During the NASCAR Cup Series Bass Pro Shops Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway on September 12, 2025, Denny Hamlin’s No. 11 Toyota Camry suffered a critical setback when a right-front wheel detached on Lap 384. This caused Hamlin’s car to collide with AJ Allmendinger’s vehicle and triggered the 13th caution of the night, ultimately leading to a two-lap penalty and a disappointing 31st-place finish, five laps behind the leader. These events have led to significant Denny Hamlin pit crew changes just ahead of the highly anticipated Kansas playoff race.
Temporary Pit Crew Reassignments Strengthen Hamlin’s Team for Playoffs
In response to recent suspensions among Hamlin’s regular pit crew members due to a wheel-related violation at Bristol, Joe Gibbs Racing has realigned personnel to maintain performance. Thomas Hatcher, the experienced front tire changer usually assigned to Martin Truex Jr.’s No. 19 car and recently the front tire changer on the No. 43 team, has been temporarily switched to work with Hamlin. Alongside him, jackman Nate McBride from Noah Gragson’s No. 4 Front Row Motorsports car will fill the critical jackman role for the No. 11 team at Kansas.
Thomas Hatcher brings decades of expertise, beginning his career as a mechanic at Roush Yates in 2004 before advancing to a tire changer role at Roush Fenway Racing in 2007. After a tenure at Team Penske starting in 2012, he joined Joe Gibbs Racing in 2021. Hatcher’s history includes a playoff season crossover between the No. 18 and No. 11 teams in 2022, showing his adaptability working with Hamlin and familiarity with the demands of the No. 11 Toyota.
Nate McBride offers a unique perspective, transitioning from a linebacker at the University of Georgia into a proficient NASCAR jackman. McBride first joined Hamlin’s pit crew as a substitute in 2022 during the Coca-Cola 600, when he stepped in for a suspended member and helped Hamlin secure a victory. His athleticism and calm performance under pressure add valuable depth to Hamlin’s crew.
Substitute pit crew members for the No. 11 car of @dennyhamlin have been assigned.
Front Changer: Thomas Hatcher
Jackman: Nate McBride
They have been pulled from the No. 4 car of Gragson which is the typical crew that JGR pulls from when they need subs for the house cars. pic.twitter.com/wGgQk69uOu
— Bozi Tatarevic (@BoziTatarevic) September 23, 2025
Additionally, Adam Riley, a former wide receiver at Wingate University and a key member of the No. 4 crew, has proven his versatility by stepping into substitute roles for other teams in the past. For example, he served as rear tire changer for Bubba Wallace’s team during a suspension in 2022. This reflects the interconnected nature of pit crews and the strategic readiness of NASCAR teams to deploy experienced personnel across multiple cars when necessary.
The involvement of the No. 4 Front Row Motorsports pit crew, known for its skill and dependability, highlights Joe Gibbs Racing’s resourcefulness in maintaining competitive standards despite disruptions. This pit crew is widely acknowledged as one of the premier non-house crews affiliated with JGR, serving a critical backup role.
Strategic Use of NASCAR’s New Suspension Deferment Rule to Retain Crew Strength
Following the Bristol incident, Hamlin’s No. 11 team faced further complications with the suspension of two key crew members, Austin Maloney and Joel Bouagnon. However, leveraging NASCAR’s 2025 rule update, Hamlin deferred these suspensions to ensure their continued presence during pivotal playoff races. Hamlin explained the rationale, saying,
It’s obvious the timing mattered. Losing them at this moment would hit us harder than at a later race,
Austin Maloney, Crew Member
This rule allows teams to postpone non-behavioral suspensions, providing crucial flexibility when penalties occur close to significant events. NASCAR reporter Bob Pockrass elaborated on the benefits of the new protocol, stating,
Starting this year, for any non-behavioral suspension, teams can defer suspension for a week. In past, they’d file notice of appeal so suspension then deferred. NASCAR then arranged panelists, their travel and appeal defense, and then teams withdrew appeal, wasting NASCAR time.
Bob Pockrass, NASCAR Reporter
By deferring the suspensions, Joe Gibbs Racing can keep Maloney and Bouagnon on the pit wall for critical playoff events at Kansas and Charlotte, deferring their time off to less consequential races. Hamlin underscored this tactical choice by reminding of the impact a well-functioning pit crew can have, especially on challenging courses such as the ROVAL:
Especially on the ROVAL, the pit crew’s execution can make or break your track position. We needed them at full strength.
Denny Hamlin, NASCAR Driver
This decision reflects the intense pressure faced by NASCAR playoff teams to optimize every element, including crew consistency, during crucial stretches of the season.
Implications of Crew Changes for Hamlin’s Playoff Prospects
The unforeseen wheel detachment at Bristol and subsequent crew suspensions have forced Joe Gibbs Racing to cautiously recalibrate its approach ahead of the playoffs. The infusion of seasoned substitutes like Thomas Hatcher and Nate McBride shows the organization’s depth and ability to quickly adapt, but uncertainties remain about how effectively these temporary arrangements will perform under playoff stress.
Hamlin’s pragmatic stance—that his focus remains on factors within his control, rather than internal personnel decisions—highlights the driver’s mental resilience amid turbulence. Meanwhile, NASCAR’s rule flexibility, exemplified by suspension deferments, adds a strategic layer enabling teams to navigate disruptions without sacrificing competitiveness.
With the Kansas race approaching, the performance of the restructured pit crew will be closely watched, as flawless execution during pit stops remains critical to securing track position and race outcomes. The success or struggles of these pit crew changes may have significant ramifications on Hamlin’s progression through the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs.
Substitute pit crew members for the No. 11 car of @dennyhamlin have been assigned.
Front Changer: Thomas Hatcher
Jackman: Nate McBrideThey have been pulled from the No. 4 car of Gragson which is the typical crew that JGR pulls from when they need subs for the house cars. pic.twitter.com/wGgQk69uOu
— Bozi Tatarevic (@BoziTatarevic) September 23, 2025
