Denny Hamlin marked his 700th NASCAR Cup Series start at Nashville Superspeedway with a third-place finish after an aggressive strategy call by his crew chief, Chris Gayle, failed to deliver the hoped-for victory. Despite the gamble not paying off, Hamlin openly commended Gayle’s daring decision to pursue a win rather than settle for a safe finish.
The High-Stakes Strategy Behind Hamlin’s Nashville Performance
During the Cracker Barrel 400 at Nashville Superspeedway, Hamlin and his No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota were engaged in a tight competition with Ryan Blaney and the dominant No. 12 Ford. After securing the Stage 1 win and running closely alongside Blaney for much of the race, Hamlin’s car began to lose grip during a prolonged stretch of green-flag racing.
Faced with the choice of following Blaney’s pit stops to finish moderately in second or third place, Gayle opted for an aggressive, risk-laden strategy. The team extended their pit window, aiming to capitalize on fresher tires if a late-race caution appeared, potentially leapfrogging competitors on track position.
This approach demanded flawless timing and a measure of luck, neither of which materialized when the expected caution failed to occur. Hamlin explained the thought process behind the tactic in his Actions Detrimental podcast.
It was a good risk-reward for us. It was Chris Gayle going for an opportunity to win the race and willing to give up second place, which we did,
Hamlin said.
I thought it was a good gamble to try to switch something up on the 12 because at that point, I thought he was a little stronger.
—Denny Hamlin, NASCAR driver
Hamlin Expresses Confidence in Gayle’s Bold Calls Despite Setbacks
Though the gamble ultimately cost Hamlin a better finish, he remains solidly supportive of Gayle’s strategic decision-making. Hamlin noted that in NASCAR’s fiercely competitive environment, conservative tactics seldom lead to championship success.
Hamlin’s trust in Gayle comes after an initial period of adjustment following an offseason reorganization at Joe Gibbs Racing that promoted longtime crew chief Chris Gabehart out of the pit box role. The shift unsettled Hamlin briefly but has since evolved into a strong working relationship.
There was a period there where I certainly was not happy with Joe Gibbs Racing or decisions that they make in the offseason,
Hamlin acknowledged.
I gotta trust that they got the bigger picture in mind.
—Denny Hamlin, NASCAR driver
Gayle earned Hamlin’s confidence through his aggressive approach and seamless integration with the established No. 11 team culture. Their partnership has already yielded positive results, including a breakthrough victory at Martinsville earlier in the season.
While the Nashville outcome was disappointing, it served to strengthen the bond between driver and crew chief. Hamlin’s willingness to back bold tactical moves reflects the growing chemistry within the team as they strive toward Hamlin’s elusive first NASCAR Cup Series championship.
