Denny Hamlin will be working with a new crew chief as he pursues the NASCAR Cup Series championship. Joe Gibbs Racing revealed on Friday that Chris Gabehart will move into the role of competition director, while Chris Gale will take over as Hamlin’s crew chief.
Gabehart had been Hamlin’s crew chief since 2019, forming one of the sport’s top driver-crew chief partnerships. During their six years together, Hamlin secured 23 wins and consistently finished no lower than eighth in the standings. They notched 13 victories in their first two seasons but ended both years in fourth place. Despite being the most successful driver in NASCAR Cup Series history without a championship, Hamlin has amassed 54 wins and three Daytona 500 triumphs, yet he has only managed runner-up finishes in the overall points standings.
In 2024, Hamlin won three races and achieved his 18th consecutive top-10 season but was knocked out of the playoffs at Martinsville in the penultimate race. He wrapped up the season 11th in Phoenix and ranked eighth in the final standings.
Chris Gale has been crew chief for JGR’s Ty Gibbs over the last two seasons and has contributed to the team in various roles since 2013. He also served as crew chief for Erik Jones in the No. 20 car from 2017 to 2020 and led Gibbs to seven wins and an Xfinity Series championship in 2022. Jones earned two Cup Series victories under Gale’s guidance, and Gibbs notched 37 wins in the Xfinity Series with Gale. The JGR crew lineup for 2025 has yet to be announced.
Fan Take: This crew chief change signals a fresh chapter for one of NASCAR’s top drivers, creating excitement about whether a new strategic approach can finally get Hamlin over the championship hump. For fans, it injects fresh energy into the sport and highlights how vital leadership changes are to sustaining competitive edge.
