The ongoing Denny Hamlin Ty Gibbs clash within the Joe Gibbs Racing team took another turn as Ty Gibbs publicly spoke for the first time following their controversial on-track contact at New Hampshire. After weeks of avoiding media scrutiny, Gibbs shared his insights at the Charlotte Roval ahead of the upcoming event, highlighting his perspective on the unfolding team drama and expressing his intentions for unity within his team.
Gibbs and Hamlin, both Joe Gibbs Racing drivers, have found themselves embroiled in an internal rivalry that escalated after a collision in New Hampshire. This friction grew when Hamlin vocally expressed his anger on the team radio, later admitting guilt over the intensity of his reaction. Joe Gibbs, the team owner and Ty Gibbs’ grandfather, chose not to intervene directly despite the media attention surrounding the feud. During the Kansas Speedway race, Ty Gibbs declined to comment, further fueling speculation about the state of their relationship.
At the Charlotte Roval event, Ty Gibbs finally offered his perspective, though he remained measured and guarded.
“I’m sure all the other guys answered it for you, so I’ll leave it at that. But it’s been good. We’re making progress in the 54 and excited for this week’s race,” [0:11 onwards]
With additional questioning, Gibbs reflected on the nature of intra-team rivalries in professional racing.
“I don’t think you’re gonna have getting wreck for sure. You know, I don’t think that that’s ideal, but it happens sometimes, it’s racing and we’re racing professional Motorsports and cars. And sometimes they’re harder to control at times,” he said.
“I grew up around all these guys and I appreciated him a lot and I want the best for my team as well. So I think we figured a lot of things out,” he added.
Gibbs Shows Strength in Qualifying Ahead of Roval Race
While dealing with internal turbulence, Ty Gibbs secured an impressive result in Saturday’s qualifying session at the Charlotte Roval. His third-place qualifying time of 86.16 seconds positioned him just 0.221 seconds behind Tyler Reddick, who claimed the pole. Shane van Gisbergen, another road course expert, also out-qualified Gibbs and will start on the front row. The 109-lap race is set for Sunday, October 5, at 3 PM ET, where the focus will be on both race results and the evolving team dynamics within Joe Gibbs Racing.
Denny Hamlin Discusses the Path Forward After Controversy
In the wake of the incident, Denny Hamlin provided his account of the aftermath at Kansas, signaling that despite earlier friction, both drivers have made progress toward resolving their dispute. However, he refrained from revealing specific details about what transpired behind closed doors.
“I think they’re in a good place, we had productive meetings, the guts of that will have to be confidential,” he said via X/Peter Stratta.
“All the drivers did speak and have an opportunity to come up with a plan, I think we came up with one,” he added.
Hamlin also noted the role of Joe Gibbs in establishing clear guidance for the team, reminding drivers who were not in playoff contention to allow their teammates racing for the championship to pass freely. The immediate incident was further complicated by fierce competition between Ty Gibbs and Christopher Bell, as all three teammates battled on track for more than ten laps, amplifying the underlying tensions associated with high-stakes NASCAR racing.
The Aftermath and What Lies Ahead for Joe Gibbs Racing
The Denny Hamlin Ty Gibbs clash marks a pivotal moment for Joe Gibbs Racing, testing the resolve of teammates and the leadership of team owner Joe Gibbs. As the drivers focus on qualifying performance and prepare for the crucial 109-lap event at the Charlotte Roval, attention remains fixed on how the team’s internal relationships will affect both individual and collective outcomes. With strong qualifying performances and attempts at reconciliation, the next race will not only determine points on the track but will also provide insight into the stability and unity of one of NASCAR’s most prominent organizations.
Yes, @TyGibbs and @dennyhamlin talked after Kansas.
A spicy Gibbs this morning is clearly done talking about their run-in at NHMS. #NASCAR
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— Frontstretch (@Frontstretch) October 4, 2025
