Denny Hamlin’s excuses fall flat after a rough day at Circuit of The Americas, leaving both him and Joe Gibbs frustrated. Hamlin blamed crashes and car damage for his struggles, but Gibbs had a different take—questioning his driving instead. While Hamlin battled setbacks, his teammate Christopher Bell dominated, making the contrast even sharper. To make matters worse, Hamlin’s own team, 23XI Racing, is thriving without him. With criticism mounting, what’s next for the veteran driver?
Key Highlights
- Denny Hamlin faced frequent mishaps at the EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix, frustrating both him and Joe Gibbs.
- Joe Gibbs identified Hamlin’s driving skills as a key issue for his struggles on road courses.
- Hamlin’s performance at Circuit of The Americas was marred by collisions, affecting his race outcome.
- Hamlin’s teammate Christopher Bell excelled, highlighting Hamlin’s challenges despite driving similar cars.
- 23XI Racing, co-owned by Hamlin, saw success, contrasting with Hamlin’s individual performance struggles.
Denny Hamlin and Joe Gibbs Frustrated at COTA
The atmosphere at Circuit of The Americas was a cocktail of frustration and disbelief for Denny Hamlin and team owner Joe Gibbs. Their well-established partnership, spanning over two decades in the NASCAR Cup Series, had seen its fair share of ups and downs.
However, the events of Sunday’s EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix seemed to test their patience anew. While Christopher Bell was heading towards a successful finish, Hamlin found himself ensnared in a series of unfortunate mishaps.
Joe Gibbs, known for his discerning eye, was quick to identify the source of their woes. Hamlin’s performance, tarnished by chaos on the circuit, left Gibbs visibly perturbed.
The frank acknowledgment of past disagreements between the driver and the owner only added to the tension. As frustrations simmered, it was clear that Hamlin’s day was far from the victory lane, casting a shadow over what could have been a promising race.
Denny Hamlin’s Struggles at COTA and Christopher Bell’s Dominance
Tackling the twists and turns of Circuit of The Americas (COTA) has been a thorn in Denny Hamlin‘s side, and this year’s race was no exception. The No. 11 Toyota driver struggled once again, unable to surpass his previous best finishes of 8th place in 2022 and 2024.
While Hamlin found himself amidst chaotic wrecks, his teammate Christopher Bell excelled, clinching back-to-back victories on distinctly different tracks. Bell’s recent successes included mastering COTA’s intricate road course and the superspeedway-intermediate hybrid track in Atlanta, showcasing his versatility and skill.
In a dramatic moment during the race, Hamlin locked his brakes, colliding with Austin Dillon’s No. 3 car and causing an unexpected caution. Some speculated he was trying to assist a teammate, but Hamlin quickly dismissed these rumors.
With a touch of humor, he clarified his competitive nature, expressing disdain for any teammate outshining him on the track.
“Let me just educate folks and the conspiracy theorists. I am a competitive person, as you may know. There is nobody that I hate seeing win more than my teammate.” – Denny Hamlin
Denny Hamlin’s Frustration and Joe Gibbs’ Response
Frustration bubbled up for Denny Hamlin as he watched Christopher Bell take the victory, leaving him grappling with a mix of admiration and irritation.
Hamlin couldn’t hide his envy, knowing they drove similar cars. “I love Christopher – he is a great dude. But I don’t want him to beat me,” Hamlin confessed, acknowledging the sting of his teammate’s success. His discontent was fueled by memories of 2022’s Martinsville race, where Bell’s success saw Hamlin edged out of the Championship 4.
“Because I know they’re driving the same thing that I’m driving… I know what every driver (says) – Oh, I’m so happy for my teammate winning. I mean, I love Christopher – he is a great dude. But I don’t want him to beat me. That’s not a good look for me.” – Denny Hamlin
Despite his attempt to rationalize his poor performance, citing the fender damage from an early collision, Hamlin found little comfort.
“So you always measure yourself off your teammates. Trust me, I never saw the lead all day. I had no f—— idea who was up front… I had three fenders on the car – that’s my excuse for the weekend. I qualified well, I mean, come on, give me a little credit here.” – Denny Hamlin
Joe Gibbs, his team owner, offered no sympathy. When questioned whether the car’s condition or Hamlin’s skill was the issue, Gibbs’ blunt “50-50” response left Hamlin groaning.
“I asked J.G. at the pit box what’s inhibiting us more? The fact that the car only has three fenders or the driver’s skill? (He said) it’s about 50-50.” – Denny Hamlin
Jared Allen, Hamlin’s co-host, shared this pit road exchange, highlighting the veteran driver’s internal and external battles.
Denny Hamlin’s Road Course Woes and 23XI Racing’s Bright Spot
Despite his years of experience, Denny Hamlin just can’t seem to find his groove on road courses lately. Since the Next-Gen car rolled out, Hamlin’s road course record has been rocky, with only one top-10 finish and several lackluster results. His runner-up finish at Watkins Glen in 2023 was a rare highlight amid numerous finishes outside the top 20.
Joe Gibbs hasn’t minced words, pointing out that some of the blame lies with Hamlin’s driving skills.
However, while Hamlin navigates his own challenges, his co-owned team, 23XI Racing, is enjoying a brighter chapter. The team, led by drivers Tyler Reddick and Bubba Wallace, has been making impressive strides.
Reddick, the 2024 regular season champ, recently snagged a podium finish at COTA. Adding to their success, 23XI Racing renewed its partnership with Upper Deck, promising more on-track highlights.
Hamlin’s racing world is indeed a blend of setbacks and promising breakthroughs.
News in Brief: Denny Hamlin’s Excuses Fall Flat
In NASCAR, Denny Hamlin finds himself in a tricky spot. With Joe Gibbs pointing out the flaws in his driving, it’s clear Hamlin needs to up his game at Circuit of The Americas.
Meanwhile, his co-owned team, 23XI Racing, is zooming ahead, making Hamlin’s struggles even more glaring. It’s a tough pill to swallow, but perhaps a little introspection and a shift in gears can help Hamlin get back on track.
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