Denny Hamlin addressed the Denny Hamlin feud accountability following last weekend’s intense altercation with his young Joe Gibbs Racing teammate, Ty Gibbs, at New Hampshire, where Hamlin spun out Gibbs, cutting his race short. In the days since, questions have swirled about the fallout between the veteran driver and the 22-year-old racer as discussions within the team intensified ahead of their next race in Kansas.
The conflict between Hamlin and Gibbs has become a focal point for Joe Gibbs Racing, especially after Hamlin openly called for leaders within the team to step in. Team owner Joe Gibbs, who is also Ty’s grandfather, commented publicly that it was up to the drivers themselves to resolve the issue.
Meetings Held but Limited Details Shared
Speaking with reporters Saturday ahead of the Kansas race, Hamlin provided some insight into the internal steps taken since the clash.
I think they’re in a good place,
said Hamlin, highlighting the outcome of meetings held during the week. He added,
We had some meetings this week. I thought they were all productive meetings, but obviously the guts of that are gonna need to be confidential.
— Denny Hamlin, Driver
According to coverage by Kyle Dalton, Hamlin was forthcoming about his part in the drama. At Kansas Speedway, Dalton posted,
At @kansasspeedway, @dennyhamlin spoke with reporters and took accountability for his role in the feud with teammate @TyGibbs at @NHMS. He also acknowledged all the drivers met but also indicated team leadership didn’t intervene per his request. pic.twitter.com/FFMXNLYKkV
— Kyle Dalton, Sportswriter
All Drivers Speak, Hamlin Hints at Regret
When asked if each driver was able to share their perspective and whether team management took part, Hamlin noted,
Yeah, all the drivers had an opportunity to speak and try to come up with a plan and I think we did our best to come up with one,
— Denny Hamlin, Driver. On whether he had further comment, he simply stated,
That’s it. That’s all I have. I’m sorry.
— Denny Hamlin, Driver
Reflecting on his own conduct, the three-time Daytona 500 winner showed some regret over his actions at New Hampshire, admitting,
Yeah, well, I mean, certainly, absolutely,
and elaborated,
I think that I definitely got hot under the collar. It went too far on my end and certainly there was things that I wish I could have done a little differently.
— Denny Hamlin, Driver
Ty Gibbs Avoids Media After Kansas Qualifying
While Hamlin was transparent about the situation, Ty Gibbs chose to avoid questioning from journalists following Kansas practice and qualifying. Jeff Gluck of The Athletic described what happened:
.@TyGibbs saw several reporters waiting for him after qualifying,
and added,
He quickly walked to the other end of pit road and hopped on a golf cart and drove away as @bobpockrass (who speed-walked faster than the rest of us) tried asking a question. Guess that’s a no comment (he could have just said that instead of making us chase him, but OK).
— Jeff Gluck, Journalist
This encounter highlighted the sharp contrast in how each driver is handling the public scrutiny. While Hamlin admitted to mistakes and promised internal reflection, Gibbs sidestepped reporters entirely, intensifying speculation about ongoing tension within the team.
Race Performance and What Lies Ahead
On the track, the Joe Gibbs Racing drivers continued to perform strongly during Kansas qualifying. Denny Hamlin secured the second position behind fellow teammate and polesitter Chase Briscoe, Christopher Bell finished fifth, and Ty Gibbs qualified in eighth place. This solid performance by the team underscores their continued competitiveness in the NASCAR Cup Series despite the recent controversy.
With Hamlin openly acknowledging his lapse in judgment and calling for internal strategy amid tension, and Gibbs opting to remain silent, the aftermath of the Denny Hamlin feud accountability storyline is far from settled. As the season progresses, all eyes will be on the dynamic between these teammates, the response of team owner Joe Gibbs, and whether these internal rifts will impact Joe Gibbs Racing’s pursuit of the championship.
At @kansasspeedway, @dennyhamlin spoke with reporters and took accountability for his role in the feud with teammate @TyGibbs at @NHMS. He also acknowledged all the drivers met but also indicated team leadership didn't intervene per his request. pic.twitter.com/FFMXNLYKkV
— Kyle Dalton (@kdsportswriter) September 27, 2025
.@TyGibbs saw several reporters waiting for him after qualifying. He quickly walked to the other end of pit road and hopped on a golf cart and drove away as @bobpockrass (who speed-walked faster than the rest of us) tried asking a question. Guess that’s a no comment (he could…
— Jeff Gluck (@jeff_gluck) September 27, 2025
