Denny Hamlin Takes a Sly Dig at Joe Gibbs as He Insinuates JGR “Turned the Day Upside Down”

Denny Hamlin’s weekend at Darlington was a whirlwind of emotions. Following his triumph in his lone Xfinity appearance of 2023, he entered the weekend with high hopes, especially after an impressive second-place qualification.

Initially, everything seemed to be aligning perfectly for Hamlin. He secured victory in both Stage 1 and Stage 2, leading an impressive 177 laps in the playoff opener. However, just when victory appeared to be within his grasp, an unforeseen loose wheel issue emerged, causing him to plummet to 30th place. Despite his determined efforts, he was unable to close the significant gap in the remaining laps.

Understandably, this turn of events left Hamlin feeling deeply frustrated. The incident robbed him of what would have been a well-deserved win at Darlington after a series of impressive performances throughout the weekend.

Frustration boils over as Denny Hamlin unleashes his reaction

Despite pitstop mishaps that hindered Martin Truex Jr and Christopher Bell, Denny Hamlin initially commanded the field in the Southern 500. However, the dynamic shifted when a left-rear wheel issue raised after the pit stop on lap 270.

After completing 3 laps, Hamlin made a return to the pit lane for inspection. Following the inspection, his crew chief Chris Gabehart conveyed the assurance that all was well with the car. However, during the post-race interview, the #11 Toyota driver indicated that he had sensed an issue despite the reassurance provided.

Talking with Frontstretch, Denny Hamlin said, “I felt a loose wheel, it’s really tough to tell in anything, but they looked, and it looked like the left rear was still tightening as we were gone. So, it’s close enough to where it didn’t matter what I felt, I was going to crash if I kept going. So, had to bring it in and just turned the day upside down.”

In the aftermath of the incident, the team collected footage of the car and upon conducting a more thorough review, Chris Gabehart’s verdict gained the spotlight.

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Hamlin’s crew chief Chris Gabehart opens the door to reality

According to Chris Gabehart, the left rear wheel is a critical and heavily loaded part of the car. After examining the wheel and reviewing photos, Gabehart expressed concerns about its tightness. He mentioned that for the left rear wheel, there’s little room for uncertainty, unlike the front or other sides of the car where there might be some leeway.

Gabehart emphasized Denny Hamlin’s extensive experience as a driver and noted that if Hamlin felt there was a problem, he was fully aware of the potential consequences of continuing with loose tires on the track.

As per RACER.com, Chris Gabehart stated, “My guy’s won 50 of these things, and he’s been doing it for nearly 20 years. He knows what he feels. So, live on TV, it probably looked uncertain, but I’m certain. Denny knows.”

Considering the circumstances, it appears that Denny Hamlin made the right decision to avoid a potential major accident by returning to the pit lane. However, the subsequent second pit stop resulted in a gap that Hamlin couldn’t close, ultimately affecting his playoff standings as he is now fifth after NASCAR’s bizarre disruption at Darlington.

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