Amid ongoing unrest within Joe Gibbs Racing following the Denny Hamlin Ty Gibbs clash at New Hampshire, Dale Earnhardt Jr. is calling on the younger Gibbs to proactively mend fences before team unity suffers further. The aftermath of the race has raised concerns about internal relationships and the broader impacts on the team’s playoff ambitions.
New Hampshire Incident Sparks Team Tension
The controversy erupted during Lap 110, as Ty Gibbs, who was running in 11th place, fiercely competed with his teammates Denny Hamlin and Christopher Bell. With Gibbs trying to fend them off, Hamlin attempted a low move, touching Gibbs’ car and sending him into the wall at Turn 1, which brought out a caution flag. The incident shattered Gibbs’ race with a broken toe link and drew heated reactions, although neither driver chose to address the conflict in public statements afterward.
Despite the public silence from Denny Hamlin and Ty Gibbs, the drama continued off the track, as Hamlin was observed talking with Joe Gibbs and former crew chief Chris Gabehart on pit road. Meanwhile, team owner Joe Gibbs made it clear he would not intervene, leaving it to his grandson Ty and Hamlin to resolve the matter privately among themselves.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. Calls for Responsibility from Gibbs
Dale Earnhardt Jr., taking Hamlin’s side in the dispute, made clear that Ty Gibbs needed to take responsibility for the incident and show maturity as a teammate in a high-pressure playoff context. According to Junior, this situation called for more than just technical skill—it required self-awareness and an understanding of the bigger picture within the team.
“This is a big teaching moment for Ty, well beyond like next week and his racing career and all of that. like how they managed this little hiccup. What happened on the racetrack? It sucks. He shouldn’t have raced him like he did. He got wrecked by his teammate, Denny. All that sucks.”
— Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Junior believes Ty Gibbs should address the team directly, acknowledge his mistake, and move forward with renewed commitment as the stakes increase in the playoffs.
“You go into the meeting. You talk about it. Ty should, I think, stand up and say, ‘I f*cked up. Should let y’all guys go. I don’t know what I was thinking. That was foolish of me. Won’t happen again going forward in these playoffs. You got my word. I’m gonna be a good teammate.’”
— Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Warnings of Long-Term Fallout
Dale Earnhardt Jr. echoed sentiments from Steve Letarte, emphasizing that unchecked animosity from conflicts like the Denny Hamlin Ty Gibbs clash can damage both team morale and reputation for much longer than a single race weekend. With Hamlin’s status as a senior figure in the organization, the handling—or mishandling—of the situation could have lasting repercussions for Joe Gibbs Racing.
Despite his strong feelings about the need for accountability, Junior expressed hope that the conflict would be resolved internally, preventing further damage to the team’s cohesion ahead of the crucial playoff stretch. If Ty Gibbs and Denny Hamlin can work through this challenge, the team stands a better chance of pulling together when it counts most.
