When The King himself questions the quality of a race, you know there’s more than meets the eye. Beyond the fanfare of Throwback Weekend, Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) made a powerful statement at Darlington. Denny Hamlin charged to victory in the Goodyear 400, marking his second consecutive NASCAR Cup Series win this season. A clutch overtime pit stop turned an already solid performance into something legendary—his fifth win at Darlington and the 56th of his Cup career.
Ty Gibbs broke into the top 10 for the first time this season, finishing ninth, while Christopher Bell grabbed a strong third-place result. JGR didn’t just show up—they dominated. And team president Dave Alpern was quick to credit former crew chief Chris Gabehart, now competition director, as a key force behind it all.
It was a chaotic race. William Byron looked like the man to beat, leading 243 laps and sweeping both stages. But a late-race spin by Kyle Larson changed everything. NASCAR overtime kicked in, and Hamlin’s crew delivered a flawless pit stop that launched him from third to first. He held off Byron on the restart and took the win. Meanwhile, Ty Gibbs overcame early struggles with help from new crew chief Tyler Allen. Even his mom, Heather Gibbs, admitted she had a feeling Hamlin would take it.
Still, the bigger story might be the lasting impact of Chris Gabehart. Speaking to Claire B. Lang, a jubilant Alpern praised the 11 team’s composure and execution. “That stop was everything,” he said. “I’m thrilled for the 11 guys. That’s how you win races—being clutch when it matters most.” When asked about Gabehart’s influence, Alpern didn’t hold back. “He’s been a huge addition. He’s helped build strong teams—pit crew, road crew, all of it. The 11 team didn’t skip a beat this season, even with changes.”
Gabehart’s move from Hamlin’s crew chief to his new executive role initially left the No. 11 team unsettled. Hamlin admitted feeling “uneasy” at first, but just a week later, he was convinced it was the right call. Chris Gayle stepped in as crew chief, and the wins kept coming. Gabehart’s approach—grit, adaptability, and vision—remains the foundation of JGR’s success. “I’m proud to see them thrive,” Gabehart said. “I told them if they commit to this approach, they’ll come out even stronger. And they did.”
Hamlin echoed that sentiment on his Actions Detrimental podcast. “I could’ve wasted my time being frustrated, but I chose to focus and make it work. That’s what pros do.”
Darlington is sacred ground for JGR, and Alpern made that clear. “This place means everything. It’s where Denny’s career took off. It’s special.” From Ty’s comeback to Gabehart’s lasting blueprint, this wasn’t just a race—it was a moment of legacy.
Even after all the drama, Gayle couldn’t stop praising the pit crew. Byron and Blaney might’ve had speed, but it was Hamlin’s crew who stole the show with a blazing 9.4-second pit stop in overtime. “These guys are absolute assassins,” Gayle said proudly. “They live for that moment—when they can crush the competition and walk away without regrets.” Jackman Joel Alexandre Bouagnon’s behind-the-back move during the stop sealed the deal.
Gayle admitted they had a rough call earlier, pitting with only three laps on their tires—a misstep that cost them five spots. But they regrouped and delivered when it counted. Hamlin led only 10 laps, but he stayed in the fight, ready for the right moment—and when it came, they didn’t miss.
