One of the most dominant teams in NASCAR this season, Joe Gibbs Racing, has been in the spotlight throughout the year. While it has mostly been for the right reasons, the last two weeks have had a different story to tell.
The crash between Denny Hamlin and Ty Gibbs at Loudon sparked many controversies and rumors of a feud between the Cup veteran and the flag bearer of Joe Gibbs’ legacy. While both drivers addressed it in their own ways, Gibbs was rather careful with his words.
However, that changed when the 23-year-old faced the cameras ahead of the Charlotte contest and opened up about the Loudon incident with a fair hint of clarity.
What Happened Between Ty Gibbs and Denny Hamlin at Loudon?
Gibbs, who had one of the more underwhelming runs of his career this season, ended up with his third DNF of the season at the New Hampshire contest when a mid-race incident with his teammate, Hamlin, sent him crashing into the wall and ended the day early for him.
After the incident, Hamlin admitted to his lapse of judgment and mentioned going too far with his move. “Absolutely. I definitely got hot under the collar, and it went too far on my end. There were things I wish I could have done a little bit differently,” the 44-year-old said.
Ahead of the contest at the Roval, when the No. 54 driver spoke to Frontstretch, he opened up about the recent developments in the Joe Gibbs Racing camp, including how things have panned out for Hamlin in the last two weeks.
What Did Gibbs Finally Say About the Incident?
When asked about the incident between Bubba Wallace and his teammate at Kansas, the 23-year-old discounted the subject by highlighting that he did not care much for it since he was not involved in it firsthand.
Following this, a journalist asked Gibbs if he had spoken to Hamlin about their crash at Loudon. The No. 54 driver admitted to conversing with the veteran about the subject.
The 23-year-old further mentioned how rivalries play a role between drivers of the same team and added, “I don’t think you’re gonna have getting wreck for sure. I don’t think that that’s ideal, but it happens sometimes, it’s racing and we’re racing professional Motorsports and cars. And sometimes they’re harder to control at times.”
Gibbs also commented on how he views Hamlin as a teammate, saying, “I grew up around all these guys, and I appreciated him [Hamlin] a lot. I want the best for my team as well. So I think we figured a lot of things out.”
With both Gibbs and Hamlin addressing the situation, it seems the teammates have resolved things without letting them escalate further. As for the Charlotte outing, Gibbs will begin third on the grid while Hamlin will start 14th.