On the recent episode of the Happy Hour podcast, NASCAR Cup Series champion Kevin Harvick responded to comments made by Joe Gibbs Racing competition director Chris Gabehart concerning an on-track incident involving Ty Gibbs and Denny Hamlin. Harvick described Gabehart’s remarks as “unfair” toward the #54 Toyota Camry driver. The incident took place during the Mobil 1 301 race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway last weekend, where Gibbs and Hamlin were battling for 11th place when contact caused Gibbs to spin out.
During lap 110 of the 301-lap event, Hamlin’s #11 Toyota Camry XSE made contact with Gibbs’ car, resulting in Gibbs losing control on the track. Following the event, Gabehart, who previously served as Hamlin’s crew chief, commented that Ty Gibbs should have provided more room to Hamlin. Gabehart suggested that Hamlin was expecting a larger gap to navigate the race position safely.
“[Denny] was probably looking for more of a break than he got. That’s what I would guess. That’s what I saw. The hard part is the 54 is trying to win races and trying to make a name for himself as well. So, everybody needs more space than they have. That sounds like racing to me,” Chris Gabehart
“Yeah, this is the type of conversation that, you know, when you run well, you’re fortunate enough to have to have every so often,” Gabehart explained. “And we’ll have to have that conversation again. But I think there’s a reasonable etiquette to follow where everybody can get what they need out of it,” he added.
Harvick Challenges Gabehart’s Viewpoint on Race Etiquette
NASCAR’s Chief Hype Officer, Mamba Smith, raised a critical question about career building for young drivers during the discussion, suggesting that Ty Gibbs should not be expected to yield in every scenario. Responding to this, Harvick firmly defended Gibbs, stating that Gabehart’s comments unfairly placed expectations on the younger driver, especially when trying to establish his reputation on the circuit.
“Ty’s trying to build his own career. Is he always supposed to roll over?” Mamba Smith
“I think that’s a I think that’s an unfair comment towards Ty personally. Yeah, that’s what I think to to to have that expectation. So, it’s a there’s not a good solution, you know, from the 11 standpoint. I mean, there is not a good solution as to how it should go because the damage is already done.” Kevin Harvick
At the conclusion of the Mobil 1 301, Hamlin finished 12th, just behind Carson Hocevar. On the other hand, Gibbs’ day ended prematurely with a Did Not Finish (DNF), marking his third DNF of the season and placing him 35th in the race standings.
Harvick Reflects on Kyle Busch’s Performance Challenges with NextGen Cars
Earlier in the season, Kevin Harvick shared his insights on Kyle Busch’s struggles during another episode of the Happy Hour podcast. Harvick attributed Busch’s decline in competitiveness to the introduction of the NextGen cars, which debuted at the 2022 Daytona 500. Since then, Busch, who moved to Richard Childress Racing in 2023 driving the #8 Chevy Camaro ZL1, has experienced a prolonged winless period and failed to qualify for the playoffs in both 2024 and 2025.
“I think his car has totally disrupted everything that’s made Kyle Busch good. Everything that made Kyle Busch good up until this Gen 7 car was the fact that he could drive it over the limit, save the car, and he could tell you every single thing that you needed to put in the car to make it go fast.” Kevin Harvick
Currently, Busch holds 613 points in the Cup Series standings, positioning him 22nd without a win this season, though he has recorded eight top-ten finishes and two top-five results.
Implications for Joe Gibbs Racing and NASCAR’s Competitive Landscape
The debate over the incident between Ty Gibbs and Denny Hamlin highlights the tension between emerging talent trying to establish themselves and experienced drivers competing for championship points. Harvick’s defense of Gibbs underscores the challenges younger drivers face when navigating complex team dynamics within powerhouse organizations like Joe Gibbs Racing. Meanwhile, persistent struggles among seasoned drivers such as Kyle Busch with evolving equipment rules signal a transitional phase in the NASCAR Cup Series.
As the season progresses, how teams and drivers adapt to the NextGen car specifications and internal competition will significantly shape race outcomes and career trajectories. Future races are likely to continue revealing the balance between aggressive competition and strategic cooperation among teammates.
Joe Gibbs Racing competition director Chris Gabehart on Hamlin and Gibbs plus 'here come the yellow cars.' pic.twitter.com/Kem6zJglY2
— Matt Weaver (@MattWeaverRA) September 21, 2025
