Martin Truex Jr.’s final season in the NASCAR Cup Series could’ve ended very differently had it not been for his mistakes on the pit road. Everything was going pretty smoothly for the #19 team at Bristol Motor Speedway, and Truex Jr. was in the position to race his way into the Round of 12. But the veteran driver was caught speeding on the pit road, and this single mistake derailed hopes of a solid finish to his NASCAR career.

Well, now that he has departed from the team, Denny Hamlin and Christopher Bell reacted to Martin Truex Jr.’s mishaps on the pit road. Bell was careful with his words in explaining how the pit stops can make or break a driver’s race. Hamlin, on the other hand, was brutal in his assessment of his former teammate.

Denny Hamlin didn’t shy away from pointing out MTJ’s biggest drawback from his racing

0.09 miles per hour was the speed that cost Truex Jr. his race at Bristol. For most of the race until Lap 333, the JGR driver was in contention to win the race. But a pass-through penalty would ultimately derail his hopes of a fairytale finish to his final run with Joe Gibbs Racing. Well, both Hamlin and Bell were looking at the clips of close calls they had with the pit crews, and it did feature the 90-degree spin by MTJ at Homestead from 2022.

Those who recall the incident might remember the #19 car facing the wrong way on the pit road after coming in contact with Kyle Larson’s #5 Chevy. With 23 laps to go, Martin Truex Jr. was in control of the race, and with a caution, all he needed was a clean pit stop. But he certainly got more than he asked. Instead of pointing fingers, the veteran driver owned up to his mistake, stating, “I did see my box late, for sure. So I slowed down before I turned out of the way of the No. 5 there. Obviously partly on me.”

Denny Hamlin certainly didn’t hold any punches in highlighting his teammate’s shortcomings on the track that have cost him race wins time and again. Reacting to the footage of #19 sliding on the pit road and landing exactly in the box, Hamlin said, “Woah, that was unplanned. Martin clearly needs to work on his parking.”

We’ve seen pit road performance make or break a driver’s race day. Hamlin won the controversial spring race at Richmond, thanks to his pit crew. However, it’s not just the pit crew members but also drivers who have to play a crucial role in getting a perfect stop. “Whenever the car doesn’t come perfectly into the box, that messes up the timing of the entire pit crew,” Hamlin added.

Martin Truex Jr.’s departure has led to a major overhaul within the Joe Gibbs Racing team. Although Chase Briscoe taking over the #19 ride was something fans knew, a crew chief change for Denny Hamlin completely took everyone by surprise.

Chris Gabehart won’t be leading the charge of the #11 team in 2025

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Since 2019, Chris Gabehart and Denny Hamlin might not have won a championship together, but they’ve been fairly successful. The duo won 22 races together, including three straight Championship 4 appearances (2019-2021). But the top brass at JGR decided to shake things up and moved Gabehart to the competition director role. Meanwhile, Chris Gayle was announced as the new crew chief for the #11 team starting from 2025 onwards.

Gabehart was one of the top strategists and perhaps the best crew chief alongside the likes of Cliff Daniel and Paul Wolfe. Not only did he have the respect of the entire Cup garage, but he had a unique chemistry with the veteran JGR driver. At 43, Hamlin knows he has only a few opportunities to claim the elusive prize of the NASCAR crown. This is why this abrupt change at JGR certainly raised a few eyebrows and how this move helps Hamlin and his ambitions of winning the championship.

In fact, Hamlin himself was shellshocked to learn about this new change. “The first few days was a shock, but I’m moving on. There’s nothing I can do to change anything that happened, and JGR is doing what they feel is best for them and I totally understand that.” Hamlin said during the media availability.

Just like Gabehart, Gayle has served Joe Gibbs Racing well and has helped young drivers reach new heights. And Hamlin certainly recognizes that. “He’s been with the company for 20 years, and certainly he knows all the tools that the teams use. I think it’s going to be a welcomed change for him and a welcomed change for me to go out there and try to build a new relationship and obviously win a lot of races.”

Only time will tell whether or not JGR made a good call with this switch. Needless to say, the #11 will be the center of attention for the 2025 season as it has always been.