Denny Hamlin displayed visible frustration with his crew chief, Chris Gayle, during a dramatic moment at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday, drawing attention to the Denny Hamlin crew chief Daytona incident. The confrontation took place after Hamlin’s car suffered a cut tire mid-race, highlighting escalating tensions inside the No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing team during the Cup Series race.
Communication Breaks Down During Caution at Daytona
While competing on Lap 107 of the 400-lap event at the historic Daytona track—often referred to as The World Center of Racing—Hamlin’s Toyota sustained a cut right front tire. This triggered a caution on the field, and crew chief Chris Gayle, in his first year with Joe Gibbs Racing, immediately instructed Hamlin to head for the garage. However, Hamlin made it clear over the radio that he wanted a different course of action.
“No I’m going to the pit area. Pit pit.”
Choosing to pit for a tire change rather than enter the garage, Hamlin pushed for quick action from his crew to minimize time lost. The heated exchange continued as Hamlin voiced his displeasure with strategy and execution.
“Just get the tire on it so we don’t lose another lap … We f****d it up. We made our car worse. I can steer the car for now.”
The disagreement reflected mounting pressure within the team as Hamlin ultimately finished the race outside the top 20, coming in 25th. While that result fell short of expectations, Hamlin’s prior win at Martinsville had already secured his playoff berth, offering a measure of respite despite the disappointing finish at Daytona.
Season Performance Holds Despite Daytona Setback
Hamlin’s standing remains strong, owing to his three additional victories at Darlington, Michigan, and Dover. With 766 points, the Tampa, Florida, native sits third in the current Cup Series driver rankings after 25 races. Consistency has been a hallmark for Hamlin this season, as evidenced by his tally of 11 top-five and 13 top-10 finishes so far.
Still, Hamlin continues the chase for his first Cup Series championship, making him the most experienced active driver in the series without a title. His career as a full-time contender stretches back to 2006, with his best championship finish occurring in 2010, when he was runner-up.
Hamlin Reflects on Richmond and Tire Fall-Off
Last week, Hamlin addressed his performance at the Cook Out 400 at Richmond Raceway, another highlight in his 2026 campaign. Hamlin praised the racing conditions and the effect of tire wear, specifically crediting Goodyear for contributing to the race’s dynamics.
“Thank you Goodyear, for bringing a tire that had over two to two-and-a-half seconds of fall-off. Fantastic. Richmond was kind of one of the very first short-tracks that was getting the, ‘Oh man, this is kind of boring’ type-feel, right? It’s good to see that the tires do matter.” —Denny Hamlin, Driver
His reflections came after a tenth-place finish, marking his 13th top-10 result of the season. The Richmond win went to Austin Dillon, with competitors Alex Bowman, Ryan Blaney, Joey Logano, and Austin Cindric completing the top five order.
“I can speak about this, because I participate in the race. I drive the cars. I know how difficult it is to pass during this race versus the previous, versus the previous, versus 10 years ago, versus 20 years ago. I know because I did it,” Hamlin added. —Denny Hamlin, Driver
Looking Ahead: Darlington Challenge Awaits
Next for Hamlin and the Joe Gibbs Racing team is the Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway, scheduled for Sunday, August 31. The 367-lap contest will air on USA at 6 pm ET, with radio coverage on MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. As the season approaches its final stages, Hamlin’s pursuit of a championship continues, and the Daytona incident underscores both the pressures and high stakes that come with contending at the top level of NASCAR Cup Series racing.
