thankful that I get to go for another year.”

Bell has driven for JGR since 2017, when he joined the Xfinity Series ranks on a part-time basis. All 12 of his victories have come in Gibbs-prepared Toyotas.

Last year, Bell made the Championship 4 with JGR, and has a series-leading four victories this season at the wheel of the No. 20 Toyota Supra.

That rapid ascension has many believing that Bell is a virtual lock to head to the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. Bell, however, doesn’t know which of NASCAR’s national divisions he’ll be racing in next year – at least at this juncture.

“It’s a little too early to tell,” Bell noted when asked what series he’ll call home.

JGR’s current Cup Series roster features 2015 champion Kyle Busch, 2017 champion Martin Truex Jr., two-time Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin and young gun Erik Jones.

Busch, Truex and Hamlin are all reportedly under contract for next season, and Jones has said several times this year that he expects to return to a JGR Cup car as well in 2020.

Where that leaves Bell at this point is uncertain, but he’s been quick to point out that he’s enjoying every minute of his time driving race cars in NASCAR’s second-highest series.

“I love the Xfinity Series and I love the cars,” Bell said. “I’ve said it multiple times, the rules package that we have right now is so much fun to drive. I love where I’m at.

“Next year, I have no idea where I’m going to be at, but if I’m in Xfinity again, I have a lot of fun racing there and I’m okay with that.”