For the NASCAR Cup race at the Talladega Superspeedway, there was a new face in the Denny Hamlin camp. As it turned out, owner Joe Gibbs’ grandson joined his pit crew for the race weekend. According to reports, Jackson Gibbs was taking on the role of front changer.

It is also worth mentioning that he is a former American Football quarterback. Additionally, he is also a development athlete who is part of the Joe Gibbs Racing programme. This particular programme trains NFL players to be quick enough to be part of an official NASCAR pit crew member.

READ MORE: William Byron Suggests Denny Hamlin Is a “Moron” for Infamous Altercation With Hendrick Motorsports Teammate Alex Bowman Last Year

Admittedly, whether this is a permanent move or just a temporary appointment, is anyone’s guess. However, it will be a valuable experience for the youngster as he pursues a career in the NASCAR arena. For now, he will work alongside Hamlin, but whether he will stick with him in the long run, or be rotated, is a different story.

How has Denny Hamlin performed so far in 2022?

Talladega was a day to forget for Hamlin. He could only muster 18th place, well behind teammates, Kyle Busch and Martin Truex Jr. While all that was happening, Ross Chastain won the race ahead of Austin Dillon and Busch.

While the result was disappointing, he can at least take comfort in the fact that he already has a win this season. In other words, he has booked his seat in the 2022 Playoffs and can fight for the title. However, the #11 driver will be keen to add a few more wins under his belt.

Meanwhile, Chastain joins William Byron in the ‘more than one win’ club. So now, the big question is whether more of the current winners will add a second or third triumph to their name. Or, will there be more one-win wonders? During this Talladega race, home hero, Bubba Wallace looked like he would be a strong contender with a Stage 1 win. Unfortunately, he eventually faltered and dropped to 17th.