On Sunday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Dale Earnhardt Jr. voiced his confusion regarding Ty Gibbs’ approach in the middle of the ongoing Denny Hamlin racing controversy. Earnhardt, discussing the critical moments during the recent NASCAR event, questioned why Gibbs, who is not hunting for the championship, made it so tough for his teammates Denny Hamlin and Christopher Bell—both still in playoff contention—to advance, especially given the tension surrounding this incident.
History of Team Conflict and Past Incidents
Earnhardt empathized with the difficulty of being a teammate who must sometimes sacrifice personal ambition for the greater good of the team, recalling his own seasons in such situations. However, he pointed out that he struggled to justify Gibbs’ actions, recalling not just this most recent event but also earlier controversies such as when Gibbs wrecked Brandon Jones during the Xfinity Series race at Martinsville in 2022. This pattern, in Earnhardt’s view, reflects a repeated challenge for Gibbs in understanding team dynamics and what is expected among stablemates.
“He’s not been a great teammate at times,”
Earnhardt remarked on the Dale Jr. Download podcast.
“He’s had some moments with, one of the more popularized ones, would be Brandon Jones at Martinsville but there were run-ins with some other folks in some Gibbs Xfinity cars.”
– Dale Earnhardt Jr., Dale Jr. Download podcast
“I just have a hard time trying to figure out Ty Gibbs.”
– Dale Earnhardt Jr., Dale Jr. Download podcast
Questions about Motive and Team Expectations
Earnhardt stressed that, on a personal level, he likes Gibbs but cannot understand why he chose to make life harder for his own teammates, particularly those with championship hopes between laps 100 to 111. He questioned what incentive existed for Gibbs, especially when Gibbs himself is not in playoff contention.
“I’m having a hard time understanding like, what is his motive,”
Earnhardt said.
“What is your motive. You’re not in the playoffs. You’re his teammate. Like, totally let him go. Look, if I’m racing my teammate, I’m letting him go because all of his crew, the crew chief, engineer, the team owner — all of the employees of the team, like the team manager, general manager, everybody who’s present is seeing this.”
– Dale Earnhardt Jr., Dale Jr. Download podcast
Earnhardt brought up how these actions are not just witnessed by those at the track but also by employees back at the engine shop or even those watching at home, suggesting how widespread the impact of such controversial driving can be on team morale and communication.
“Am I really going to make everyone who works on these cars, even for a few corners, am I going to make them see that? The people at home, at the engine shop, all the people that are sitting on their couch, the employees of this operation, sitting at home and getting text messages. They’re getting texts that say ‘what the hell is he thinking?’”
– Dale Earnhardt Jr., Dale Jr. Download podcast
Relationship Dynamics within Joe Gibbs Racing
The ongoing Denny Hamlin racing controversy has highlighted underlying questions about personal and professional relationships within Joe Gibbs Racing. Earnhardt openly speculated about Gibbs’ relationship with Hamlin and Bell, stating uncertainty about whether Gibbs is simply not on good terms with Hamlin, or if perhaps deeper relationship issues exist throughout the team.
“You know, I just don’t get it,”
Earnhardt said.
“I don’t know what his motive is. Like I can understand, maybe he’s not a huge fan of Denny. Maybe him and Denny don’t have much of a relationship. I don’t know. Maybe they have a great relationship, but it doesn’t seem like it.”
– Dale Earnhardt Jr., Dale Jr. Download podcast
When the show’s producer pointed out that Gibbs raced Bell just as fiercely, Earnhardt suggested the problem may not be isolated to just one relationship, raising doubts about whether any fellow teammates have a solid bond with him. This lack of team unity is a concern for team leadership and strategy.
Leadership Response and Team Principles during Playoffs
Earnhardt expressed his belief that Chris Gabehart, competition director, along with the team’s management, likely addressed the issue with Gibbs, insisting that during the playoffs a teammate should not be the most difficult obstacle on the track for title contenders such as Hamlin or Bell, especially when their own championship hopes are at stake.
“It’s too far into it for this,”
Earnhardt said.
“If it’s race 10 or whatever, fine, but this is the playoffs and these are critical moments and critical positions. And to Denny’s point, your teammate shouldn’t be the hardest to pass on the race track in this situation.”
– Dale Earnhardt Jr., Dale Jr. Download podcast
Earnhardt also reflected on his own experience as someone eliminated from championship contention while others on the team continued in pursuit of the title, stressing the importance of understanding when to step aside for teammates in such high-pressure stages.
“It sucks to be a teammate out of the playoffs when you have the other three in the playoffs. I lived that. Yoyu are out there running your ass off. You’ve had a hard year. You aren’t happy with how your year went. You’re frustrated and now you’re having to basically lay over for your teammates … but you have to do it. You have to understand and see what’s happening.”
– Dale Earnhardt Jr., Dale Jr. Download podcast
What This Means for Joe Gibbs Racing and the Championship Battle
The controversy escalates pressure inside Joe Gibbs Racing, forcing a closer examination of team culture and expectations, especially during the vital playoff stretch. Earnhardt repeatedly came back to the idea that common sense and established etiquette among racing teammates must prevail to maintain trust and fairness. He acknowledged the complexity of emotions at play but insisted that Gibbs’ actions should never have forced Hamlin into such an unwinnable situation—even if Hamlin’s reaction was contentious as well.
As the playoffs progress, scrutiny of team relationships will likely intensify, with all eyes on whether Joe Gibbs Racing can reinforce unity or if further internal drama could undermine championship ambitions. The aftermath of this Denny Hamlin racing controversy underscores just how critical cooperation and shared purpose are—especially when the stakes are highest for both drivers and the entire organization.
