Joe Gibbs Racing President Dave Alpern mirrored on the shut bond between Denny Hamlin and staff proprietor Joe Gibbs. Having been with the group since 1992, Alpern stated their relationship has developed into one thing a lot deeper through the years, resembling that of a father and son.
Hamlin has solely pushed for Joe Gibbs Racing within the NASCAR Cup Sequence. He began piloting the #11 automotive within the 2006 season, again when the staff was nonetheless with Chevrolet. This yr marks his twentieth season underneath Joe Gibbs, who was a former Tremendous Bowl-winning coach with the Washington Redskins (now Washington Commanders).
Talking concerning the relationship between Hamlin and Gibbs, Dave Alpern informed SiriusXM NASCAR Radio:
“Denny has deep respect for the Gibbs household, and I at all times appreciated that. You possibly can say no matter you need about Denny. I do not care if you happen to’re a fan of another person, or perhaps you are one of many ones who boo him. Denny is a loyal dude.” [1:04]
“Denny has at all times had that loyalty to the Gibbs household, and he exhibits it in a whole lot of methods… a whole lot of quiet methods behind the scenes that folks do not see, and in a whole lot of methods with the best way he conducts himself typically on the racetrack as effectively.”
The staff president continued by saying:
“It truly is particular, and I might completely say that I’ve seen that Coach is type of that second father to Denny.”
Denny Hamlin has introduced the #11 Joe Gibbs Racing racecar to the victory lane 60 occasions, tying Kevin Harvick in tenth on the all-time listing. His most up-to-date victory got here at Las Vegas Motor Speedway final weekend, permitting him to safe one of many 4 spots for the championship race at Phoenix Raceway.
“The champion is coming from this room”: Denny Hamlin’s former crew chief on Joe Gibbs Racing profitable the championship
Following a dominant outing within the Spherical of 16, Joe Gibbs Racing Director of Competitors Chris Gabehart, Denny Hamlin’s former crew chief, expressed optimism about their playoff run. He believes that certainly one of their three playoff drivers might win the championship.
JGR’s three playoff drivers are Denny Hamlin, Christopher Bell, and Chase Briscoe. None of them have received a single championship but, with the group securing its final title within the 2019 season with Kyle Busch.
Chris Gabehart stated (by way of Joe Gibbs Racing on X):
“I do assume the champion is coming from this room. I do not know what door quantity it’ll be. I genuinely do not. I believe it may very well be any certainly one of these three door numbers.”
Quick ahead to the Spherical of 8, Joe Gibbs Racing stays the favourite as all three drivers sit above the playoff cutline, with Hendrick Motorsports driver Kyle Larson rating second. The drivers under the cutline are William Byron, Chase Elliott, Joey Logano (reigning champ), and Ryan Blaney.
Subsequent on the calendar is the YellaWood 500 at Talladega Superspeedway. The 188-lap superspeedway showdown is scheduled for October 19 at 2:00 p.m. ET.
Edited by Zarec Sanchez