Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) teammates Denny Hamlin and Ty Gibbs collided on the track at New Hampshire last weekend, sparking tension among the team ahead of their Kansas race on Sunday. The incident has attracted significant attention, especially regarding how the two drivers addressed the situation during a JGR competition meeting held Monday.
Insights into the Hamlin-Gibbs New Hampshire Collision from NASCAR Analysts
On The Teardown podcast, Jeff Gluck and Jordan Bianchi discussed the on-track clash between Hamlin and Gibbs. Bianchi expressed curiosity about the drama likely unfolding behind closed doors at the JGR meeting, wondering how intense the discussion might have been. Gluck, however, downplayed the severity, suggesting the matter could be resolved internally without lingering animosity.
“Not as much as I originally thought before doing the post-race interviews,”
Gluck remarked.
Gluck explained that Hamlin emphasized the contact was unintentional as he tried to maneuver past his teammate. He quoted Hamlin’s explanation early in the meeting:
“He says that he was trying to obviously move him out of the way, it sounds like. But to spin his teammate on purpose, Denny Hamlin says, ‘No, that’s not the case.’ He said, ‘I certainly did not want to spin out certainly a teammate. I was trying to get space to race, and trying to get by the 54 (Gibbs).’ Could he have been more patient? Obviously. Could Ty Gibbs have given more room there? Obviously.”
Details on the Incident and Drivers’ Perspectives
The collision occurred on Lap 110 at New Hampshire when Hamlin and Gibbs made contact, causing Gibbs to spin out and ultimately fail to finish the race. During the subsequent Actions Detrimental podcast, Hamlin reflected on the circumstances that led to the crash, acknowledging the aggressive nature of the racing.
“We were racing really too hard,”
Hamlin admitted.
He added:
“I know this is going to trigger some people about, ‘Oh, racing hard.’ When you’re racing a teammate — A, a teammate, and B, a teammate with nothing to gain — I agree that everyone should race to win the race. However, we’re not racing to win the race. We’re racing, at the time, for 11th place. …We’re all (the playoff drivers) battling and scratching and clawing to try to get some stage points, which is going to be life or death for us. It’s our air that we need to move on.”
This comment highlights the pressure the playoff drivers feel as they compete for crucial points that could determine their continuation in the season. Hamlin is among the 12 playoff contenders, aiming to capture his first Cup Series championship, while Gibbs, in his third full-time Cup season, is still pursuing his initial series victory.
Potential Impact on Upcoming Race and Team Dynamics
Given the intensity of the incident and the competitive stakes, how Hamlin and Gibbs move forward will be closely watched, especially at Kansas. The JGR meeting appears to be an attempt to resolve tensions and refocus the teammates on their shared objectives. Analysts suggest that despite this clash, internal resolution is possible without long-term damage.
The friction underscores the challenge of balancing individual ambition and team cooperation when playoff drivers are involved. With playoff points on the line in each race, both Hamlin and Gibbs must navigate fierce competition while maintaining respect as teammates under a high level of pressure.
