Today, the NASCAR world was rocked by a significant crew chief swap at Joe Gibbs Racing. Ty Gibbs, a rising star in the sport, found himself without a crew chief. Chris Gabehart has taken on the role of competition director, while Chris Gayle has made a move from the 54 to the 11 for the 2025 NASCAR season. This unexpected turn of events has left many wondering how Ty Gibbs will handle this change.

Surprising Move with Gabehart and Hamlin

After witnessing the success that Gabehart and Hamlin have achieved together, it came as a surprise when this move was made. Joe Gibbs likely believes that Gabehart's new role will help enhance the performance of all the JGR teams and drivers. Ty Gibbs, who just completed his second full-time season in the Cup Series, is taking the change in stride and is looking forward to working with a new crew chief.

As Gibbs told Bob Pockrass of FOX Sports at the NASCAR Awards, "I think we maybe hit a plateau, for sure. But I don’t think – nothing was off. We still have a great relationship and worked really hard this year. I know they work extremely hard. Stuff changes, and it’s healthy. I think that will all work out when Gabehart takes on his new deal. I’m excited for the future and hope we run really great next year and win a lot of races."

Ty Gibbs' Season Performance

This season, Ty Gibbs started off with great momentum. However, during the summer, he faced some challenges and had a few rare top-5 finishes here and there. But between Atlanta and COTA, he showed remarkable resilience by rallying off five straight top-10s, finishing the year with a total of 12 top-10s. He also earned his first two career pole awards, demonstrating his potential and skill on the track.

So, the question remains: has he hit a plateau with Chris Gayle? There are arguments on both sides. On one hand, JGR faced engine issues and other mechanical problems that affected the team's results. On the other hand, it's natural for a driver to face such fluctuations in performance. Gibbs is determined to move forward and focus on winning his first Cup Series race and making the playoffs next year.

Impact on Denny Hamlin

At 44 years old, Denny Hamlin may have thought he had found his long-term crew chief in Chris Gabehart. Now, with Chris Gayle coming in, it will take time for a new relationship to develop. Hamlin will need to adapt to this change and work closely with his new crew chief to achieve success.

For Ty Gibbs, this isn't a major setback. He has only had one crew chief at JGR and the connection wasn't particularly deep. He and Gayle had some success together, and now they are moving in different directions. Gibbs is focused on the future and is ready to take on the challenges that lie ahead.