Former NASCAR driver Kyle Petty has suggested that Joe Gibbs Racing is hesitant to speak with Ty Gibbs following his violent clash with teammate Denny Hamlin at New Hampshire.
Gibbs is not in contention for the playoff points, but with Hamlin fighting for a championship, he was expected to let him pass. Instead, Gibbs battled his teammate for the eleventh spot until Hamlin took the inside line to overtake, but made contact.
The incident led Gibbs to crash into the wall, ending his race, while Hamlin finished in P12. The actions of Gibbs came under scrutiny since he allegedly acted against team interests by engaging in a confrontation with his teammate, who is fighting for the title.
Hamlin was heard questioning if Joe Gibbs, Ty’s grandfather, was afraid of talking to Ty. He said:
Ty Gibbs, driver of the #54 SiriusXM Toyota, greets fans as he walks onstage during driver intros prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Cook Out 400 at Richmond Raceway on August 16, 2025 in Richmond,…
Ty Gibbs, driver of the #54 SiriusXM Toyota, greets fans as he walks onstage during driver intros prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Cook Out 400 at Richmond Raceway on August 16, 2025 in Richmond, Virginia.
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“What is he [Ty Gibbs] doing? Are they afraid to talk to him? That’s what I feel like. They’re just scared of him.”
Petty has sided with Hamlin on the matter, stating that it seems to be as though JGR is holding back from taking up the matter with Ty. Speaking on GoPRNLive‘s Fast Talk, he said:
“I understand that from Denny. I do understand that because what Denny’s saying is that that is Ty on such a pedestal that everybody’s afraid to tell them that the emperor has no clothes? Okay? Because that’s what you need to tell him. You need to tell him, ‘Learn to drive a race car, and then maybe you’ll win some races.’
“Because he is a phenomenal talent. He does have that talent. He just doesn’t put it in the right places at the right time. That’s the problem.”
He added:
“You have to learn how to race. And Ty, I believe in a lot of ways, is still learning how to race. And Denny gave him a lesson [at Loudon]. I’m not saying it was the right lesson, but Denny taught him a lesson.”
Ty Gibbs has yet to win a race in the Cup Series since his top-tier debut in 2023. Fast Talk host Doug Rice admitted that Ty Gibbs would not have been able to save his seat if he were racing for another team. Petty answered by saying that this is Ty Gibbs’s last year. He said:
“No, this is his last year. If he’s run three years and hadn’t done any more, but especially coming off his Xfinity record. You are looking at a blue chip player that you thought was going to carry your organization forward, and he’s not taking your organization forward.”