“Denny’s just got a knack for this place. He’s the guy to beat here.” Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) star racer Christopher Bell summed it up. JGR is off to a blazing start in 2025, but it’s not all smooth tracks and victory lanes. Denny Hamlin’s big win at Martinsville Speedway has thrust JGR into the spotlight, securing two cars in the playoffs with four victories in just seven races. Yet, the weekend wasn’t without drama.

The Xfinity Series race the night before ended in chaos, with a last-lap wreck sparking outrage. Sammy Smith slammed into leader Taylor Gray, triggering a massive pile-up that handed Austin Hill the win. Taylor Gray’s Xfinity crash left a bitter taste, with the JGR driver venting, “It hurts to see it end like that.” Fans and drivers, including Hamlin who called it “absolute garbage” on X, were fuming over the aggressive move and NASCAR’s no-caution call. That controversy still lingers, but for JGR, the focus is on the Cup Series triumph that followed. Behind the celebration, though, Joe Gibbs shared a story that’ll make your pulse race just as hard.

Joe Gibbs had disaster ready to explode before the racing even began

Denny Hamlin’s Martinsville mastery wasn’t a fluke, it was pure determination. The veteran outran the field, cementing his status as a short-track king. That victory didn’t just boost Hamlin’s confidence, it rocketed JGR to the top of the owner standings. Fans on X are buzzing, calling it a “masterclass” and a “huge day for Joe Gibbs Racing.” And they’re not wrong, this win is a game-changer.

But here’s the kicker. Joe Gibbs pulled back the curtain on the panic before the race. In his own words: “Yeah, well I think it’s, when you hear him talk about it, yesterday in the competition meeting, I was scared to death. They were talking about everything that’s wrong with the car. So it’s amazing, but I think we got enough right to make it go, so anyway, that’s great.” Picture this: Joe, the legend himself, sweating it out, thinking the car was a disaster only for the team to flip the script and dominate. “Good start to the year to get four races, four wins this season. Yeah, it’s awesome. Two of our cars in the playoffs, that’s great. So hey, off to a good start, see if we can keep going,” added Gibbs further.

You can hear the dread in Gibbs, the kind that makes you wonder how they pulled it off. From a car that sounded like it was falling apart to a playoff-clinching win, it’s all about resilience. Denny Hamlin backed that up post-race, saying, “We fought through a lot today. This team’s got something special.” Special is an understatement. With four wins already and two cars playoff-bound, this is JGR firing on all cylinders.

NASCAR insider Jordan Bianchi had already pegged Hamlin as the 2025 Martinsville favorite, and with this momentum, who’s doubting him now? Denny Hamlin’s win was a masterclass—leading 274 of 400 laps in his No. 11 Toyota. He fended off tough restarts against teammate Christopher Bell and Bubba Wallace, who capped a Toyota 1-2-3 finish. “I felt really bad at the end of the run there,” Bell said, admitting he couldn’t catch Hamlin. That dominance only amps up the heat on Ty Gibbs to rise.

Joe Gibbs Racing is soaring, but it’s the unfiltered fear and fight, the near-disaster turned triumph, that makes this story unforgettable. It’s proof: wins don’t come easy, they come earned. JGR’s in the playoffs, and they’re not letting up.

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Joe Gibbs stands by Ty Gibbs through chaos and comeback at Martinsville

Martinsville Speedway just delivered a rollercoaster for Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR), and it’s got everyone talking. But the real heart-pounder was Ty Gibbs—Joe’s grandson—bouncing back from a brutal start to the season. The 22-year-old’s been under fire, with critics saying his career’s tanking after a string of tough races. But Joe’s not having it.

“Just free this [expletive] thing up, please. It doesn’t roll the center at all,” Ty Gibbs said after tangling with Tyler Reddick. “You better keep me away from that little [expletive] (Reddick) after this race too.” Ty’s weekend wasn’t smooth. In the Cup race, he got caught in a wreck, and tempers flared. “Normal deal,” Gibbs’ crew told him. “[Reddick] stuck his nose and then the 3 (Dillon) was just piling through him from behind. Nothing you can do about it.”

Joe’s been Ty’s rock through it all. “Everyone knows we’ve been off to such a tough start,” Joe Gibbs said of his grandson after Martinsville, “When that happens, what I’m caught up in is looking at who helps us, who supports us, who’s gonna help us get out of it. I think the same way with Ty. He’s just fighting his rear end off to get back up front.” That family bond hit hard as Ty climbed to a solid finish despite the chaos, silencing some of the noise. JGR’s still riding high with Hamlin’s win, but Ty’s fight is the story that tugs at you. From a career-threatening slump to battling back, he’s showing grit.

This isn’t over. Ty’s got critics to prove wrong, and Joe’s got his list ready. Martinsville was a spark, can Ty keep it going?