Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) has dominated the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series to date, showing immense strength both during the regular season and into the playoffs. Christopher Bell started the season impressively with three consecutive wins, while Denny Hamlin secured the highest number of victories for any driver this year. Chase Briscoe has also excelled, achieving six pole positions, the most in the season so far. Despite this success, Ty Gibbs stands out as the only JGR driver who failed to reach the playoffs.
JGR’s dominance extended into the postseason, with all three playoff drivers—Bell, Hamlin, and Briscoe—making a strong showing in the round of 16. Briscoe won at Darlington, Hamlin triumphed at Gateway, and Bell took the Bristol eliminator, ensuring all advanced to the round of 12. Expectations ran high for continued team supremacy entering the next phase.
Denny Hamlin Speaks Out on Ty Gibbs’ On-Track Actions at NHMS
As a leading contender for the championship, JGR has been eager to reclaim its status after several years of playing catch-up to Hendrick Motorsports and Team Penske. Since Kyle Busch’s 2019 championship win for JGR, no team title has been secured by the organization, while their rivals have collected multiple championships. The 2025 season appeared poised for JGR’s resurgence until tensions flared at New Hampshire Motor Speedway (NHMS).
During the second stage at NHMS, Ty Gibbs aggressively defended his position against Hamlin and Bell, teammates competing for the championship. Despite being out of playoff contention himself, Gibbs raced harder than expected and obstructed both drivers. The confrontation escalated when Hamlin made contact with Gibbs’ car, spinning him into the wall.
The incident polarized the NASCAR community, sparking debate about whether Hamlin deliberately took out Gibbs or if Gibbs’ own intensity was to blame. While some argued that Gibbs was simply racing hard, others questioned his decision to challenge his championship-bound teammates so fiercely at such a critical point in the season.
Addressing the controversy on the podcast Actions Detrimental, Hamlin explained,
We were racing really hard, and what in my mind was entirely too hard. My teammate, out of the playoffs, should not be the hardest car on the track to pass. Even Ross Chastain let me by. Ty didn’t. Like it or not, this time of year, non-playoff cars are supposed to cut a break. That’s just how it works.
Hamlin’s viewpoint highlights an expectation that non-playoff drivers ease up to support the championship hopes of their teammates, especially as the season intensifies.
Call for JGR Leadership to Resolve Internal Tensions
Hamlin has urged Joe Gibbs, the team’s owner and Ty Gibbs’ grandfather, to intervene and resolve the growing conflict within the team. He insists that if JGR is to secure a championship this year, unity and teamwork must prevail on the track, and that Ty Gibbs must show his teammates some deference. Hamlin stressed that giving space to playoff drivers is the minimum required for team success.
This issue is critical given JGR’s makeup: Bell leads the trio in points, sitting fourth overall, Hamlin is fifth, and Briscoe is eighth. Had Gibbs caused more serious damage during the NHMS incident, the consequences could have been disastrous for the team’s championship aspirations.
However, Ty Gibbs’ reaction after crashing into the wall indicated defiance rather than remorse. Radio communications revealed a brief but stark message: Game on. If this signals that Gibbs intends to escalate competition within the team, JGR faces a serious threat to its collective goals moving forward.
Implications for JGR’s Championship Dreams
The friction between Hamlin and Gibbs undermines what has otherwise been a dominant season for JGR. Internal disputes at such a critical juncture could jeopardize their chance to end the team’s championship drought. With Hendrick Motorsports and Team Penske still fierce competitors, JGR cannot afford infighting among its drivers.
How the team’s leadership addresses these tensions will shape the remainder of the 2025 NASCAR season. If the feud continues, it may cost JGR valuable momentum and ultimately the coveted title. Conversely, resolving the discord could unify the team toward reclaiming its place at the top of stock car racing.
https://twitter.com/dirtymomedia/status/1970239252513357864
https://twitter.com/DirtyMoMedia/status/1970239252513357864
