Kevin Harvick claims Ty Gibbs and Denny Hamlin “needs to win races” in 2025

2014 Cup Series champion Kevin Harvick shared his feelings about three drivers that have the most pressure to win in 2025.

Kevin Harvick claims Ty Gibbs and Denny Hamlin “needs to win races” in 2025

Denny Hamlin, Kevin Harvick and Ty Gibbs (Via IMAGO)

The 2025 NASCAR Cup season is around the corner and the drivers are working hard to start the season strong. The season will start with unofficial opener The Clash, at Bowman Gray Stadium on February 2 and the Great American Race, Daytona 500, race weekend starting in the second week of the month.

Ex-Cup series champion Kevin Harvick made his season prediction in the first episode of his Happy Hour Podcast for the 2025 season. He named JGR trio of Ty Gibbs, Denny Hamlin and Chase Briscoe as the drivers that needs to win races this year. The ex-SHR driver pointed out that the team changes and crew chief changes put them on the spotlight.

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I know that seems like of lot of pressure with a new crew chief but at some point, you got to get into victory lane and just get the monkey off of your back. I’m a James Small fan because of the fact he’s got that fire… I think Chase Briscoe is in a position where he needs to go out like a ball of fire and make something happen from the driver’s standpoint.

Kevin Harvick said via Happy Hour podcast.

He then surprisingly named veteran Denny Hamlin as the third driver who needs to win races next-year, though he had a strong 2024 season. The major reason behind the assertion is the fact that Hamlin’s long-time crew chief Chris Gabehart was promoted to a senior role, which can be a momentum killer.

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Internally, I think they’ve made their organization stronger, but now you’re going to have to make it function at the racetrack with the driver and the crew chief.

Kevin Harvick added.

Kevin Harvick shares how the JGR racers has a lot of pressure on them

The veteran, while further talking about the point, declared that the JGR drivers have a lot of pressure on their shoulders owing to the expectations of being a JGR racer and more. The fact that all three of these racers failed to win races and all the changes the team had in the post-season, places them in a tough spot.

Kevin Harvick
Kevin Harvick (Via IMAGO)

I believe they have a lot of pressure on them. The expectation is to win at Gibbs. In order to do that, they’re going to have to do it quick. None of them did in the second half of the year. Now you’ve got all these changes, but you will have a lot of enthusiasm. A lot of time and effort because nobody there wants to fail.

Denny Hamlin said.

Though JGR racer have won races in the Next-Gen era, they haven’t been able to give a proper fight for the championship when the playoff closes to the end. It would be interesting to see how the new changes are going affect them in this half a decade long championship chase.