Denny Hamlin on crew chief conflict took center stage after the latest NASCAR race at Atlanta, as a dispute erupted between James Small, crew chief of the No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, and NASCAR officials. The altercation followed a contentious decision by officials to remove the team from the race after Chase Briscoe’s car suffered damage, despite the crew’s determined repairs.
The saga unfolded when Hamlin’s teammate, Chase Briscoe, found himself out of luck at Atlanta just a week after securing his first Cup win with Joe Gibbs Racing at Pocono. As the No. 19 car’s crew worked relentlessly to get Briscoe back in the competition following serious damage on the track, tensions escalated on pit road. James Small, guiding the No. 19 team, became embroiled in a dramatic standoff after NASCAR authorities ruled the vehicle was unfit to continue.
Crew Chief James Small Faces Off With NASCAR Officials
With the No. 19 Toyota’s crew spending over an hour making repairs, their efforts came to an abrupt halt when NASCAR officials ordered the car parked due to irreparable structural damage. The officials cited a bent component that could not be replaced, ending the team’s hopes of salvaging any championship points.
“I saw James Small and one of the head NASCAR officials nose to nose when they told him he was done. They had been working on that 19-car for an hour. He must have told James that they were done because something was bent that is not replaceable.”
—Denny Hamlin, via Actions Detrimental
The tense exchange arose from mounting frustration, as Small and his crew had invested considerable effort trying to meet NASCAR’s standards and return to competition. The abrupt end—after such dedication—left Small visibly enraged, a reaction Hamlin says was easy to understand under the circumstances.
“When I pulled in, the NASCAR officials were kind of all over the car. …They worked for a solid hour before they were told, ‘No, you’re done.’ James Small was pissed, I mean pissed.”
—Denny Hamlin, via Actions Detrimental
Having watched the drama unfold up close, Hamlin described a scene marked by emotional intensity and conflict, reflective of both the stakes involved and the personalities clashing behind the scenes.
Insights Into James Small’s Approach to Racing and Conflict
James Small has built a reputation within Joe Gibbs Racing through years of service, previously working with Martin Truex Jr. before becoming Chase Briscoe’s crew chief. Hamlin has observed Small’s professional demeanor and rivalry from both outside and inside the team garage.
According to Hamlin, Small’s approach is defined by relentless competitiveness and a fiery temperament, sometimes interpreted as being perpetually angry but also fueling his drive for success. Hamlin reflected on their dynamic during the Atlanta incident, expressing surprise that the officials’ decision sidelined the No. 19 car, which he felt did not exhibit major outward damage.
“I think he wakes up pissed. I love his attitude, personally. He’s awesome. I looked at the 19-car, I was very surprised to see them towed into the garage. It looked fine to me. I don’t know what all they had damaged, but it was something that was catastrophic, apparently.”
—Denny Hamlin
This volatile mix of passion and frustration has, at times, caused friction within teams. In the past, Martin Truex Jr. once called out Small over the radio, demonstrating how Small’s intensity can both strengthen and strain working relationships. However, since Briscoe joined the team, the partnership has yielded positive results, suggesting a more harmonious understanding between driver and crew chief, even amid adversity.
The Aftermath and What This Means for Team Chemistry
The conflict at Atlanta casts a spotlight on the high-pressure environment inside NASCAR garages, particularly when crucial races are at stake. The debate over the No. 19’s fate underscored the determination of both crew and driver to gather every available point, as well as NASCAR’s rigid technical standards that can sometimes clash with a team’s resolve.
Denny Hamlin, central to this dispute and never shy about highlighting such conflicts on his Actions Detrimental podcast, brought a wider audience into the inner workings of team management and official rulings. The episode emphasized how personalities like Small’s, while combative, are often critical for pushing teams to the edge in pursuit of victory and points.
As the season moves forward, all eyes will be on Joe Gibbs Racing—especially Chase Briscoe, James Small, and Denny Hamlin—to see if such episodes of conflict will serve as rallying points or further tests to the team’s overall resilience and chemistry on the racetrack.
