Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) has revealed significant leadership changes in preparation for the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season. Chris Gabehart, crew chief of the No. 11 team for the past six seasons, will step into the role of competition director for the organization. Replacing him atop the No. 11 pit box will be Chris Gayle, who has served as crew chief for the No. 54 team for the past two seasons.

Both Gabehart and Gayle have been integral to JGR’s success over the years, guiding their respective teams to top-15 finishes in the 2024 season standings and earning berths in the Cup Series Playoffs.

Building on Experience and Success

JGR founder and owner Joe Gibbs expressed confidence in the moves, highlighting the strength of the organization’s talent pool.

“We have a lot of pride in the depth of talent we have throughout our organization,” Gibbs stated. “Chris Gabehart will now be an asset across all four of our teams as competition director, and we thought it was important to have him transition into his new role immediately. Chris Gayle will bring his own perspective to the No. 11 team while maintaining the consistency and continuity they’ve developed with Denny (Hamlin) over the past several years.”

Gibbs also noted that the search for a new crew chief for the No. 54 team is ongoing, with an announcement expected soon.

Gabehart’s Storied Tenure

Chris Gabehart joined JGR in 2012 as a race engineer and quickly rose through the ranks. After leading the team’s Xfinity Series program to nine wins between 2016 and 2018, he became crew chief for Denny Hamlin’s No. 11 Cup Series team in 2019.

The Gabehart-Hamlin pairing achieved immediate success, winning the 2019 Daytona 500 and advancing to three consecutive Championship 4 appearances. Over six seasons, they earned 22 victories, including another Daytona 500 win in 2020 and the 2021 Southern 500.

Reflecting on his new role, Gabehart expressed gratitude for his time with the No. 11 team.

“I cannot say enough about how much I have enjoyed and appreciated my time with Denny and the entire 11 team,” Gabehart said. “In my next opportunity, I am as excited as I have ever been to work with all our talented drivers, crew chiefs, teams, and partners to help focus all our efforts towards making 2025 one of the best seasons Joe Gibbs Racing has ever had.”

Gayle Takes the Helm of the No. 11 Team

Chris Gayle’s tenure at JGR began in 2003 as an engineer. After four successful years as an Xfinity Series crew chief from 2013 to 2016, he returned to JGR’s Cup Series program in 2018, guiding Erik Jones to victories at Daytona and Darlington.

Gayle’s Xfinity success includes 37 wins and the 2022 series championship with Ty Gibbs, a partnership that transitioned to the Cup Series in 2023. Under Gayle’s guidance, the No. 54 team showed remarkable growth in 2024, securing eight top-five finishes, 12 top-10s, two pole positions, and leading 417 laps.

Gayle is eager to build on the foundation laid by Gabehart and Hamlin.

“Denny is obviously a first-ballot Hall of Famer,” Gayle said. “I’m looking forward to working with him and the guys on the No. 11 team. He and Gabehart have established an incredible culture, and I have all the confidence in the world we can hit the ground running and continue the success that this group is accustomed to in 2025.”

Looking Ahead

With these moves, Joe Gibbs Racing aims to bolster its competitiveness across all four teams as it gears up for the 2025 season. The announcement of the No. 54 team’s new crew chief is expected soon, as the organization continues to solidify its lineup for the year ahead.

Fans will undoubtedly keep a close eye on how these changes impact JGR’s performance in the upcoming season.