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,

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

Joe Gibbs Racing announced that Chris Gayle will serve as the crew chief for Hamlin’s No. 11 team, with Chris Gabehart being promoted to competition director. Gayle has served as crew chief for JGR’s No. 54 team for the past two seasons.

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

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.

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.

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,

Denny Hamlin did not ask for a crew chief change for his No. 11 team and didn't see it coming when Joe Gibbs Racing made that decision. "I certainly was shocked by it," Hamlin said Friday before the NASCAR Awards banquet.