During the Mobil 1 301 race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on Sunday, a significant clash occurred when Denny Hamlin spun his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Ty Gibbs, intensifying tensions within the team. This incident sparked renewed debate about how the organization manages conflicts between drivers on the track, especially with Hamlin still pursuing a championship.
Following the spin, Hamlin expressed frustration over the team radio, referring to “some teammate bulls**t” and insisted the contact was accidental. His radio messages further revealed his irritation, saying,
“Does Ty know we’re going for a championship? What the [expletive]?”
Hamlin also questioned team communication:
“Are they afraid to talk to him? That’s what I feel like , they’re scared of him.”
Ty Gibbs, who started the race in 13th position and is not in playoff contention, responded indirectly by sharing a clip on his Instagram story from Kevin Harvick’s Happy Hour, where Harvick speculated whether Hamlin’s title aspirations might be jeopardized by the wreck.
Joe Gibbs Racing’s Leadership Responds to the Incident
When asked about the situation, team owner Joe Gibbs minimized the need for direct involvement, stating,
“Those guys are the ones driving the cars. Those guys will get together on their own and figure it out,”
indicating confidence in his drivers’ ability to resolve internal issues without management interference.
Despite this, the collision raises critical questions about Joe Gibbs Racing’s approach to handling disputes between teammates, especially when a championship is at stake. The potential impact extends beyond the drivers to the crew and the entire organization, all of whom depend on a unified effort.
Expert Commentary on the Team Dynamics and Conflict
Prominent NASCAR analysts weighed in on the repercussions of the New Hampshire incident, emphasizing the role of leadership within the team. NBC analyst Steve Letarte remarked,
“I think it really comes down to the owner. The opinion that matters is the man who has his name on the building.”
His observation highlighted the importance of leadership decisions in preserving Hamlin’s championship pursuit amid internal strife.
Dale Earnhardt Jr., speaking on the Dale Jr. Download, criticized Ty Gibbs for his aggressive racing against the more experienced Hamlin and defended Hamlin’s actions. He said,
“Was it necessary for Denny to wreck him into the wall? Yeah, probably not. But damn it, gotta look at Ty’s history. He’s not been a great teammate at times.”
Earnhardt Jr. also stated that if he were in Gibbs’ position, he would have yielded the track to Hamlin without resistance. He explained,
“If I’m racing my teammate and he’s in the playoffs and I’m not. Like, I’m not even thinking about him in the car. I’m letting him go because all of his crew, his crew chief, the engineer, the team owner, all of the employees of the team, like the team manager, GM, everybody who’s present is seeing this. I mean, I’m totally gonna make myself as****e by running him hard, even for a couple corners.”
Looking Ahead: Joe Gibbs Racing Faces Pressure to Address Team Conflict
All eyes now turn to Kansas, where Joe Gibbs Racing must assess how to manage the interactions between Ty Gibbs and Denny Hamlin moving forward. Insiders suggest that ownership typically steps in only when a team’s championship ambitions are at risk from internal disputes, meaning future incidents could trigger more direct intervention.
Hamlin’s championship quest depends heavily on cohesion within the organization, particularly as suspensions to the #11 team begin this week, heightening existing challenges. If teammates continue to clash on track, the frustration Hamlin aired Sunday could escalate, threatening the stability of Joe Gibbs Racing’s broader title effort and putting the organization under increasing strain.
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— Dalton Hopkins (@PitLaneCPT) September 23, 2025
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