For years, Denny Hamlin and Chris Gabehart formed one of NASCAR’s most formidable driver-crew chief partnerships. Together, they achieved 22 wins, countless top-10 finishes, and playoff runs that showcased their synergy. Gabehart’s strategic brilliance complemented Hamlin’s aggressive driving style, creating a dynamic duo that seemed destined to last until Hamlin’s retirement. Their bond extended beyond the track, with mutual respect driving their success.
However, as the 2025 season approached, Joe Gibbs Racing made a decision that sent shockwaves through the No. 11 team. Hamlin’s trusted confidant was promoted to competition director, leaving him to navigate uncharted waters with a new crew chief. What followed was a test of resilience for the veteran driver and his ability to adapt in the twilight of his career. After their first win as a duo at Martinsville Speedway on Sunday, Hamlin opened up about his feelings when the move was put together.
Denny Hamlin didn’t want to start from scratch
Joe Gibbs Racing’s decision to replace Chris Gabehart with Chris Gayle as Denny Hamlin’s crew chief left the veteran driver stunned. “I was pretty shook about it,” Hamlin admitted when discussing the abrupt change. He learned of the decision shortly after the 2024 season finale, signaling a significant shift in his No. 11 team’s leadership.
Denny Hamlin expressed initial reluctance about having a new crew chief at this stage of his career. “I was in a comfortable situation with Chris Gabehart… I don’t want to start all over…like, I’m too old,” he confessed on his Actions Detrimental podcast, recalling his feelings during the change and highlighting his concerns about rebuilding relationships and strategies. Hamlin is 44 years old and is likely to retire soon. Even if he doesn’t, he is well past his prime and running out of time to secure that elusive championship win.
However, JGR’s move aligns with the team’s broader strategy to improve team-wide performance. Hamlin was puzzled initially, recalling his emotions as, “Was it me or Chris [Gabehart]?” when the move went through. However, he came to the realization eventually that, “I think it was truthfully a combination of both. I think he made me better in a lot of aspects, and I took a lot of that into my mentality with Chris Gayle now.” Gayle’s experience as crew chief for the No. 54 (Ty Gibbs) team and his familiarity with JGR operations made him a logical choice for the role.
“I sucked it up and said I’m gonna do the best I can and not waste the last years of my career p—— and moaning about this. I’m just gonna be a professional and do everything I can to make sure this works out.” Boy, did it work out? Hamlin almost won the Daytona 500 for a fourth time if not for a last-lap wreck. He went door-to-door with Christopher Bell and came 2nd in one of the closest races in Phoenix Raceway history. A win was looming, and the duo finally got it right last Sunday, snapping a 31-race winless streak in the process.
Ultimately, Hamlin views the change as an opportunity to prove himself. “I’m excited to build that new relationship and new achievements with someone else,” he said, signaling his willingness to embrace the challenge. While the transition wasn’t easy, Hamlin’s Martinsville victory proved that he and Gayle could be a winning combination. And Hamlin wanted to win this one for Gabehart more than himself.
Hamlin wanted to silence doubters, but not his own!
Denny Hamlin’s first win with crew chief Chris Gayle was dominant, to say the least. The #11 driver led 274 laps, won by 4 seconds, and notched up his 6th career win at Martinsville. After the win, Hamlin spoke about the motivation he got to win at Martinsville. It all stemmed from the chatter around Gayle’s appointment, and the trip to victory lane was no less than retribution. The #11 said, “This is probably one of the very few wins that I was more happy for my crew chief, Chris Gayle.”
Hamlin added, “He’s had these young guys (Ty Gibbs), helped mentor them, also crew chief them… that’s really hard to do. I’ve tried this year to make his job as easy as possible by giving him whatever information he needs to make the car the best it can… I wanted to do it more to silence his doubters, more than necessarily mine.” Silence them he certainly did, and no one was happier than his previous crew chief Chris Gabehart.
Gabehart said, “The Martinsville clock that eluded the No. 11 for so many years is finally back with Denny and the No. 11 team, and yeah, this is a big one for me. I’m proud of all of them, but this one is a big one for me personally.” Gabehart has been through the heartbreaking Martinsville moments, such as Ross Chastain wall-riding Denny Hamlin out of the Championship 4 in 2022, so he knows what this means for the team.
With the playoff qualification secured, Hamlin’s next goal is certainly the championship. It’s the only thing that has eluded him in his career so far. With Gabehart still rallying behind him and Chris Gayle delivering solid results, is this the year Hamlin finally goes all the way? Let us know in the comments!
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