The Denny Hamlin Ty Gibbs feud, which unfolded during last Sunday’s playoff race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, has drawn scrutiny toward Joe Gibbs Racing leadership. Former and current NASCAR personalities, as well as fans, are questioning how JGR handled the controversial on-track incident between teammates Hamlin and Gibbs.
Conflict Develops at New Hampshire Motor Speedway
Last weekend’s race saw Denny Hamlin and Ty Gibbs, both drivers for Joe Gibbs Racing, locked in an intense battle for 11th place over more than ten laps. The situation was especially notable since Gibbs is not a playoff contender, while Hamlin is in the hunt for the championship, leading to questions about why Gibbs raced his teammate so aggressively.
The tension between the teammates did not extend visibly to the pit road after the race, but many expected senior figures within JGR to intervene. However, as former NASCAR driver Kyle Petty pointed out, the organization’s owner seemed to distance himself from the dispute.
“What disturbs me is what Joe Gibbs said,” Petty said. “He said, it’s not about me, it’s about the drivers. What does that mean? I thought he was ‘Coach’ Gibbs!”
Race Aftermath and Standings Impact
The incident had immediate and dramatic effects: Ty Gibbs ended up crashing out, marking his third race this season where he failed to finish. Denny Hamlin, in contrast, recovered to secure twelfth place and added twenty-eight points to his campaign. Currently, Hamlin holds fifth in the playoff standings, with a relatively safe margin of twenty-seven points above the cutoff line.
As the season progresses—now thirty races in—Hamlin has accumulated an impressive five wins, twelve top-five finishes, and has finished inside the top twenty on fifteen occasions. Across 645 laps led so far, the Tampa, Florida native holds an average finishing position of 13.724, highlighting his consistency in the series.
NASCAR Figures Respond to Internal Team Battle
The fallout from the Denny Hamlin Ty Gibbs feud has been a hot topic among NASCAR analysts, including Dale Earnhardt Jr., a Hall of Famer and two-time Xfinity Series champion. Earnhardt reflected on the confrontation while discussing it on his podcast.
“Was it necessary for Denny to wreck him into the wall? Um, nah, probably not, but damn it, gotta look at Ty’s history. He’s not been a great teammate at times.”
“I’m have a hard time understanding like what was his what his motive. What was his motive? So Denny is right in saying, ‘Look man, you know, you’re not in the playoffs. we are. You’re our teammate.’ Like, you’ll totally let him go,”‘he added.
These sentiments reflect general frustration within the racing community, with many questioning Ty Gibbs’ decision-making as a teammate. Denny Hamlin himself expressed his expectation that team leadership would address how teammates should treat each other during critical playoff moments.
“What I want to happen is leadership (to) step in and tell us, what do you want us to do?” Hamlin said. “If you want us all to just race each other cut-throat, no matter what your position is in the stature of the standings, we can definitely do that.”
Attention Turns to Team Leadership and Kansas Speedway
The uproar has placed Joe Gibbs Racing and its leadership under scrutiny, with many calling for clearer directives to prevent similar conflicts among teammates in the future. This incident not only impacts Hamlin and Gibbs but also raises broader questions for teams vying for championships during the high-stakes playoffs.
The focus now shifts to Kansas Speedway, where the upcoming playoff race is set for next Sunday. Fans will be watching to see if JGR addresses internal tensions and whether Denny Hamlin, Ty Gibbs, and their fellow drivers can navigate the race without further controversy. The event will be televised on USA beginning Sunday, September 28 at 3 p.m. ET, with live radio coverage on MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
With emotions still running high and Joe Gibbs Racing facing mounting pressure, this episode has become a defining moment in the team’s season, intensifying the spotlight on both driver conduct and organizational leadership as the playoffs continue.
