Denny Hamlin spoke briefly on Saturday morning at Kansas Speedway regarding the ongoing situation with Ty Gibbs and Joe Gibbs Racing following the contentious incident last week at New Hampshire. Hamlin expressed cautious optimism, highlighting recent discussions but remained tight-lipped on details.
“I think (we’re) in a good place,”
Hamlin said.
“You know, we had some meetings this week. I thought they were productive meetings but obviously, the guts of that, were obviously going to need to be confidential.”
Limited Comments on Team Discussions and Driver Input
When pressed for further explanation, Hamlin declined to elaborate, even shaking his head to indicate no more information. He acknowledged the lack of detail with a light chuckle, indicating he understood others’ desire for answers.
“Not exactly what you were looking for, I’m sure,”
Hamlin added.
Hamlin confirmed that all drivers involved had a chance to voice their opinions during internal meetings. He pointed out that the incident did not involve only himself and Gibbs, noting that Christopher Bell was also affected as Gibbs’s racing action impeded Bell, setting the scenario that allowed Hamlin to catch them both.
“All the drivers had an opportunity to speak and come up with a plan and I think we did our best to come up with one,”
Hamlin explained.
He then concluded with no further comments, signaling the end of his statements.
“That’s it. That’s all I have.”
Hamlin Reflects on His Own Actions Amid Conflict
Despite maintaining a composed public front, Hamlin admitted to feeling frustration and suggested he might have handled the situation better. He openly acknowledged that his temperament escalated the conflict beyond what was appropriate.
“I think I definitely got hot under the collar,”
Hamlin confessed.
“It went too far on my end and there are things I wish I could have done differently.”
Implications for Joe Gibbs Racing and Next Steps
This candid admission and the closed-door meetings reveal ongoing efforts by Joe Gibbs Racing to resolve internal tensions. The situation underscores challenges faced within the team dynamic after high-pressure incidents involving key drivers like Hamlin, Gibbs, and Bell. Moving forward, the resolution of this conflict will be significant for JGR’s cohesion and performance in upcoming NASCAR events.
