Denny Hamlin to Welcome New Crew Chief in 2025 as Joe Gibbs Racing Shakes Things Up
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Big changes are coming to the No. 11 team at Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) as Denny Hamlin, one of NASCAR’s most iconic drivers, will have a new crew chief for the 2025 season. On Friday, JGR announced that Chris Gayle will take over as the crew chief for Hamlin’s team, while Chris Gabehart, Hamlin’s current crew chief, has been promoted to competition director for the organization. Gayle has been leading JGR’s No. 54 team for the past two seasons, and his move to the No. 11 team marks a significant shift for the organization.
As for the No. 54 team, JGR has yet to announce who will step into the crew chief role, leaving fans eagerly awaiting further updates. Both Gayle and Gabehart have been integral to JGR’s success over the years, with each guiding their respective teams to the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs and securing top-15 finishes in the overall point standings. This reshuffling of roles is a testament to the depth of talent within the JGR organization.
“We have a lot of pride in the depth of talent we have throughout our organization,” said JGR owner and founder Joe Gibbs. “Chris Gabehart will now be an asset across all four of our teams as competition director, and we thought it was important to have him transition into his new role immediately. 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.”
Chris Gayle’s Impressive Resume
Chris Gayle is no stranger to success. Since joining JGR as an engineer in 2003, he has built an impressive resume that includes two Cup Series wins, 37 Xfinity Series victories, and the 2022 Xfinity Series championship. Gayle transitioned to a crew chief role in 2013 with JGR’s Xfinity Series team, where he led his teams to 20 wins over four seasons. In 2017, he briefly worked with Furniture Row Racing before returning to JGR in 2018 to lead Erik Jones in the Cup Series. Under Gayle’s guidance, Jones secured his first career win in 2018 and followed it up with a Southern 500 victory in 2019.
Most recently, Gayle has been at the helm of JGR’s No. 54 Xfinity Series team, where he achieved 10 wins with four different drivers. He also played a pivotal role in Ty Gibbs’ rise to prominence, leading him to seven victories and the Xfinity Series championship before they both moved to the Cup Series in 2023. In Gibbs’ second Cup Series season, Gayle oversaw the No. 54 team’s growth, which included eight top-five finishes, 12 top-10s, two pole awards, and 417 laps led.
“Denny is obviously a first-ballot Hall of Famer,” Gayle said. “I’m looking forward to working with him and the guys on the No. 11 team. He and Gabehart have established an incredible culture that is a very good barometer for our other drivers and teams to strive to match. I have all the confidence in the world we can hit the ground running and continue the success that this group is accustomed to in 2025.”
Chris Gabehart’s Legacy with the No. 11 Team
Chris Gabehart’s tenure as the crew chief for the No. 11 team has been nothing short of remarkable. After joining JGR in 2012 as a race engineer, Gabehart transitioned to a crew chief role in the Xfinity Series from 2016 to 2018, earning nine victories with multiple drivers. In 2019, he was promoted to crew chief for Hamlin’s team, and the duo quickly became a force to be reckoned with. They won the 2019 Daytona 500 and made three consecutive Championship 4 appearances. Over six years, Gabehart and Hamlin secured 22 wins, including two Daytona 500 victories.
Reflecting on his time with the No. 11 team, Gabehart said, “I am very thankful for the opportunities that Joe Gibbs Racing has continued to provide me for my entire tenure here and cannot say enough about how much I have enjoyed and appreciated my time with Denny and the entire 11 team. They have all taught me so much about not only how to race at the top of the NASCAR Cup Series, but also, how to lead a great group of talented professionals. In my next opportunity, I am as excited as I have ever been to work with all our talented drivers, crew chiefs, teams, and partners to help focus all our efforts towards making 2025 one of the best seasons Joe Gibbs Racing has ever had.”
RFK Racing Brings Back Jeremy Bullins
Meanwhile, over at RFK Racing, another major crew chief shakeup is making waves. The team announced that veteran crew chief Jeremy Bullins will join the organization in 2025, reuniting with driver and co-owner Brad Keselowski to lead the No. 6 team. Bullins, who has been part of 31 wins in his career, spent over a decade in the Cup Series with Wood Brothers Racing and Team Penske, working with drivers like Ryan Blaney, Austin Cindric, and Harrison Burton.
“I’m excited and grateful for the opportunity to work with BK again, this time in the iconic No. 6 car with RFK,” Bullins said. “We were able to accomplish a lot as a team previously, but we had a couple of unfinished goals like a Daytona 500 win and a championship together, and I’m ecstatic we get the opportunity to compete together again.”
Bullins most recently led the No. 21 team, earning the organization’s 100th victory at Daytona this summer. His reunion with Keselowski is sure to be one of the most intriguing storylines heading into the 2025 season.
Key Takeaways
- Denny Hamlin will have Chris Gayle as his new crew chief in 2025.
- Chris Gabehart transitions to competition director at Joe Gibbs Racing.
- Jeremy Bullins reunites with Brad Keselowski at RFK Racing.
With these major changes, the 2025 NASCAR season is already shaping up to be one for the books. Fans will be watching closely to see how these new partnerships unfold on the track.
Originally Written by: Associated Press
