NASCAR insider suggests Ty Gibbs is handled with 'kid gloves' in wake of Denny Hamlin New Hampshire beef

Outside of the results on the track, Denny Hamlin and Ty Gibbs stole the show at New Hampshire with their beef. The two drivers were not happy with one another, and it resulted in Gibbs being spun out. What does NASCAR etiquette say about the situation?

Both Ty Gibbs and Denny Hamlin played it safe after the race. Neither of them fanned the flames. Joe Gibbs says that he will let his drivers sort things out among themselves.

No one thinks Gibbs is going to wreck Hamlin. However, the situation showed just how much growing up the young driver has to do. And it shouldn’t be taking this long.

“The unfortunate reality is it’s a tough situation for the team because of who he is. He’s the grandson of the owner, and there’s a sense within the organization sometimes, and you heard it on Denny’s radio, that he’s handled with kid gloves when maybe that isn’t the case,” Jordan Bianchi said on The Teardown. “And sometimes you need tough love, and yeah, he’s a young driver, I get that. But he’s also in his third year. His third year of the Cup Series. He’s over 100 starts now. Yeah, he’s young age-wise, but maturity-wise in the racecar, he’s been at this, and it just seems like at some point you’re gonna have to get that lesson. We’ll see how this is going to be going forward.”

We saw issues with Ty Gibbs and maturity in the Xfinity Series. He was already locked into the Championship 4 in 2022 when Martinsville rolled around. Brandon Jones was leading late when Gibbs came from way back to bump Jones and knock him out of the way. Gibbs won the race, but JGR missed out on having Jones make the Championship 4.

Can Ty Gibbs learn to play nice with others?

There is a very real dynamic with Ty Gibbs and the other drivers that puts them on uneven footing. His name is on the building and the cars. It isn’t Christopher Bell, Chase Briscoe, or Denny Hamlin’s name on it. The G in JGR is for Gibbs, of course.

Then there is the fact that Ty hasn’t won a race in the Cup Series yet. I think that he is probably behind schedule in that respect. Then again, it took Chase Elliott a long time to finally win his first race in Cup. Everyone gets there at their own pace.

So, it’s not an excuse, but these are the realities of the situation. No one knows if these are the reasons for tension at JGR or with Ty himself, except for those involved. But if this continues to be a trend, it could lead to more issues not just with Hamlin but possibly other drivers at JGR as well.