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

KANSAS CITY, Kan. – Calm has returned to Joe Gibbs Racing after last week’s incident between teammates Denny Hamlin and Ty Gibbs. Hamlin, who is competing in the playoffs for his first Cup championship, and Gibbs, the grandson of team owner Joe Gibbs, had a run-in on the track when Hamlin bumped Gibbs. After the contact, Hamlin questioned on his team radio whether the organization was afraid to give team orders to the 22-year-old driver. Hamlin revealed on Saturday, a day before the race at Kansas Speedway, that all parties had the opportunity to express their opinions at the meeting of the week. The three-time Daytona 500 champion admitted that “I definitely got too upset and went too far on my part.”

There are things I should have done differently.

Denny Hamlin

Christopher Bell, JGR teammate, stated that the message was clear about how Toyota drivers should race each other at this time of year. There are six races left to crown the Cup champion.

We shouldn’t crash. That was very clear and obviously 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, secured his seventh pole position of the year to lead the grid on Sunday in Kansas. He will start alongside Hamlin. Briscoe’s seven poles are the most in a single season since Kyle Busch in 2017. Briscoe and Hamlin will probably race cleanly at the start, which Kyle Larson, believes is the right thing to do. Gibbs was racing too hard against a title contender who happens to be his teammate at a point too early in last week’s race.

I think in the end, if you’re running for a win, you’re running 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 followed.

Kyle Larson

Larson indicated that the expectations of how Hendrick’s drivers should race among themselves are clearly defined and are evident on the track every week.

I think you’re always looking for what you can do to make things a little easier on your teammates. Television probably doesn’t even see the teamwork that happens, but last week, Alex Bowman gave me a lot of breaks at the end of the first stage. I passed him and then started to fade.

Kyle Larson

According to Larson, Bowman could have easily passed him, but he stayed back. Hamlin probably expected that, as every team that has multiple cars has had a conversation about those expectations. Larson understands Hamlin’s frustration and hopes the situation improves.