NASCAR veteran Denny Hamlin didn’t have the quickest automotive at Darlington, however his Joe Gibbs Racing crew made up for it. The race was filled with twists, lead adjustments, and an ending nobody noticed coming.
Although William Byron dominated the early phases, the race flipped halfway. Then Ryan Blaney regarded just like the one to beat—till Hamlin’s pit crew got here by means of with a blazing nine-second cease. After the race, crew chief Chris Gayle gave full credit score to the five-man group that helped Hamlin lock down his second win of the season.
Denny Hamlin’s Crew Chief Uncovers the No. 11’s Cheat Code at Darlington
In a race that confirmed true technique, the oldest driver on the observe pulled off back-to-back wins. Hamlin solely led 10 laps however stored himself within the prime 5 lengthy sufficient for his pit crew to make the distinction.
The No. 11 group at Joe Gibbs Racing delivered when it mattered most. Whereas Hamlin trailed Byron for 243 of 297 laps, the race flipped after a late spin by Kyle Larson, who was bumped by Bubba Wallace.
That spin introduced out the warning and despatched the race into extra time. Hamlin pitted from third place and got here out first, because of a lightning-fast 9.4-second cease.
After the race, Gayle mirrored on what virtually went fallacious: “We pitted with three laps on tires early, which might be the fallacious name on my half. Even then we had a nasty pit cease and misplaced 5 spots on pit highway from all the blokes that took tires.”
Nonetheless, he praised the group for bouncing again.
“For these guys, man, they’re simply villains. They simply need that second to the place they’ll go in there and simply rip all people’s hearts out and win the race, stroll away, don’t care what anyone else thinks, unapologetic,” Gayle stated. “They’re simply superior. Completely happy to be a part of their group just about.”
Additionally standing out was jackman Joel Alexandre Bouagnon and his behind-the-back method, which saved valuable time on pit highway.
The win was Hamlin’s fifth on the 1.3-mile observe. After the race, the driving force embraced the “villain” label, even poking enjoyable at Larson over the late warning.
