Joe Gibbs Racing competition director Chris Gabehart called for stricter adherence to proper racing etiquette following a collision between Denny Hamlin and Ty Gibbs during Sunday’s playoff race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. The incident, which occurred in the second stage, saw Hamlin clip Gibbs, causing Gibbs to spin and prompting a caution.
Gabehart emphasized the need to reassess how drivers manage close racing situations, especially in high-pressure playoff events. He acknowledged the complexity of anticipating space and positioning on track, noting the challenges faced when the margin for error is minimal.
“Yeah, you know, we’ve just gotta get a better understanding of, you know, proper racing etiquette or situations, and the playoffs, or a certain situation, and we’ll just have to talk through it and get everybody’s point of view and figure out how to move forward as one after that.” Chris Gabehart, Joe Gibbs Racing competition director
He added, “Denny thought he was gonna have more space than he had, so he made an entry with that expectation, and then when he had less space than he had, you can’t just stop these big things on a dime when you’re loaded up like that. You’ve heard Denny and the other guys mention it many times; you’ve got to guess going into the corner what other guys are there, when you guess wrong, sometimes an error can be made.” Chris Gabehart, Joe Gibbs Racing competition director
Details of the Racing Incident at New Hampshire Motor Speedway
The clash unfolded during the second stage of the race after approximately 100 laps, with Ty Gibbs running in 11th place. Denny Hamlin and teammate Christopher Bell were battling directly behind Gibbs for track position. Despite Hamlin’s car appearing faster, Gibbs aggressively held his ground and challenged his teammates to maintain his spot.
Hamlin attempted to pass on the inside, driving his No. 11 machine alongside Gibbs’ No. 54. However, contact occurred as Hamlin’s car clipped the rear left quarter panel of Gibbs’ vehicle, spinning Gibbs and triggering a caution. Though Gibbs rejoined the race, damage including a broken toe link forced him into the garage, ending his day prematurely.
Denny Hamlin Explains the Timing of Crew Suspensions
In an unrelated discussion, Denny Hamlin shed light on why Joe Gibbs Racing delayed enforcing the suspension of two pit-crew members for one race following a wheel loss incident at Bristol. NASCAR had handed Austin Maloney, front tire changer, and jackman Joel Bouagnon two-race bans after Hamlin’s No. 11 car lost a wheel during the previous event.
Hamlin explained to reporter Bob Pockrass that the deferral was strategic, considering the characteristics of upcoming tracks. He stressed that the significance of pit stops varies by venue, with some tracks, like the “Roval,” spreading out the field more, thus reducing the penalty impact of slower pit stops.
“I think it was an obvious decision simply because you know pit stops are not as crucial at the Roval as what is it what they would be here or Kansas here because of track position. You’re going to get a much larger field spread at Roval. You’re typically going to pit under green there so a stop that’s a second slower is not going to be as detrimental. So it just makes sense with the rules that were given to defer one week.” Denny Hamlin, NASCAR driver
Hamlin acknowledged that losing experienced crew members could influence performance but remained cautiously optimistic about how the substitutes might perform.
“Certainly not having the same guys that we’ve always had will have some sort of an impact but I mean you know you never know it could be just as good,” Denny Hamlin, NASCAR driver
The suspension was announced after Hamlin’s car lost a right-front wheel following contact with A.J. Allmendinger at Bristol. Hamlin incurred a two-lap penalty and finished 31st, five laps behind the leader.
The Broader Implications of Racing Conduct and Team Decisions
Chris Gabehart’s comments underline the tense and often uncertain nature of competition during the NASCAR playoffs, where split-second decisions and assumptions about racing space can result in collisions affecting multiple drivers. Hamlin’s incident with Gibbs highlights how miscalculations in tight racing can have significant consequences for teams and drivers alike.
At the same time, Joe Gibbs Racing’s handling of pit crew suspensions reflects tactical planning in balancing penalties with race demands, especially on tracks where pit stops have varying levels of strategic importance. Hamlin’s willingness to talk openly about the team’s decisions and the incident shows an awareness of the pressures on drivers and crews during critical points in the season.
As the NASCAR playoffs continue, these dynamics around racing etiquette and team management will remain vital topics, impacting both the competitiveness of races and the relationships between drivers within the intense environment of championship contention.
Joe Gibbs Racing competition director Chris Gabehart on Hamlin and Gibbs plus 'here come the yellow cars.' pic.twitter.com/Kem6zJglY2
— Matt Weaver (@MattWeaverRA) September 21, 2025
