Denny Hamlin has matched a historic Bobby Allison NASCAR milestone by winning five races in the 2025 season, now sharing an achievement that puts him alongside the legendary NASCAR Hall of Famer. This standout accomplishment comes amid transformative team changes for Hamlin and Joe Gibbs Racing, underscoring both individual excellence and resilience.
Hamlin’s Breakthrough Season Amid Major Team Changes
Entering the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season, Denny Hamlin faced mounting skepticism regarding his prospects on the track. With FedEx ending its long-term sponsorship and his successful crew chief Chris Gabehart moving on to become competition director, few expected the #11 Joe Gibbs Racing driver to outshine previous campaigns. Instead, Hamlin has delivered his strongest performance in the Next-Gen era, demonstrating both adaptability and drive.
Chris Gayle, who previously achieved major success as the crew chief of the #54 team and led Ty Gibbs to the 2022 Xfinity Series Championship, stepped up to guide the #11 car. Joe Gibbs, team owner, had expressed confidence in the new appointment:
“We have a lot of pride in the depth of talent we have throughout our organization. Chris Gayle will bring his own perspective to the 11 team while also maintaining the consistency and continuity they have developed with Denny [Hamlin] over the past several years.”
—Joe Gibbs, Team Owner
Gayle’s leadership has immediately paid dividends. In the first 28 races, Hamlin secured twelve top-five finishes and fifteen top-tens, making him the season’s winningest driver. Their partnership has proven highly effective, especially for a driver-crew chief pairing in their initial season together—a scenario that often comes with adjustment challenges.
A Rare NASCAR Feat Matched by Few
The early partnership success captured the attention of leading NASCAR observers. According to journalist Toby Christie:
“With today’s win, his fifth of the season, @DennyHamlin became just the second driver in recorded #NASCAR Cup Series history to achieve a five-win season with four different crew chiefs. He joins NASCAR Hall of Famer Bobby Allison, who also accomplished the feat.”
—Toby Christie, NASCAR Journalist
This milestone places Hamlin in exceedingly rare company; only Bobby Allison, recognized for his Hall of Fame career and 1983 championship, had previously managed five wins with four different crew chiefs in one season. The achievement underscores both Hamlin’s adaptability and the strength of his partnerships across various leadership styles within Joe Gibbs Racing.
The Crew Chiefs Behind Hamlin’s Historic Streak
Hamlin’s journey to this milestone started in 2010, when he captured eight Cup wins with crew chief Mike Ford, setting a new standard for his career achievements. Two years later, after a crew chief shift to Darian Grubb—fresh off guiding Tony Stewart to the 2011 Cup title—Hamlin managed another five-win season, demonstrating versatility with new leadership.
Denny Hamlin continued to build on these results during his partnership with Chris Gabehart, earning six wins in 2019 and seven more in 2020. The Hamlin-Gabehart alliance quickly became one of Joe Gibbs Racing’s most accomplished driver-crew chief duos.
Now, under Chris Gayle’s guidance in 2025, Hamlin has become the second driver in NASCAR Cup Series history to notch five or more victories with four different crew chiefs, paralleling Allison’s remarkable feat and surpassing expectations for a season that started with more questions than answers.
Momentum and Possibilities for the Rest of the Season
With eight races left in the 2025 Cup Series schedule, Hamlin and Gayle have substantial momentum. The pair stands poised to threaten Hamlin’s personal-best record of eight wins in a single season. The consistency and competitive fire he has shown suggest more milestones could be on the horizon.
As Hamlin’s season develops, his performance continues to captivate fans and analysts alike, reinforcing his place among the sport’s elite. His ability to match the Bobby Allison NASCAR milestone highlights not only his enduring skill but also the championship potential of Joe Gibbs Racing’s revamped lineup.
