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The current NASCAR season has brought a lot of surprises, but also unexpected developments that fans are still reacting to. One of the most important changes is the departure of Chris Gabehart from the post of crew chief of the No.11 Joe Gibbs Racing team and Denny Hamlin. He'll have a new role on the team: Competition director. Starting next season, Chris Gayle will be the person who will serve as Hamlin's crew chief from the 2025 season.
A well-known name in the NASCAR scene, Dale Jr. decided to comment on such changes, considering them a huge surprise. Dale Earnhardt Jr. stresses that Hamlin and Gabehart seemed bonded. Some believe that such moves may mean that Denny will now have a great chance to win the championship. The fans complain about it, but Hamlin has been clear several times so far, believing that despite not winning the championship, he will remain written in golden letters in the history of this sport.
Although Hamlin has excelled in NASCAR tacks several times, many were not as optimistic as Earnhardt Jr. that Hamlin could really be on the throne. However, his experience, as well as his qualities, could be crucial in the seasons ahead.
“I guess the Gabehart-Denny Hamlin change was a big surprise,” Earnhardt said.
“They seemed really bonded and in sync. Denny is in a really good position to compete for championships. This year wasn’t one of those years where we felt like he was a contender for the title, but it’s been pretty much every year he’s been one of the guys we thought could have a shot at it."
JGR's leaders are clearly not happy with how their team has looked this season, as they have made several changes. Next season could be a completely different story for them, but the question is whether they will actually succeed in what they set out to do.
"And so, for them to mash the pause button on that and make a complete change and shift in a whole different direction was really a surprise. But I guess the idea is the future for Joe Gibbs Racing is the most important thing and this strengthens that."- he continued.
Continuing his analysis, Dale Earnhardt Jr. stressed that Gabehart is a talented individual and a man who has always given his best to help the team. Dale admits that Gabehart has always tried to take into account all factors, dedicate himself to the team to the maximum, and pay attention to details. The former NASCAR driver believes that the work ethic that Gabehart had will be important for him on the team. It will be interesting to see how he contributes to the team this time. No one doubts that he'll be an important screw in the team.
Earnardt Jr. is cautious and thinks that it might not be the best thing for Denny and his team. On the other hand, he has enormous respect for Gabehart, noting that Gibbs Racing is now in great hands. In addition, he expects Hamlin to be significantly better. The situation seems somewhat complicated, but the former NASCAR driver expects that Hamlin will be part of this sport for another year, possibly two. Hamlin hasn't talked much about it, but fans hope to see him for at least a few more seasons.
Denny Hamlin reacts
It is also interesting to point out that in the last six years, Hamlin and Gabehart have done great things, achieving 22 victories. The leaders of this team have different ideas. In an interview with the media, Denny Hamlin admitted that he expected this kind of outcome, given that the team officials see things differently, wanting to create a team that can compete for the very top. An experienced driver understands why they made such moves.
“It does, but again, they’ve gotta do what’s best for the company. And I think that they’re looking for an improvement on performance from the 54,” Denny Hamlin said.
“And they’re looking for an overall performance for all the teams. Because we certainly haven’t won the amount of races as an organization as we should.”
Next season could be a completely different story for this team. The JGR team is hungry for success. Starting from the 2025 season, they will aim for the highest. Whether they will succeed in this is difficult to answer. Certainly, they have great drivers on the roster, who have the potential to make surprises next season. The competition is fierce, with many talented and experienced drivers. In the end, only one will be on the throne.
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