Denny Hamlin has acknowledged his involvement in the decision to delay suspending certain pit-crew members for his Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) team, allowing them to remain active for the September 21 race at New Hampshire. He explained that due to the specific rules and the track‘s distinct layout, losing these key crew members ahead of this race would harm their track position more than if the suspension took effect later.
Following a safety violation at Bristol, JGR suspended two crew members: Austin Maloney, the front tire changer, and Joel Bouagnon, the jackman. NASCAR enforced a two-race suspension for both individuals after Hamlin’s No. 11 car lost a right-front wheel during the race. However, the team leveraged a rule permitting the deferment of non-behavioral penalties for one week to retain the crew during the New Hampshire race.
Hamlin’s Explanation on Postponing Crew Suspension for Playoff Rounds
When asked to elaborate on the decision to defer the suspension until upcoming playoff rounds at Kansas and the Charlotte Roval, Hamlin provided insights into the strategic choice. He noted the differences in pit stop urgency and track conditions that influenced their approach. Addressing Bob Pockrass, Hamlin said,
“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.”
Despite the forthcoming changes in crew personnel, Hamlin expressed cautious optimism about their potential performance impact:
“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,” he added.
Incident at Bristol and Its Consequences
Hamlin’s No. 11 Toyota faced a critical setback on lap 384 of the Bristol race when contact with A.J. Allmendinger caused him to lose a right-front wheel. This incident resulted in a two-lap penalty and Hamlin ultimately finishing 31st, five laps behind the leader. The safety violation leading to the crew suspension stemmed directly from this event.
Despite this hurdle, Hamlin maintains his position as the leading NASCAR Cup driver in both wins and points, holding a 26-point advantage over the playoff cutline before the New Hampshire race, named the Mobil 1 301.
Hamlin’s Optimism Ahead of New Hampshire Race Despite Challenges
Entering the first Round of 12 race at New Hampshire’s 1.06-mile oval, Hamlin posted a competitive lap time of 29.409 seconds which secured him the ninth starting position. Known for his strong performances at the track, Hamlin boasts the best average finish time (9.9) among active NASCAR Cup drivers at the “Magic Mile,” based on his 31 previous starts there.
“It’s a track that I really look forward to going to. We only get to go there once, but the racing is unmatched,” Denny Hamlin said (via NHMS.com).
However, his most recent victory at New Hampshire dates back to 2017, the last season the New England oval hosted a NASCAR Cup playoff event. This history adds pressure for Hamlin to replicate past successes during the ongoing playoffs despite the crew personnel challenges.
Strategic Significance and Upcoming Expectations
The decision to delay the crew suspensions reflects the team’s calculated attempt to preserve track position in the crucial stages of the NASCAR playoffs. Hamlin and JGR aimed to minimize the negative effects of reduced pit crew efficiency by choosing a less critical race for the suspension to take effect. With the playoffs intensifying at Kansas and Charlotte Roval, the impact of missing seasoned crew members may be more significant, making the delay a high-stakes gamble.
Looking ahead, Hamlin’s team will need to adjust quickly at those forthcoming races to maintain their competitive edge. The postponed suspensions mean that the pressure will rise in the next playoff events as the team’s adaptability and resilience are put to the test.
Denny Hamlin said he was part of the decision to defer the two-race suspensions (loose wheel Bristol) of his jackman and front changer for a week and have them miss Kansas and the Charlotte road course rather than Loudon and Kansas. Hamlin explains the reasoning and the impact: pic.twitter.com/B1HtbCkC5H
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) September 21, 2025
