Denny Hamlin said Friday he was “shocked” by the news that he will have a new crew chief for the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season. Joe Gibbs Racing announced Friday morning ahead of the NASCAR Awards banquet that Chris Gabehart will become the team’s competition director,

Denny Hamlin will have a new crew chief in 2025. Joe Gibbs Racing announced Friday that Chris Gayle will serve as the crew chief for Hamlin’s No. 11 team, with Chris Gabehart being promoted to competition director.

With those struggles as the backdrop, JGR officials recognize Gabehart is undoubtedly one of the best crew chiefs in the Cup garage and believe his insight and expertise could better serve the company in a larger role as competition director, similar to the transition Chad Knaus made with Hendrick Motorsports in 2020.

Know all about Denny Hamlin's new crew chief, Chris Gayle, for the 2025 NASCAR Cup season and their prior collaboration.

Denny Hamlin will have a new crew chief as he continues his quest for a NASCAR Cup Series title. Joe Gibbs Racing announced Friday that Chris Gabehart would become the team’s competition director and that Chris Gayle would become Hamlin’s crew chief.

Denny Hamlin and Ty Gibbs will both be working with new crew chiefs in the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season with Joe Gibbs Racing making a series of competition moves on Friday.

Chris Gayle will be Denny Hamlin ‘s crew chief in the NASCAR Cup Series next year, as Chris Gabehart was promoted to competition director at Joe Gibbs Racing, JGR announced Nov. 22. Gayle previously served as Ty Gibbs ‘ crew chief over the past two years after leading him to a NASCAR Xfinity Series championship in 2022.

Chris Gayle will bring his own perspective to the 11 team while also maintaining the consistency and continuity they have developed with Denny (Hamlin) over the past several years. While we are still in the process of finalizing the new crew chief for the 54 team,