At New Hampshire Motor Speedway on September 21, 2025, Denny Hamlin openly acknowledged a critical error during the Mobil 1 301, following a tense encounter with his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Ty Gibbs. Addressing the incident after the race, Hamlin discussed his on-track actions, providing insight into the Denny Hamlin racing mistake that affected both competitors as championship battles intensify.
Contact Incident Between Hamlin and Gibbs Draws Attention
Denny Hamlin, piloting the #11 Toyota Camry XSE, started the Mobil 1 301 from the ninth position with a qualifying lap of 29.41 seconds and speeds topping 129.51 mph. Ty Gibbs, his teammate, began from thirteenth, trailing the pole sitter Joey Logano by 0.32 seconds and posting a similar lap time and top speed.
The intensity heightened on lap 110 as both drivers vied for 11th place. Exiting turn four, Hamlin made contact with Gibbs, spinning his teammate as both battled hard for position. This moment marked a contentious point in the race, especially since Hamlin is contending for the Cup Series Championship while Gibbs is not in the playoff hunt. Post-race, Hamlin admitted fault, emphasizing the challenging nature of racing teammates in close quarters:
“We made contact in one. It was like the fourth or fifth time we made contact, but it eventually ended up getting spun. I made a mistake in turn one, so, yeah, I would have made a mistake with anybody in that position. I was trying to get, get by him. That was a task in itself… Yeah, I’ll let leadership, kind of, you know, quarterback it however they’d like to, but obviously us, the 20, 19 are all trying to win a championship for their family, so crazy unfortunate while we’re racing the way we are.” — Denny Hamlin, driver
During the race, Hamlin expressed frustration over the radio, questioning his teammate’s awareness of their championship ambitions:
Denny Hamlin frustrated with Ty Gibbs: “Does Ty know we’re going for a championship? What the f*ck?” — Denny Hamlin, driver
As a result of the incident, Hamlin finished 12th and fell four spots in the playoff standings to fifth. Gibbs, suffering a DNF, dropped to 19th in the series points tally with 633 points.
Strong Playoff Momentum for Joe Gibbs Racing Amid Tensions
Despite the setback at New Hampshire, Joe Gibbs Racing’s broader playoff performance remains dominant. After a commanding sweep of victories in the Round of 16, including Denny Hamlin’s win at Darlington Raceway and a milestone fifth career win at the Enjoy Illinois 300 at Gateway, JGR drivers Denny Hamlin, Christopher Bell, and Chase Briscoe secured spots in the next phase of the Cup Series Playoffs.
Chris Gabehart, Hamlin’s former crew chief, rallied the team with a powerful message on their prospects going forward:
“I do think the champion is coming from this room. I have no idea what door number it’s going to be. I genuinely don’t. I think it could be any one of these three door numbers. Be ready for your moment. You could be the difference in that. Never does it say we can’t win every race. We’ve won the first three playoff races. There are seven to go; let’s win them all.” — Chris Gabehart, crew chief
Recent victories highlight the strength of JGR’s lineup. The team’s run included a Cook Out Southern 500 win by the #19 Toyota Camry XSE at Darlington and a first-place finish at Bristol Motor Speedway by the #20 Camry driver, underscoring their versatile dominance across different tracks and conditions.
Looking Ahead to the Next Playoff Race at Kansas Speedway
The playoff action continues as the Round of 12 kicks off with the Hollywood Casino 400 Presented by ESPN Bet at Kansas Speedway on Sunday, September 28, 2025. This 267-lap event promises to be a critical battleground, as Joe Gibbs Racing drivers aim to maintain their momentum and vie for spots in the next playoff round. Fans can follow the race on USA Network, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, or HBO Max, starting at 3 p.m. ET.
The race at Kansas will be particularly important for contenders like Denny Hamlin, who needs a strong performance to regain ground in the playoff rankings. The ongoing rivalry and high stakes ensure that teamwork, strategy, and error management will be decisive as the championship chase tightens.
The aftermath of Hamlin’s racing mistake highlights the immense pressure facing Cup Series contenders during the playoffs, where every moment on track impacts both individual ambitions and the broader team dynamic. As JGR drivers prepare for Kansas, the spotlight remains firmly on their reactions, resilience, and pursuit of NASCAR’s top prize.
Some of what Denny Hamlin told reporters postrace. He said he (Hamlin) made a mistake going into Turn 1. Wondered why they were racing like that when he and Bell and Briscoe are trying to win a title for JGR. pic.twitter.com/M6Q0T8dY3Z
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) September 21, 2025
