Chris Gabehart, the former crew chief of Denny Hamlin, has been known to hold a grudge. His most recent expression of disapproval comes on the heels of the 2024 Cook Out 400 race, where he condemned the aggressive driving tactics of Austin Dillon.
Dillon, the driver of the No. 3 Richard Childress Racing car, exploited the newly released Goodyear option tires to secure a victory at the short-track event. His controversial maneuvers, which resulted in Joey Logano’s No. 22 car colliding with the wall and Denny Hamlin’s No. 11 car getting hooked, have left a sour taste in Gabehart’s mouth.
Gabehart, now serving as the competition director of Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR), recently took a thinly veiled swipe at Dillon’s new crew chief, Richard Boswell, over his endorsement of Goodyear’s option tires. Boswell had expressed his satisfaction with the performance of these tires at the Shriner’s Children 400 race, where they were used with remarkable success.
Goodyear launched their short-track racing package in Phoenix, offering teams two sets of softer option tires along with the standard ones. The benefits were immediately observable as Ryan Preece dramatically improved his position from 28th to within the top ten in just the first 27 laps. Joey Logano also managed to recover his track position after a restart violation, and Hamlin gave a thrilling chase to Christopher Bell until the very last lap on these tires.
In a recent Goodyear tire test, the No. 3 RCR team was asked to test ten different tire combinations during a 12-hour practice session. Following the session, Boswell voiced his approval for the option tire, even suggesting its potential to become the standard tire with an even softer option being introduced.
Gabehart, who was quick to catch wind of Boswell’s optimistic view of the option tire, responded with a scathing rebuttal. He implied that Boswell’s preference for the option tire was merely a strategy to capitalize on the Caution Lottery, a reference to Dillon’s controversial win at Richmond in August. This veiled insult serves as a clear reminder of the bitterness that lingers from the incident.
Supporting Gabehart’s stance, Christopher Bell, a JGR driver, expressed his dislike for having two compounds, arguing that it gives certain drivers a significant advantage. However, Hamlin, who had previously worked with Gabehart, disagreed, claiming that the option tires produced impressive racing results.
Despite the heated exchange, Gabehart remains focused on the future. Right now, his team is performing exceptionally well. Joe Gibbs Racing is enjoying a series of victories across the Cup Series and the Xfinity Series. Veteran driver Aric Almirola, who retired from full-time racing in 2023, has already secured a win at Phoenix Raceway. Christopher Bell, on the other hand, has dominated three out of the first four races in the 2025 season, making him a formidable competitor.
Hamlin, driving the No. 11 Toyota, has also shown promising performances this year. In Phoenix, he nearly beat Bell, finishing a mere 0.049 seconds behind. Gabehart, expressing his pride and excitement for both Bell and Hamlin, hinted at more victories to come for the Joe Gibbs Racing team.
As the 2025 racing season progresses, the Joe Gibbs Racing drivers have become the ones to watch. Their impressive performances are setting the stage for an exciting season of racing, promising thrilling competitions and nail-biting finishes.
