For six years, Denny Hamlin and Chris Gabehart have been one of NASCAR’s most successful driver-crew chief duos. Together, they’ve racked up 22 Cup Series wins, turned Hamlin’s career around after a tough 2018, and become a force to be reckoned with at Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR). Gabehart wasn’t just the guy on top of Hamlin’s pit box; he was the architect behind so many of the No. 11 team’s victories.

But now, things are shifting at JGR. Hamlin and Gabehart’s run as a pair is coming to an end after their boss triggered a surprise shakeup. Gabehart is moving into a bigger role at JGR, and while it’s a move aimed at helping the entire organization, it’s also a bittersweet moment for both men. Despite not being directly part of the relationship, Christopher Bell, the man in the #20 JGR car, has given his thoughts on the situation and a dynamic he’s had first-hand experience of witnessing flourish in the team box.

Gabehart moves up, Bell says his piece

While this marks the end of an era, it’s also the start of something new for JGR. Gabehart’s new job as competition director isn’t just about improving the No. 11 car—it’s about lifting the performance of all four JGR teams. With no JGR drivers making it to the Championship 4 in 2024 (a first for the team), the pressure is on to turn things around.

For Denny Hamlin, losing Gabehart on the pit box is a tough blow. But for JGR, it’s all about looking at the bigger picture. The team struggled in the second half of 2024, going winless in the last 18 races. Meanwhile, rivals like Team Penske were racking up wins and dominating the playoff picture. Clearly, something had to change.

Christopher Bell sees the potential in the move. In an interview with Frontstretch, the man who led the second most laps of the season in the other JGR Toyota said, “I think it’s going to be—it has potential to help out all the teams.” Bell said, “Gabehart is an incredibly smart person. He was a huge asset to the 11 car, and I think moving him to oversee the crew chiefs and provide input and knowledge… is a solid move.”

Bell’s optimism makes sense. Gabehart isn’t just a good crew chief; he’s a proven leader. As JGR president Dave Alpern explained, that leadership is exactly why he was the right guy for the competition director role. “We all agreed that now is the time we need to fill that competition director role. Chris Gabehart is a born leader. He is an amazing leader, very good at what he does.”

Still, for Gabehart, the move is bittersweet. “The conversation with Denny was a tough one, and it’s still admittedly tough for me to come off the (pit) box and realize that maybe I’ve called my last race,” Gabehart admitted. But he’s ready to embrace his new role and help JGR bounce back stronger in 2025.

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What’s next for Denny Hamlin and JGR

For Denny Hamlin, the change means adapting to a new crew chief, Chris Gayle, who takes over the No. 11 car after a stint atop the pit box for Ty Gibbs. The announcement of Gabehart’s promotion wasn’t just a routine shuffle—it was a curveball for Hamlin too, who admitted he didn’t see it coming. “I mean, I certainly was shocked by it. That’s all I’ll say,” Hamlin shared. “It does [shock me], but again, they’ve got to do what is best for the company.”

Hamlin’s chemistry with Gabehart was a big part of his success, so the adjustment will be significant. But Hamlin, ever the competitor, knows it’s part of the sport.

Alpern explained that Gabehart’s move is all about thinking long-term. “It has everything to do with Chris and nothing to do with what car he was on,” Alpern said. “When you are a big organization like we are, you are always looking at how we can make ourselves better.”

Of course, promoting Gabehart wasn’t an easy decision. Alpern said they weren’t sure if Gabehart would want to step away from the pit box. “It’s a great thing for Chris. Selfishly, it’s a great thing for Joe Gibbs Racing,” Alpern said.

While the decision makes sense strategically, it doesn’t make saying goodbye to a winning partnership any easier. Gabehart’s impact on Hamlin’s career is undeniable, and their success together will be remembered as one of the highlights of JGR’s history.

Gabehart joined JGR as a race engineer in 2012 before transitioning into a crew chief in the Xfinity Series in 2016, winning nine races with multiple drivers. In 2019, he was promoted to the Cup series and assumed the role of Denny Hamlin’s chief.

But now, Gabehart has a chance to leave an even bigger legacy—one that involves lifting an entire organization back to the top of the NASCAR world. As for Hamlin? As a consummate professional, he’ll be ready to tackle this next chapter head-on, knowing that even without Gabehart directly calling the shots, his and the team’s goal remains the same: winning.