During Sunday’s USA Today 301 at New Hampshire, Denny Hamlin and Ty Gibbs, both drivers for Joe Gibbs Racing, were involved in a dramatic incident when Hamlin appeared to deliberately crash into his JGR teammate. This sparked controversy as Hamlin later said on his podcast that the contact was accidental, a stance contested by NASCAR veteran Kevin Harvick.
Harvick Questions Hamlin’s Intentions Amid Heightened Team Tensions
Joe Gibbs Racing now faces internal strain following the clash between its two drivers. The situation has escalated partly because Ty Gibbs is the grandson of team owner Joe Gibbs, which adds complexity beyond a typical teammate disagreement. While Hamlin has urged team leaders to step in to calm the rising discord, the tension remains unresolved.
On his Happy Hour podcast, 2014 Cup Series champion Kevin Harvick expressed concern that Hamlin’s actions against Gibbs could jeopardize his chances at the 2025 championship. Hamlin, who leads the current season with five wins but has yet to secure a title, may have put his title hopes at risk according to Harvick.
Here’s the question I have: is that the moment that derails Denny Hamlin’s 2025 championship, because of the fact that decision now is a decision that you have to talk about next week, it’s a decision that can divide the shop,
Harvick said.
It’s a decision that shows a lot of people that you don’t really have a lot of respect (for others around you),
he added.
When he made that decision, it could be the moment that derails Denny Hamlin’s championship chase for 2025.
Harvick Asserts Hamlin’s Crash on Gibbs Was Deliberate
Harvick was unequivocal in his belief that Hamlin intentionally wrecked Gibbs, describing the move as clear and avoidable. He found it difficult to understand how the incident occurred, given the implications for both drivers and their team.
This is a tough one. When I look this scenario, obviously, the 11 as you can see him go up from the hash mark straight into the back of the 54, that was intentional, right? There’s no hiding that wasn’t intentional,
Harvick explained.
I think they raced hard like this, they raced hard like this with the roles reversed earlier in the race with the 54 trying to pass the 11. You could have wiped out all three of them right there, and I just don’t understand,
he continued.
Hamlin and Gibbs Show No Signs of Reconciliation
Adding fuel to the fire, Ty Gibbs shared Harvick’s critical comments on his Instagram story with only a pointing finger emoji, implying alignment with the accusation but offering no verbal response. This indicates that the dispute within Joe Gibbs Racing remains unresolved and that animosity between the two drivers persists.
If tensions boil over again on track, it could support Harvick’s warning that Hamlin’s championship pursuit in 2025 might unravel due to internal conflicts. How JGR manages this fallout will be pivotal for both the team’s cohesion and Hamlin’s title ambitions moving forward.
"Is that the moment that derails Denny Hamlin's 2025 championship?" @KevinHarvick's thoughts on Hamlin vs. Ty Gibbs at New Hampshire. pic.twitter.com/7KUDoKfaZr
— HarvickHappyHour (@HarvickHappyPod) September 23, 2025
