| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Christopher Allen Gabehart |
| Birth Place | Lafayette, Indiana, USA (raised in Louisville, Kentucky) |
| Birth Date | May 16, 1981 |
| Height | Not publicly disclosed |
| Weight | Not publicly disclosed |
| Parents | Not publicly disclosed |
| Nationality | American |
| Net Worth | $3 million |
| Salary | Not publicly disclosed |
| Relationship/Spouse | Not publicly disclosed |
| Children | Not publicly disclosed |
| Profession | NASCAR Director of Competition, Former Crew Chief, Former Stock Car Driver |
| Team | Joe Gibbs Racing |
Chris Gabehart
Christopher Allen Gabehart is an American NASCAR competition director and former professional stock car racing crew chief. Known for his successful tenure as the crew chief for Denny Hamlin at Joe Gibbs Racing, Gabehart has significantly influenced NASCAR competition strategies and team performance. He currently serves as the Director of Competition for Joe Gibbs Racing in the NASCAR Cup Series.
Early Life and Background
Chris Gabehart was born on May 16, 1981, in Lafayette, Indiana, and grew up in Louisville, Kentucky. Early in life, Gabehart showed interest in racing and engineering. He competed as a driver in late model stock car racing and earned the CRA Super Series championship in 2007, along with winning the prestigious All American 400 race in 2008. Gabehart pursued higher education at Purdue University, where he honed his engineering skills—an academic foundation that contributed to his later roles in NASCAR.
Career
Gabehart began his motorsports career as a driver but transitioned into engineering and crew chief roles. His early professional work involved collaborating with Kyle Busch Motorsports on late model and truck series programs, eventually moving to Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) in the Xfinity and Cup Series in engineering capacities. His first crew chief role came in 2016 with Erik Jones in the Xfinity Series, where they competed for the championship but ultimately lost to Daniel Suárez.
In 2019, Gabehart was promoted to crew chief for the No. 11 Cup Series team driven by Denny Hamlin. The partnership proved highly successful, starting with a victory in the 2019 Daytona 500 — Hamlin’s first win in 47 races. The duo accumulated four wins that season and finished fourth in the points standings. They repeated the Daytona 500 win in 2020, and over Gabehart’s crew chief tenure with Hamlin, the team amassed 22 Cup wins through the 2024 season.
On November 22, 2024, Gabehart was promoted to Director of Competition at JGR. His departure from crew chief duties for Hamlin marked the end of a fruitful six-year partnership. Gabehart has since taken on additional responsibilities, including serving as the race strategist for Ty Gibbs’ No. 54 team during select events in 2025, demonstrating versatility in his managerial roles. Chris Gayle succeeded Gabehart as Hamlin’s crew chief starting in the 2025 season.
Off-Track Ventures
There is no publicly available information indicating significant business ventures, endorsements, or philanthropy directly tied to Gabehart.
Net Worth
Gabehart’s estimated net worth is $3 million.
Family Life
Detailed information about Gabehart’s parents, spouse, or children is not publicly available or disclosed. He maintains a private personal life.
Recent Controversies
There are no widely reported recent controversies involving Chris Gabehart. While some decisions made during his crew chief tenure were scrutinized in the public and media for in-race calls and team conduct, such scrutiny is typical for high-level NASCAR competition personnel and does not constitute verified controversies.
Key Highlights from Season 2024 and 2025
- 2024: Gabehart crew-chiefed Denny Hamlin’s No. 11 team, achieving three NASCAR Cup Series race wins, including strategic victories that helped solidify Hamlin as a contender. However, Hamlin and the team fell short of reaching the Championship 4 in the playoffs.
- 1 August 2025: Serving as Joe Gibbs Racing’s Director of Competition, Gabehart has assumed a broader role overseeing competition strategies across teams. He has also acted as race strategist for Ty Gibbs during several races and continues to contribute to JGR’s competitive development and race operations.