Last November, Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) driver Denny Hamlin was notified of an early change for the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season. He was informed that Chris Gabehart, who had been calling races for the No. 11 driver since 2019, would no longer serve as his crew chief. Instead, JGR decided that Chris Gayle would take over as Hamlin’s crew chief moving forward, while Gabehart would transition to the role of competition director.
Hamlin had concerns about whether this was the right move, but ultimately, the change took place. Nearly a full season later, Hamlin remains strong with 60 career wins, six of which have come this year alone. His most recent victory occurred at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Currently ranked fourth in the driver standings and locked into the Championship 4, Hamlin is fiercely competing for his maiden Cup Series championship.
“It’s not one person ever doing it. It’s a group,” said Joe Gibbs, owner of Joe Gibbs Racing. “All of our people that are our management group make decisions. That was a tough one. There was a lot to go through there.”
“Denny, that was not something that was easy for him, but he worked his way through it. Chris did the same thing,” Gibbs continued. “Then Chris Gabehart moving up also has filled that role for us. It was people, you know, looking at it. A group made the decision. Then people followed through.”
By winning last week at Talladega, Hamlin’s JGR teammate Chase Briscoe also secured a spot in the Championship 4. Up next for the drivers is the Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway. The race is scheduled for October 26, with fans able to watch live on Peacock at 2 pm ET or listen via live radio coverage on MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
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### Chase Briscoe Reflects on Leaving Tony Stewart and Joining Joe Gibbs Racing
After driving the No. 14 Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) car full-time for four seasons, Chase Briscoe was informed that the NASCAR Cup Series team, owned by automotive tycoon Gene Haas and former NASCAR champion Tony Stewart, would cease operations. This development meant Briscoe needed to find a new team and coach.
Briscoe transitioned to Joe Gibbs Racing, replacing Martin Truex Jr. behind the No. 19 Toyota Camry, and has performed commendably. However, parting ways with SHR was not easy, as it was with that team Briscoe earned his first Cup Series win.
“You never know going to a new place. If I don’t go win, I’m never going to get hired again because the expectation is you have to go to JGR and win,” Briscoe shared.
“If you can’t win in a JGR car, why would anybody hire you for another team?” he added.
Things seem to be working well for Briscoe as well as for Joe Gibbs Racing as an organization. He is currently under a multi-year contract with the Huntersville, North Carolina-based team, positioning him for continued success in NASCAR’s top tier.
https://www.sportskeeda.com/nascar/news-joe-gibbs-weighs-whether-jgr-s-tough-decision-chris-gabehart-worked-intended