Tension erupted among Joe Gibbs Racing teammates during the NASCAR Cup Series playoff race at New Hampshire, as the Denny Hamlin NASCAR playoff incident became the focal point of team frustration on Sunday. Denny Hamlin, vying for crucial championship points, was blocked by Ty Gibbs—grandson of team owner Joe Gibbs—resulting in heated exchanges and a dramatic on-track retaliation.
About one-third into the event, Hamlin and Christopher Bell, also of Joe Gibbs Racing, found themselves behind Ty Gibbs, who was running 11th but seemed intent on holding his position, disregarding the team’s championship interests. Hamlin openly criticized Gibbs over the team radio, questioning the rookie’s approach and apparent disregard for the playoff context.
Radio Outbursts and Escalating Tensions
Hamlin’s distress came through unmistakably as he voiced his frustrations directly to his younger teammate:
Don’t you know we’re racing for a championship? What the f**k,
—Denny Hamlin, Driver. However, Ty Gibbs either did not acknowledge or did not care about the message, continuing to defend his position and impede the progress of both Hamlin and Bell. For Hamlin, enough was enough. In a calculated move on Lap 147, Hamlin nudged Gibbs’ car, causing it to spin out and hit the wall, effectively ending Gibbs’ race and resolving the immediate standoff.
After the on-track incident, Hamlin’s disbelief at the team’s lack of intervention was clear, as he continued discussing the matter on the radio with his crew chief Chris Gayle:
Are they afraid to talk to him?
—Denny Hamlin, Driver, and
That’s what I feel like. They’re just scared of him.
—Denny Hamlin, Driver. Gayle, measured in his reply, said,
I don’t know the answer to that right now. We’ll talk about it after, I promise.
—Chris Gayle, Crew Chief.
Post-Race Responses Reveal Lingering Discontent
Following the race, Hamlin’s composure returned but his resentment remained visible. In interviews, he offered limited comments on the incident, stating,
He got spun there, and obviously, the contact came from us. I don’t have any other comment other than that. Just had some contact into [turn] one, and obviously it was a really rough race before that. We’ll work through it and all, but we’ll see how it goes. Honestly, it’s unfortunate that the contact happened.
—Denny Hamlin, Driver. Meanwhile, Ty Gibbs avoided directly addressing the situation, providing a vague response when interviewed on television:
Yeah, it’s unfortunate, but I’m excited to go racing next week and I’m looking forward to it,
—Ty Gibbs, Driver. Pressed further about any upcoming discussions within Joe Gibbs Racing during the scheduled debrief meetings, Gibbs again deflected:
Yeah, we’ll have a good race next week and we’re looking forward to it.
—Ty Gibbs, Driver.
The Underlying Team Dynamics and Race Impact
Hamlin’s arguments carried weight as he and Bell attempted to overtake Gibbs, highlighting that Gibbs was not a direct contender for the event win or playoff advancement at that moment. While the episode ended Gibbs’ day early, it raised questions within the team over intra-squad cooperation and whether Ty Gibbs’ strategy serves the overall goals of Joe Gibbs Racing as the organization chases another championship. The implication was that Gibbs’ actions were not only self-serving but detrimental to the collective cause—especially since Hamlin and Bell were both fighting for strong playoff finishes.
After the dust settled at New Hampshire, the team results emphasized further frustration for Hamlin. Despite aggressive driving and hard racing from all involved, Hamlin finished 12th, Christopher Bell took sixth, and Chase Briscoe, the other JGR playoff driver, secured 10th place. Notably, Hamlin found himself as the lowest-finishing Joe Gibbs Racing playoff driver, struggling with restarts late in the race and missing an opportunity for a higher result.
Ongoing Struggles and Future Implications for Joe Gibbs Racing
Hamlin rarely loses his cool, but this incident, combined with his compromised finish, illustrated the mounting pressure and dissatisfaction within the team during the critical playoff stretch. He acknowledged his own failings in the race’s closing laps, saying,
It’s just a bad restart on my part,
—Denny Hamlin, Driver and continued,
I just couldn’t get going on the bottom lane. Every time I started on the bottom, I couldn’t get anything going. Obviously, it cost us some positions from where we probably would have finished. We just have to get a little better. Certainly, we didn’t come here with our best. We have to get a little faster, get the handling better, and our guys certainly have to do a better job.
—Denny Hamlin, Driver.
Meanwhile, questions linger over whether Joe Gibbs will address the incident and refocus the team on their championship aspirations. Ty Gibbs, still searching for his first Cup Series win as he approaches his 23rd birthday, finds himself at the center of a significant team controversy. The handling of this episode could impact not only future team dynamics but also the trajectory of the organization as the playoffs progress. With high stakes and internal discord exposed to the public, Joe Gibbs Racing faces a pivotal moment in its pursuit of NASCAR Cup glory.
