On a thrilling Sunday at Darlington, Denny Hamlin, under the expert guidance of Chris Gayle, secured a remarkable victory for the No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing team. Their impeccable timing and strategic maneuvers during the final caution moment secured Hamlin’s position in Victory Lane. Chris Gayle, in his inaugural season as Hamlin’s crew chief, supervised the effort as they steered their team to success.
Chris Gayle, who previously served as crew chief for Ty Gibbs, bringing him to glory in the 2022 Xfinity Series championship, transitioned this year to lead Denny Hamlin. This move comes after stints driving the No. 54 crew in the Cup Series during the 2023 and 2024 seasons. This season, Gayle and Hamlin’s collaboration aims at clinching Hamlin’s first Cup Series championship.
Reflecting on his experiences, Gayle highlighted the contrast between mentoring a seasoned driver like Hamlin and guiding younger racers such as Ty Gibbs and Erik Jones. At a press meet in Martinsville, he explained, “Even if you go before Ty Gibbs, I had Erik Jones, who was a rookie. Both of those instances, I’m going through it with them for the first time. They’ve never seen anything before there. I’m trying to be the guy who reminds them of every possible scenario that can happen, looking at the data with them and trying to get them up to speed.”
Unlike his previous roles, Gayle finds working with Hamlin a liberating experience. Hamlin’s extensive track experience means that Gayle’s role involves more synergy and less teaching. “It’s just a matter of understanding each other better and producing results. The crew chief finds this completely liberating,” Gayle remarked. Together, their mutual trust and confidence have fueled consecutive victories in Martinsville and Darlington.
Meanwhile, the absence of Gayle has seemingly impacted Ty Gibbs’s performance this season. Although Gibbs achieved a ninth-place finish at Darlington, his previous top result was 13th at Martinsville in the first seven races. Looking for guidance, Gibbs turned to Denny Hamlin before the Martinsville race, seeking advice from the seasoned competitor.
Hamlin advised Gibbs against expecting quick changes and emphasized patience. “These races are really, really long… 30% of your competition will take themselves out every single week,” he had shared, advising against racing aggressively when unnecessary. “If you have a 12th-place car, you will finish eighth as long as you don’t screw up because others in front of you will. Keep that in mind.”
Gibbs’s recent result suggests that he may be taking Hamlin’s words to heart, potentially setting the stage for improved performance as the season progresses.
The partnership between Denny Hamlin and Chris Gayle exemplifies how veteran experience and mutual understanding can translate into success on the racing track. As the season unfolds, their continued collaboration bodes well for Joe Gibbs Racing, and the racing community is eager to see what the future holds for these seasoned professionals.
