HAMPTON, Ga. — Nearly halfway through the season since his promotion from Denny Hamlin’s crew chief to competition director at Joe Gibbs Racing, Chris Gabehart returned to the pit box Saturday at Atlanta, but this time not alongside Hamlin. Instead, Gabehart served as race strategist for Ty Gibbs, communicating directly with Gibbs during the race and coordinating strategy with crew chief Tyler Allen.
Gabehart, who secured 22 Cup Series wins with Hamlin between 2019 and 2024, has taken on additional responsibilities to support Gibbs and assist the team’s playoff push, a move he described as somewhat unconventional for the team’s garage.
Ty Gibbs’ Challenges and Recent Performances on Track
Ty Gibbs has shown promising performance recently, including a third-place finish at Michigan three weeks ago. Despite fuel management challenges that prevented a closer challenge to Hamlin, who won that day, Gibbs demonstrated potential as a strong contender.
During a moment of frustration expressed by Gibbs on the radio to Allen after Michigan, Gabehart intervened remotely, offering encouragement and a broader perspective on the team’s progress.
“Hey, we didn’t give (anything) away. We had a great day. We did what we needed to do. We got a top five. Our other car won. It’s about big picture. All right? Take this and build.” —Chris Gabehart, Race Strategist
The following week at the Mexico City race, Gibbs was the closest competitor to eventual winner Shane van Gisbergen. However, a timely caution on Lap 66, shortly after van Gisbergen’s pit stop, forced Gibbs to pit under caution and drop from the lead to 13th place, behind those who had stopped earlier under green flag conditions.
Tyler Allen, in only his second year as a crew chief and first at the Cup level, explained the risk behind the decision to stay out longer in pursuit of a tire advantage.
“It’s super risky at a road course,” Allen said. “If that caution doesn’t come, we have a really good shot to win. Unfortunately, it did and buried us back in about 15th and that was about all we could do.” —Tyler Allen, Crew Chief
Despite efforts, Gibbs finished 11th that day after being unable to advance through the field. At Pocono, Gibbs placed 14th after pitting five times, more than many competitors ahead of him.
On Saturday night at Atlanta, Gibbs led 32 laps but scored no stage points, dropping one position to 24th in the standings for the season.
Team Reflections and Strategic Adjustments
Gabehart praised Allen and the team for their recent efforts, noting how close they have been to winning multiple times despite various challenges and unconventional strategies.
“Tyler and his team has been doing a great job,” Gabehart said after the Atlanta race. “They were a stone’s throw away from winning at Michigan. They were a caution away from contending for the win at Mexico. (Pocono), golly, strategies upside down and (Atlanta strategy was) upside down.”
“Really, three out of the last four weeks we’ve been at least within shouting distance of a win with this car. It’s nothing about the job that this team has been doing. It’s taking all your resources that are available to you and trying to get the last car in the playoffs.” —Chris Gabehart, Race Strategist
Currently, Gibbs is 86 points out of the playoff cutoff with eight races remaining in the regular season. According to Gabehart, a victory will be almost necessary for Gibbs to secure a postseason berth.
The Importance of Direct Communication in Race Strategy
One key element in Gabehart’s role as race strategist is his ability to communicate directly with Gibbs on the radio, rather than routing instructions through Allen. This allows for faster, more nuanced decisions during races, potentially making the difference between winning and losing.
“The margin for winning and not winning in this sport is as tight as it’s ever been,” Gabehart said. “It’s the smallest of things. One reason might be some instance that I can get through to (Gibbs) or a decision I made on the fly that may not be clear at first but results in an opportunity to win. That’s a nuance. Another nuance is Ty knows my history and resume, so maybe he’ll respond to that in a little bit different way.”
Gabehart added that his unique vantage point, zooming out to observe the entire race team’s operations, allows him to provide insights that might not be apparent from more focused roles like crew chief or engineer.
“I think the truth is you can learn something from anything and you never know what might make the difference.” —Nate Ryan, Motorsport Reporter
Balancing Responsibilities Across Joe Gibbs Racing’s Teams
While concentrating on helping Gibbs’ playoff push, Gabehart must still manage his responsibilities with Joe Gibbs Racing’s other three teams, which are also aiming to accumulate playoff points as the regular season winds down.
“That’s ultimately up for me to manage,” Gabehart said. “The decision was made to spread me a little thinner … so that’s what we’ll do.” —Chris Gabehart, Competition Director
Though Gabehart has moved away from his former role as a crew chief, the skills he developed through years atop the pit box remain sharp and influential in his current duties.
Peers Recognize Gabehart’s Expertise and Impact
Alan Gustafson, crew chief for Atlanta winner Chase Elliott, expressed respect and confidence in Gabehart’s abilities and professionalism, emphasizing the positive effect Gabehart will have on Gibbs and the team while in his strategist role.
“I have a lot of respect for Chris, I’ve raced with Chris for a long time,” Gustafson said. “There’s guys that you work with in this garage that do things the right way and race really hard and give you everything they’ve got and are fair and respectful. Chris is one of those guys. … He’s really good at what he does.” —Alan Gustafson, Crew Chief
