2024 has not been an easy season for Denny Hamlin. The JGR ace racer had a series of average displays that extended in the first two races of the Round of 16. He finished 24th in the Quaker State 400 at Atlanta Motor Speedway and finished 23rd at the road course race in Watkins Glen. The 43-year-old was in the elimination bubble due to these disappointing displays. Fans experienced a stark contrast between his performances to the erstwhile popular claims that this year is ultimately his year in the NASCAR Cup Series.

But his performance at Bristol Motor Speedway came in as a sigh of relief not only for the racer but for the whole No. 11 team. The Round of 16 has not been an easy ride for the JGR team. Two of its elite racers, Martin Truex Jr and Ty Gibbs, are already out of championship contention. In such a situation, the most important reaction came from his crew chief, Chris Gabehart, as the hopes for the No. 11 team and Joe Gibbs Racing to stay alive and sail through the Round of 12.

The No. 11 team is still alive in NASCAR playoffs

It was a stellar performance for Denny Hamlin at the Bristol Motor Speedway. Although Kyle Larson of Hendrick Motorsports dominated the race, consistency was the key for the No. 11 racer, and it was evident from his stage finishes. The 43-year-old finished at 4th during the first and second stages of the race. Ultimately, Hamlin finished the race in the same spot. His teammate, Christopher Bell, could garner major stage points winning both stages amidst a Kyle Larson storm that blew away other statistics of the race.

But the No. 11 is happy with where they were at the end of the race. Their crew chief, Chris Gabehart, who couldn’t hold his joy celebrated with the team on the radio. The former NASCAR racer turned JGR crew chief had this to say, “Good job everybody! P4 made it with ease. Good work. Way to fight guys. It’s f–k–g on now. There is no way we were going to come to here and six was going to be enough. If we execute it, I knew it. And we did it. So good job everybody, good work!” Chris Gabehart has been Denny Hamlin’s crew chief at JGR since 2019.

While a solid performance for Denny Hamlin came after a long time, this is certainly not Chris Gabehart‘s first hit at cheering the team on the radio. The 43-year-old crew chief had an even bigger occasion to celebrate back in the spring as the No. 11 team won the Cup Series spring race at Bristol Motor Speedway. The other two such joyous occasions for Denny Hamlin this season were an emphatic win at Richmond Raceway and a 72-lap lead-to-win the race at Dover Motor Speedway.

While Denny Hamlin was fortunate enough to qualify for Round 12 along with Christopher Bell, the other two JGR racers had to face a disappointing elimination from the Round of 16 playoffs this season. It was a tough day for the youngster, Ty Gibbs and veteran Martin Truex Jr. Both the racers had an impressive start to the race but slipped up due to an in-race penalty imposed on both of the racers. This ultimately cost them points and momentum to continue with the same intensity. While Ty Gibbs will try to make a solid comeback, Martin Truex Jr is set to bid farewell to his beloved sport at the end of the season.

Thus, Denny Hamlin and Christopher Bell are the only remaining hope for the JGR fans to win silverware this season. With the playoff field now set for the Round of 12, the playoff dynamics have taken an interesting turn. Who amongst the remaining 12 will cruise through the next round? Only time has the answer to this question at the moment.

Denny Hamlin’s solid run makes the Round of 12 clash more intense

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Before the Bass Pro Shops night race at Bristol Motor Speedway, Denny Hamlin was out of the playoff contention. The No. 11 team was 6 points below the elimination line. The danger of elimination for the 43-year-old was more real than ever. However, after a consistent run in the last race of the Round of 16, Denny Hamlin has made a comeback in this season’s playoff standings. The JGR ace racer is currently 7 points above the elimination line, above Joey Logano of Team Penske.

On the other hand, the playoff standings now look completely different. Some names have returned to the position where they were anticipated to be this season. The most prominent name among such racers is Kyle Larson, who set the record for leading the most laps led by Hendrick Motorsports in its history. With the veterans making a comeback, racers who were earlier in a strong position are now in the elimination bubble. This includes names like Daniel Suárez, Austin Cindric, Chase Briscoe, and Joey Logano.

What are your thoughts on Denny Hamlin’s performance? Do tell us in the comments down below.