Hamlin and Gibbs: Tension at Joe Gibbs Racing after on-track crash

Within Joe Gibbs Racing, calm has returned after last week’s incident between teammates Denny Hamlin and Ty Gibbs. Hamlin was involved in a crash with Gibbs, who did not yield at New Hampshire. Hamlin, currently in the playoffs, is competing for his first Cup championship, while Gibbs, grandson of team owner Joe Gibbs, is not eligible for the title. After contact on the track, Hamlin questioned his team via radio if the organization was afraid to give orders to the 22-year-old young driver. Hamlin stated on Saturday, prior to the race at Kansas Speedway, that all parties had the opportunity to express their opinions in the week’s competition meeting. The three-time Daytona 500 champion admitted that “I definitely got too upset, and it went too far on my part.”

There are things I should have done differently.

Denny Hamlin

Christopher Bell, JGR teammate, noted that the message was clear and that it was not necessary to verbalize how Toyota drivers should race at this point in the season. There are six races left to crown the Cup champion.

We shouldn’t crash into each other. That was very clear and incorrect, and I hope it doesn’t happen again. I think it was already clear to us before, and we just need to respect each other.

Christopher Bell

Meanwhile, Chase Briscoe, a JGR driver, earned his seventh pole position of the year and will lead the grid on Sunday in Kansas. Briscoe will start alongside Hamlin. His seven poles are the most in a single season since Kyle Busch in 2017. Briscoe and Hamlin will likely race cleanly at the start, which Kyle Larson, a Hendrick Motorsports driver, considers correct. Gibbs was racing too aggressively against a title contender who is also his teammate, and this happened too early in last week’s race.

I think in the end, if you’re competing for a win, you’re competing for a win. You’re never going to give up a win in the Cup for a teammate. But I think if you’re in the middle of the pack in a stage, yes, that expectation should be met.

Kyle Larson

Larson stated that the expectations on how Hendrick’s drivers should compete are clearly defined and are evident on the track every week. Larson also pointed out that the aim is to make things easier for teammates, and that teamwork is often not appreciated on television. For example, he mentioned that Alex Bowman made things easier for him at the end of the first stage, and that he expected a similar dynamic in the case of Hamlin.