Dale Earnhardt Jr. brands JGR’s Denny Hamlin announcement as the “biggest surprise of the silly season”
With the shocking news of Denny Hamlin crew chief being replaced for 2025, Dale Earnhardt Jr. asserted it to be the biggest surprise.
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Denny Hamlin and Dale Earnhardt Jr. (Via IMAGO)
Denny Hamlin had a dejecting 2024 season as he fell off at the third hurdle of making it into the final four. Despite this, the No.11 driver aimed to get back in the groove for next year and mount a challenge for the title. However, his preparations would have to be altered as his crew chief Chris Gabehart has been replaced by Chris Gayle for the subsequent season, which took Dale Earnhardt Jr. by surprise.
Chris Gabehart had been a part of JGR since 2003. Though he had some various ventures in different teams, he soon got back to the North Carolina-based team and was promoted to being Denny Hamlin‘s crew chief six years ago. The pair clocked in three championship four visits since then and had been a strong contender for the playoffs every year around. This impressive service earned him the promotion to JGR competition director for 2025 and beyond, away from the No:11 team.
However, this sudden change of crew chiefs appeared as a surprise to many in the NASCAR world, including NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr. The 50-year-old asserted that this change had been the biggest surprise of the silly season in his recent podcast, where he reviewed JGR’s decision.
I guess the Gabehart-Denny Hamlin change was a big surprise. They seemed really bonded and in sync. Denny is in a really good position to compete for championships. This year wasn’t one of those years where we felt like he was a contender for the title, but it’s been pretty much every year he’s been one of the guys we thought could have a shot at it. And so, for them to mash the pause button on that and make a complete change and shift in a whole different direction was really a surprise. But I guess the idea is the future for Joe Gibbs Racing is the most important thing and this strengthens that.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. said on Dale Jr. Download.
On the other hand, Gabehart had helped Hamlin get back to the top after he had a winless 2018 season, which made the duo’s bond even stronger over the years. Thus, Gayle would have to revitalize Hamlin’s performances in a similar way to what Gabehart did in 2019.
Denny Hamlin is looking forward to work with his new crew chief next year
Despite the challenge of settling in with a new crew chief, this would not be the first time that Hamlin has had to cope up with a change of crew chiefs. Moreover, this change could help the Toyota driver adapt to a new variety of challenges that he might face in his upcoming campaign.
Subsequently, Hamlin revealed that he is ecstatic to work with his new crew chief. This would be a good sign for Gayle, who might have expected to not be welcomed by the 44-year-old owing to his strong relationship with Gabehart.
What I like about Chris [Gayle] from what I’ve heard so far is that he’s willing to adapt to the way me and Chris [Gabehart] have done it. And also add his own flavor to it. Which is good because I think new perspectives are always good.
Denny Hamlin said.
Thus, a new set of challenges await the NASCAR field as multiple crew chiefs have been replaced over the winter break. This would inadvertently ramp up the pressure on existing crew chiefs to ensure that their place in the team is secure.
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