The Denny Hamlin crew suspension follows an incident during Saturday’s Bristol Night race, where Hamlin’s No. 11 team lost a right front tire on the track. NASCAR responded with a penalty, impacting two vital crew members just as the series intensifies.
Details Behind NASCAR’s Latest Penalty
A warning was issued shortly after the mishap at Bristol Motor Speedway. The penalty, which was generally anticipated within NASCAR circles, includes the suspension of tire changer Austin Maloney and jackman Joel Bouagnon. This disciplinary action marks the eighth occurrence of a lost wheel penalty in the NASCAR Cup Series this year. The tally of penalized crew members now reaches sixteen, with Maloney and Bouagnon being the fifteenth and sixteenth affected so far this season.
NASCAR Communications confirmed the decision:
“A penalty has been issued following this past weekend’s action at Bristol Motor Speedway. pic.twitter.com/lMmopqBa9L”
— NASCAR Communications, Official NASCAR Source
Implications for Denny Hamlin’s Playoff Run
Denny Hamlin shared his reaction to the penalty on the Monday episode of Action’s Detremental, stating,
“I have no idea who’s sitting on the bench, who’s ready, and it’s not even my concern.”
— Denny Hamlin, Driver. Joe Gibbs Racing, Hamlin’s parent team, has not yet announced which crew members will step in as replacements for the coming race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, the opening event in the Round of 12 playoffs.
Industry analyst Bozi Tatarevic noted that Joe Gibbs Racing can lease teams to Front Row Motorsports and Rick Ware Racing, and maintains one in-house car—the No. 54 driven by Ty Gibbs—that is currently out of playoff contention. This arrangement may provide options for the team to cope with the current suspension.
The Team’s Position as Playoffs Advance
Despite the penalty, Hamlin’s team remains in a relatively favorable position, holding a 26-point lead above the playoff cut line going into the New Hampshire Motor Speedway weekend. Throughout the modern playoff era, which began in 2014, Hamlin has consistently advanced, only missing the Round of Eight twice, in 2015 and 2018 respectively.
What This Means for NASCAR and Hamlin’s Future
This latest Denny Hamlin crew suspension puts additional pressure on the team during a crucial stretch of the season. NASCAR’s strict enforcement of penalties for equipment-related infractions highlights the importance of pit crew precision. The response from Hamlin and his team, as well as decisions from Joe Gibbs Racing about replacement personnel, will draw close scrutiny as the next playoff round approaches.
A penalty has been issued following this past weekend's action at Bristol Motor Speedway. pic.twitter.com/lMmopqBa9L
— NASCAR Communications (@NASCAR_Comms) September 16, 2025
Good question by @TravisRockhold here.
JGR leases crews to Front Row Motorsports and Rick Ware Racing and they also have some development pit crew members available.
There are a few options for substitutions for the No. 11 if there are suspensions. Here is how it usually goes: pic.twitter.com/pqdOUyHjMm
— Bozi Tatarevic (@BoziTatarevic) September 15, 2025
