During the recent New Hampshire race, an incident involving Joe Gibbs Racing teammates Denny Hamlin and Ty Gibbs has become the focal point for discussions about teamwork and conflict within the organization. The Joe Gibbs Racing teammate conflict developed when Hamlin spun Gibbs after expressing frustration over their on-track dynamics.
Events Leading Up to the Collision
In the laps before the spin, Hamlin aired his frustration about Gibbs’s driving over the team radio, asking for intervention to align their strategy. However, no resolution was found. This led Hamlin to make contact with the back left bumper of Gibbs’s car, causing Gibbs to spin. Following the race, both drivers appeared hesitant to address the situation in their interviews, prompting broadcasters Jeff Burton and Steve Letarte to delve deeper into the team dynamic during coverage on USA Network.
Ownership’s Crucial Role in Resolving Internal Disputes
Steve Letarte commented on the ownership’s role in such conflicts, emphasizing the authority and responsibility that rests with team owner Joe Gibbs:
“I think it really comes down to the owner,”
Steve Letarte, Broadcast Analyst
Letarte elaborated further, pointing out that only the team owner can ultimately resolve these matters, referencing other notable NASCAR owners like Rick Hendrick and Richard Childress:
“It’s the same for Rick Hendrick, Richard Childress, you could go up and down the owners. They’re the ones invested, they’re paying the bills, they’re the guys. They hire who drives their racecars.”
Steve Letarte, Broadcast Analyst
This highlights not only the power owners have to settle tensions but also their presence during high-pressure episodes such as intense teammate disagreements.
Perspectives on Racing Etiquette and Team Priorities
During the race, Hamlin voiced his aggravation regarding what he described as “some teammate bulls**t,” after several laps of close competition with Ty Gibbs. The unofficial consensus from observers suggested that Hamlin’s decision to spin Gibbs was spurred by the ongoing tussle between the two. Intent or not, the move sent a clear signal about team standards and priorities.
Letarte provided additional insight into strategies for handling such situations from a tactical and ownership perspective:
“I have some opinion, I think it’s important that this has been laid out (in terms of strategy),”
Steve Letarte, Broadcast Analyst
“What I want here is I want coach, the Super Bowl championship coach, he’s called coach for a reason. This is what owners need,”
Steve Letarte, Broadcast Analyst
“Everyone always asks, what’s an owner do? Well he raises money and he hires the right people, but when an owner is really tested is this moment right here. Because I agree with Jeff, this is an intersection.”
Steve Letarte, Broadcast Analyst
Letarte’s comments frame the event as a defining moment for team leadership, suggesting that resolving such conflicts tests an owner’s decision-making and authority.
Family Ties Add Complexity to Team Decisions
The conflict carries additional weight within Joe Gibbs Racing since Ty Gibbs is Joe Gibbs’s grandson. Letarte addressed this factor directly:
“What makes it more complicated because it’s coach Gibbs talking about grandson Ty Gibbs,”
Steve Letarte, Broadcast Analyst
“You cannot take those layers off the onion. Those are real. Those connections are real. So it’ll be interesting to see if Denny and Ty … and just as important for (Christopher) Bell and (Chase) Briscoe. So I think it’s a real turning point or a real intersection for all of Joe Gibbs Racing.”
Steve Letarte, Broadcast Analyst
The intertwining of family relationships and business responsibilities creates additional challenges for the team’s owner in addressing the situation fairly and transparently.
Possible Future Outcomes for Joe Gibbs Racing
The incident in New Hampshire may lead to lasting repercussions for the team, depending on how the conflict between Hamlin and Gibbs is managed in the coming weeks. The response from Joe Gibbs as owner, as well as the attitude shown by drivers like Christopher Bell and Chase Briscoe, could determine whether the conflict continues or is resolved behind the scenes. The episode highlights the unique pressures team owners face when personal and professional interests intersect, and how leadership choices can shape the future direction of major NASCAR organizations like Joe Gibbs Racing.
The Nos. 11 and 54 get together! @TyGibbs spins and backs it into the wall. pic.twitter.com/Qp9oVyufFF
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) September 21, 2025
