Ty Gibbs Clarifies Position on Hamlin Clash After JGR Talks

The tension between teammates can sometimes cut deeper than any rivalry. When Ty Gibbs got spun out by his own Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Denny Hamlin at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, it wasn’t just another racing incident. It was a sheer test of teammate rivalry gone wrong under the bright lights.

Now, weeks after that fateful Lap 110 collision that sent gravel flying and hearts racing, Gibbs has finally broken his diplomatic silence. What he revealed at Charlotte’s pre-race press conference shows a young driver who’s learned to handle conflict with the wisdom of a veteran, even as the sting of that spinning moment still lingers.

What Really Happened in New Hampshire

Picture this. The Round of 12 opener at New Hampshire, tension thick as molasses, and every position meaning everything for playoff hopes. Then came Lap 110, when Hamlin’s aggressive move sent Gibbs sliding sideways into the wall like a pinball. The crowd held its breath as the No. 54 Toyota collected itself from what looked like a career-defining moment.

Hamlin, to his credit, owned up to it afterward. “It went too far on my end,” he admitted – words that don’t come easy from a driver still chasing that elusive first championship. But for Gibbs, sitting in 35th place after what should’ve been a strong playoff run, those words probably felt like cold comfort.

In those immediate post-race interviews, Gibbs kept it buttoned up tighter than a Sunday suit. “Everything’s great! Looking forward to getting back to the racetrack and getting into my race car,” he repeated like a mantra, the kind of media-trained response that says everything by saying nothing at all.

How Gibbs Really Feels About the Hamlin Incident

Fast-forward to Charlotte, and you could see the frustration still simmering just beneath the surface. When reporters brought up the New Hampshire wreck again, Gibbs didn’t hide his exasperation. “Yeah, I’m sure all the other guys answered it for you, so I’ll just leave it at that,” he said, his tone carrying the weight of someone who’d rather be talking about anything else.

However, what made his response so telling was… Despite every reason to harbor resentment, Gibbs showed the kind of maturity that separates championship-caliber drivers from the rest of the pack. “But you know, hopefully always rooting for JGR to go get a championship… I think I can help as well,” he added.

Think about that for a second. This is a 23-year-old driver whose playoff dreams got derailed by his own teammate, and he’s still putting the team first. That’s not just good sportsmanship, that’s the mindset of someone who understands the bigger picture.

Gibbs already has hardware that most drivers would kill for: a 2022 Xfinity championship and 2023 Cup Rookie of the Year honors. But more importantly, he’s demonstrating the kind of emotional intelligence that leads to championships down the road.

Why JGR’s Internal Meetings Matter

Behind closed doors at Joe Gibbs Racing, you can bet those team meetings got heated. When family fights, it’s messier than when strangers throw punches. JGR’s leadership had to walk a tightrope between letting drivers race hard and maintaining peace in the shop.”I think it takes up to have that conversation. I don’t think any team’s got 100% down.

That’s just racing,” Gibbs explained, showing he gets that even championship organizations don’t have all the answers when it comes to managing teammate conflicts. The truth is, no team has figured out the perfect formula for handling these situations. Remember when Kyle Busch and Martin Truex Jr. went at it in 2019? Or any number of other teammate tangles that have happened over the years?

Racing’s an emotional sport, and when you put competitive drivers in similar equipment, sparks are going to fly. What matters is how you handle it afterward, and Gibbs seems to understand that racing hard for yourself doesn’t mean you have to burn down the whole organization. “We’re all out here racing for our own teams but also for the in-house organization as well, so it’s just part of it,” he said.

The Bigger Picture: TV Ratings and Team Drama

While Gibbs and Hamlin were sorting out their on-track differences, Hamlin was also dealing with bigger frustrations about the sport itself. On his “Actions Detrimental” podcast, the veteran driver attributed NASCAR’s 13% drop in TV ratings in 2025, calling the numbers “just not good.”

As both a JGR driver and co-owner of 23XI Racing with Michael Jordan, Hamlin sees the business side that many drivers miss. The $7.7 billion media deal through 2031 might have brought in the cash, but it scattered races across FOX, NBC, Amazon, Peacock, and The CW like confetti in the wind.

“It’s not been about what’s going to put us on in most households,” Hamlin vented. “We were the guinea pigs to get channel X off the ground, channel Y off the ground, and it’s just you’re asking so much of your fans to just keep chasing you around all these different networks.”

It’s a fair point that echoes what fans complained about back in 2001 when the sport split across multiple networks. When viewers can’t find the race, they stop looking. And when they stop looking, moments like the Hamlin-Gibbs clash are the kind of drama that keeps people talking, and possibly loses its impact.

What This Means for Gibbs Moving Forward

Here’s what impressed me most about Gibbs’ handling of this whole situation: He could’ve thrown Hamlin under the bus, played the victim card, or let the frustration eat him alive. Instead, he took the hit, processed it, and came back focused on helping his team win championships even if he’s not the one hoisting the trophy.

That’s the mark of a driver who’s thinking long-term. Sure, the New Hampshire wreck stung. Sure, it probably cost him a shot at advancing in the playoffs. But Gibbs understands that burning bridges with teammates is a luxury he can’t afford in a sport where relationships matter as much as horsepower.

The kid’s got time on his side. At 23, with multiple championships already under his belt, he’s building the kind of reputation that opens doors rather than slamming them shut. Team owners notice drivers who can handle adversity with grace, who can put team success ahead of personal grudges.

Final Thoughts

When Gibbs says he’s “rooting for JGR to go get a championship,” whether it’s him, Hamlin, or Christopher Bell crossing the line first, he’s not just being diplomatic. He’s showing the kind of maturity that championship teams are built on. The racing world is watching how young drivers handle pressure, conflict, and disappointment.

In Gibbs’ case, he’s passing every test with flying colors, even when those tests come from his own teammates. That’s the kind of character that wins championships, maybe not today, but definitely down the road.