The tensions between Denny Hamlin and Joe Gibbs, his long-time partner in the NASCAR Cup Series, have been palpable. Their relationship spans over two decades, a period that has seen its fair share of triumphs and tribulations. However, recent events at the Circuit of The Americas (COTA) have led to a notable souring of moods in the camp.
Hamlin, the driver of the No. 11 Toyota, has had a less than stellar performance at COTA. Despite managing an 8th place finish in 2022 and 2024, his recent races have been marred by chaos and misfortune. His teammate, Christopher Bell, on the other hand, has been showcasing winning form on a variety of tracks. This disparity in performance has inevitably led to a growing sense of frustration for the 44-year-old Hamlin.
Sunday’s EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix highlighted the widening chasm between the teammates as Hamlin grappled with a series of unfortunate incidents. A notable moment came with 18 laps to go when Hamlin inexplicably locked his brakes and collided with Austin Dillon’s No. 3 car. The incident resulted in Dillon careening off into the gravel and a caution flag being raised.
Television replays of the incident revealed a trail of dirt cloud following Hamlin’s Joe Gibbs Racing car. Speculation arose that Hamlin might have been trying to offer some protection to his teammate. However, Hamlin firmly dismissed such theories.
In his words, “I am a competitive person, as you may know. There is nobody that I hate seeing win more than my teammate.” He further clarified, “I love Christopher – he is a great dude. But I don’t want him to beat me.”
Hamlin’s woes were further exacerbated by an incident at Martinsville in 2022. Here, his teammate Bell clinched victory while Hamlin was edged out of the Championship 4 by Ross Chastain’s wall-riding tactics.
Hamlin’s road course performances have been noticeably lackluster, especially since the introduction of the Next-Gen car. His struggles were starkly apparent when Joe Gibbs attributed his driver’s lackluster performance to a blend of “the fact that the car only has three fenders or the driver’s skill,” as per a pit road story recalled by co-host Jared Allen.
While Hamlin grapples with his professional struggles, his co-ownership of 23XI Racing with Michael Jordan has taken a positive turn. The team, which faced a lawsuit from NASCAR since October last year, has been permitted to compete for the 2025 season. Their drivers, Tyler Reddick and Bubba Wallace, showed impressive form at COTA, dominating the front row during the qualifying rounds.
Beyond their on-track success, 23XI Racing has also secured a renewed partnership with global entertainment company Upper Deck. The firm, which produces trading cards, games, and memorabilia, first associated with 23XI in 2024 and has now extended its sponsorship of the team.
Despite the trials and tribulations of his career, Hamlin continues to remain a focal point in the racing world. Whether he can reclaim his winning form and match up to his teammate Bell in upcoming races remains to be seen.
