Skip to main content
Join Now
NASCAR Logo

Denny Hamlin gives perspective on frustration with Ty Gibbs, wreck: 'Felt a little bit wronged'

Brian Jones Profile Picby: Brian Jones09/22/25brianjones_93
Denny Hamlin
Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Denny Hamlin has opened up about the incident that happened with him and Ty Gibbs at New Hampshire on Sunday. On the Actions Detrimental podcast, Hamlin was asked about the contact he had with Gibbs during that race, leading to Gibbs’ No. 54 Toyota being sent into the wall.

“We were racing really too hard,” Denny Hamin said. “I know this is going to trigger some people about, ‘Oh, racing hard.’ When you’re racing a teammate — A, a teammate, and B, a teammate with nothing to gain — I agree that everyone should race to win the race. However, we’re not racing to win the race. We’re racing, at the time, for 11th place. …We’re all (the playoff drivers) battling and scratching and clawing to try to get some stage points, which is going to be life or death for us. It’s our air that we need to move on.”

Hamlin continued: “I felt as though a little bit wronged in the sense of my teammate out of the playoffs should not be the hardest car on the track to pass. For God’s sake, Ross Chastain let me by. He’s on the cut line.”

Denny Hamlin and Ty Gibbs air out frustration at New Hampshire

As Hamlin mentioned, he and Ty Gibbs were battling for 11th during Lap 110 of the NASCAR Cup Series playoff race at New Hampshire. And since it was the Round of 12 opener, it was important for Hamlin to have a strong finish to make sure he stays above the cut line.

The incident led to Hamlin and Gibbs sounding off to their respective teams on their radios. “Does Ty know we’re going for a championship? What the [expletive]?” Hamlin radioed to his team. “Are they afraid to talk to him? That’s what I feel like — they’re scared of him.”

Gibbs radioed to his team, “Game on,” after the car came to a rest, and brushed off questions about the incident. “It’s unfortunate, but I’m excited to go race next week,” he said. “I’m looking forward to it. We’ll have a good race next week.”

Hamlin and Gibbs compete for Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR), which is owned by legendary NFL head coach Joe Gibbs. Ty Gibbs, the grandson of Joe Gibbs, missed out on reaching the playoffs this season and is still looking for his first race victory in the NASCAR Cup Series.