Denny Hamlin sparked a high-profile incident involving teammate Ty Gibbs during the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, drawing widespread attention to the ongoing dynamics within Joe Gibbs Racing. The Denny Hamlin NASCAR playoff incident unfolded on Sunday afternoon, highlighting the increasing friction as championship pressure mounts among drivers.
Joe Gibbs Racing’s Mixed Fortunes in Playoff Race
Joe Gibbs Racing came into the weekend with three of its teams—Chase Briscoe, Denny Hamlin, and Christopher Bell—having secured advancement to the Round of 12 after winning the three previous NASCAR Cup Series races at New Hampshire. Ty Gibbs, the fourth member of the organization, was riding a wave of momentum after leading 201 laps the previous weekend at Bristol Motor Speedway but missing out on his first-ever Cup win due to a late-race gamble that did not pay off. As a result, Gibbs was especially determined to prove himself in New Hampshire.
Contrary to the team’s dominant history at the track, the JGR Toyotas struggled in qualifying, which set the tone for a challenging day. Early race positioning became critical as the competition heated up among teammates fighting for every possible advantage.
On-Track Clash Erupts Between Teammates
With just over 100 laps completed at New Hampshire, Ty Gibbs was running in 11th position during the second stage, defending his spot from Denny Hamlin and Christopher Bell. Hamlin, who likely had a quicker car but found himself behind Gibbs, attempted to reclaim position. In a moment that appeared to be fueled by frustration, Hamlin maneuvered his car on the inside of Gibbs and made contact with the left rear quarter-panel of Gibbs’ car, triggering a spin and bringing out a caution.
Over the team radio, Hamlin reacted pointedly:
“What the f*** is he doing?”
– Denny Hamlin, Driver. His exasperation continued when questioning if team members were reluctant to address Gibbs directly:
“Are they afraid to talk to him? That’s what I feel like, they’re scared of him.”
– Denny Hamlin, Driver.
Gibbs, meanwhile, signaled his intent to move forward, responding simply with “Game on.” However, further trouble struck when a broken toe link sent Gibbs’ car to the garage, and with NASCAR’s strict repair rules, his race ended prematurely. After a mandatory visit to the infield care center, Gibbs largely declined to engage the media on the incident:
“Yeah, it’s unfortunate but I’m excited to go race next week and I’m looking forward to it.”
– Ty Gibbs, Driver. When questioned further about Hamlin’s comments, he repeated:
“Yeah, we’ll have a good race next week. I’m looking forward to it.”
– Ty Gibbs, Driver.
Post-Race Opinions and Fallout
Denny Hamlin finished the race in 12th place, collecting stage points but offering little on record regarding the controversial clash. Speaking after the event, Hamlin acknowledged responsibility but minimized the discussion:
“It’s super unfortunate he got spun there and obviously the contact came from us,”
– Denny Hamlin, Driver.
“Yeah, I don’t have any other comment other than that. Just had some contact into (turn) 1. It was obviously a really rough race before that.”
– Denny Hamlin, Driver.
He was also non-committal about resolving any tension with Gibbs in the days ahead, stating:
“Well, I mean, we’ll work through it and all but just — we’ll see how it goes. But honestly, it’s unfortunate the contact happened.”
– Denny Hamlin, Driver.
Hamlin’s remarks placed the responsibility on the nature of hard racing, while still admitting to the incident, hinting that discord within the team could linger. The collision cast a spotlight on the differing priorities between drivers racing for the title and those not in contention, with Hamlin expressing clear frustration at Gibbs’ aggressive defense.
Implications for Joe Gibbs Racing and Playoff Stakes
The televised dispute raised concerns about how well Denny Hamlin and Ty Gibbs, who are at different points in their respective playoff journeys, can cooperate for the remainder of the season. As NASCAR is unlikely to intervene—since Hamlin’s contact, while appearing intentional, was not judged severe enough for official action—the responsibility now rests solely on the drivers and Joe Gibbs Racing management to resolve the conflict internally.
With the organization’s championship ambitions on the line and differing egos at play, attention turns to whether unity will prevail or if internal tensions will disrupt playoff campaigns for JGR. The outcome could shape the morale and results for Joe Gibbs’ drivers as they advance deeper into the high-stakes rounds of the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs.
