“I certainly was shocked; that’s all I’ll say.” The crew chief shakeup within Joe Gibbs Racing’s #11 team left Denny Hamlin reeling. Last year, Chris Gabehart, Hamlin’s long-time right-hand man, was promoted to competition director, leaving the 44-year-old driver in unfamiliar territory. But fast forward 33 races with new crew chief Chris Gayle, the latest Las Vegas winner, definitely has plenty more to say.

Chris Gabhart’s pairing with Hamlin may have fetched them 22 wins and a spot in the Championship 4 three times, but Chris Gayle is no less. At the Round of 8 opening race at Las Vegas Speedway, it was Gayle’s master plan and Hamlin’s speed that gave the No. 11 driver his 60th Cup Series win and a spot in the Championship 4 at Phoenix. And now, Hamlin is glad that the decision to keep Gayle has paid off.

Hamlin is confident about Gayle’s role

Speaking in a media availability, the No. 11 driver revealed their dynamic from the get-go, saying, “So I wanted to make it very clear to him that you know he has my respect, he has my confidence and that do what you sees fit. If you know, do not be afraid to tell me when you think that I need to be fixing something or doing something, and because it, I can understand why it would be intimidating for someone like him that you know we mean Gabehart had a lot of success and he probably was nervous whether he was going to get the same out of me that those guys did.”

Denny Hamlin made the race-winning pass on teammate Chase Briscoe, all thanks to Chris Gayle. Chris made a decisive call during the final pitstop, opting for four fresh tires, a move that proved crucial. The fresh tires helped Hamlin overtake Briscoe and Larson, who were pushing hard in the final laps.

This strategy enabled Hamlin to execute a flawless restart and secure the lead with four laps remaining. This victory not only advanced Hamlin to Phoenix but also underscored Gayle’s effective leadership and the team’s resilience.

The Joe Gibbs Racing driver reaffirmed his claim, saying, ” But I can confidently say that Gibbs made the right decision in choosing him given him you know the opportunity with me and I think it’s been a very good mix of kind of our thoughts and that’s why I think we’ve gotten better as a team as a whole is it’s sometimes a fresh new perspective and ideas can teach you something. I think he has.”

This isn’t the first race the duo has won together. After a decade-long winless streak at the track, Denny Hamlin dominated the Martinsville Speedway, leading 274 of the 400 laps. This triumph was particularly significant as it marked his first win with new crew chief Chris Gayle, who had taken over the team’s leadership in 2025.

But it is Hamlin’s Las Vegas win that means the most. It was surely emotional as he dedicated it to his ailing father and was glad to see him achieve his 60th win. Post-race, Chris Gayle radioed a heartwarming message, saying, “We all know you earned that one for your dad. We all know. Love you, man.”

And now, as the team has locked its spot into Phoenix, everything changes. Hamlin gets another chance to win his elusive first Cup title, and Chris Gayle will do anything to make that happen.

Chris Gayle sets the mindset straight to deliver Denny Hamlin’s long-awaited championship

Amid Hamlin opening up about his father’s health, crew Chief Gayle has other plans for Hamlin’s championship. This marks the first time Gayle has ever been in the Championship 4, and pressure is definitely on. Gone are the days of building and tweaking; this new era is all about simulations, data, and razor-sharp planning to make Phoenix week as smooth as possible.

As for Hamlin, the driver who has come agonizingly close to a title more times than fans can count, mindset is everything. Gayle knows there is no secret source, just grit and preparation.

With quiet conviction, he said, “We’re going to do everything we can, leave it there in Phoenix. Whatever happens happens. Then we’re going to do everything on the frontside to get ready. I don’t know that I have the magic formula related to that, other than bring the fastest car I can, which is how I’ve approached all year.”

With eyes set on the elusive championship and a milestone 60th career win, Hamlin’s experience and composure have become the backbone of this team’s little bit. This isn’t just another playoff run; it’s redemption season for the No. 11 camp.