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Joe Gibbs Racing recently changed Denny Hamlin's Crew Chief, as they promoted Chris Gabehart to a new role within the team, and brought in Chris Gayle for the #11 team. Pointing it out, Dale Earnhardt Jr. recently shared his thoughts, where he opined that the move may not be the best for Hamlin.
Amid the ongoing NASCAR silly season, JGR decided to promote Hamlin's crew chief Gabehart to the team's competition director. In place of him, JGR roped in Gayle, who was #54 driver Ty Gibbs' crew chief until 2024.
Gabehart had been working with Hamlin since 2019 and the duo formed one of NASCAR's most successful pairings. Referring to this, Dale Jr. in the recent Dale Jr. Download: Ask Jr. podcast stated how the move might not be a good thing for the #11 team.
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"Gabehart is the kind of guy, that in my eyes, he's so incredibly talented and good at what he does, and it's because he syncs everything he has into it," Dale Earnhardt Jr. said. "The detail, the prep, the work, and guys that are that devoted to it, when they say it's time for me to do something different, it's really time."
"His work ethic and attention to detail will serve Joe Gibbs Racing in this new role and capacity and I think he will absolutely be a massive asset to them going forward, while it's probably not the best thing for Denny or the 11 team," he added. (8:02-8:56)
Denny Hamlin finished the 2024 season in eighth place with 2328 points after 36 races. He claimed three victories, seven Stage wins, 12 Top 5s, 18 Top 10s, and led 943 laps. His average start position was 11.75 and his average finish position was 13.889.
Joe Gibbs Racing's change on Denny Hamlin surprised Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. shared his surprise reaction to Joe Gibbs Racing after the Joe Gibbs-owned team changed the Crew Chief of Denny Hamlin. In the same Dale Jr. Download: Ask Jr. podcast, the former Cup Series driver stated that the move was a "big" surprise for him.
"I guess the Gabehart-Denny Hamlin change was a big surprise," Earnhardt Jr. said. "They seemed really bonded, really synced. Denny is you know, in a really good position to compete for championships. This year wasn't one of those years where we felt like he was a contender for the title but there it's been pretty much every year he's been one of those guys we thought he could have a shot at." (6:52-7:27)
Referring to the change, Joe Gibbs, the co-owner of the team, stated that the change was to strengthen the team even more. Chris Gayle will be in charge of Denny Hamlin's #11 team, while Joe Gibbs Racing is yet to announce Ty Gibbs' new crew chief.
