“ I certainly was shocked; that’s all I’ll say.” The crew chief shakeup within Joe Gibbs Racing’s #11 team left Denny Hamlin reeling. Last year, Chris Gabehart, Hamlin’s long-time right-hand man, was promoted to competition director, leaving the 44-year-old driver in unfamiliar territory. But fast forward 33 races with new crew chief Chris Gayle, the latest Las Vegas winner, definitely has plenty more to say.

Chris Gabhart’s pairing with Hamlin may have fetched them 22 wins and a spot in the Championship 4 three times, but Chris Gayle is no less. At the Round of 8 opening race at Las Vegas Speedway, it was Gayle’s master plan and Hamlin’s speed that gave the No. 11 driver his 60th Cup Series win and a spot in the Championship 4 at Phoenix. And now, Hamlin is glad that the decision to ke

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