Indianapolis is the final crown jewel to cross off the guidelines for Denny Hamlin and the Joe Gibbs Racing No. 11 workforce, and it isn’t arduous to seek out the emphasis positioned on doing so in Sunday’s Brickyard 400.
Hamlin was third quickest in Friday’s observe session, the place it was reported that Chris Gabehart, his crew chief, has ready for this weekend with championship-level depth and scrutiny. Gabehart advised NBC Sports activities that it was all-in with the work preparing for Indianapolis. By the point Hamlin’s Toyota rolled onto the monitor, there was nothing else Gabehart felt he may have accomplished to be ready.
“So much,” Hamlin stated of how badly his workforce needs to win Sunday afternoon (2:30 p.m. ET, NBC).
The final time NASCAR competed at Indianapolis on the oval, in 2020, Hamlin was main with seven laps to go when he blew a right-front tire and hit the Flip 1 wall. He’s led 131 laps at Indianapolis in 15 begins and accomplished 98.9 p.c of the laps run, however he’s by no means completed higher than fourth.
“I do know there are solely so many alternatives I’ll have right here on the oval, so it’s a giant emphasis as a result of it’s a gaping gap within the resume, and it will full all of the majors,” Hamlin stated. ‘’However Chris needs it fairly unhealthy, too. He’s just a little butt-hurt over 2020 and the way that ended, so, indisputably, we knew going into this weekend he had spent further time on this automotive, ensuring all the main points have been taken care of, and he introduced me the quickest automotive he may.”
Gabehart was paired with Hamlin in 2019, and the duo has received each different crown jewel occasion collectively. There have been back-to-back Daytona 500 victories in 2019 and ’20, and the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway was added in 2021. The No. 11 workforce, sans Gabehart on the pit field due to a suspension, went to victory lane within the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway in 2022.
In 194 races collectively, Gabehart and Hamlin have 22 victories.
As for what Hamlin may do to assist the workforce lastly break by at Indianapolis, he laughed and stated, “The one factor I may do higher is drive higher.”
