Gabehart Returns to Pit Box in Support of Gibbs
Chris Gabehart made a noteworthy return to the pit box during the NASCAR Cup Series race at EchoPark Speedway, stepping in to assist the No. 54 team, led by driver Ty Gibbs and crew chief Tyler Allen. This strategic move comes as Joe Gibbs Racing aims to secure a playoff spot for Gibbs, the only organization driver yet to qualify.
Gabehart, previously crew chief for Denny Hamlin, is now the competition director at Joe Gibbs Racing. He emphasized the importance of leveraging all available resources to enhance the team’s performance. “There are a lot of other things I do throughout the week, but the decision was made once we got three of the four [locked] in to put all we could put behind the [No.] 54 to try to get it in,” he stated.
Tyler Allen remains the official crew chief for the team, with Gabehart acting as an additional set of eyes, beneficial for strategic decision-making during the race. Together, Gabehart and Hamlin secured 22 wins, including two consecutive Daytona 500 victories, underscoring Gabehart’s experienced insight.
In Saturday’s race, Gibbs finished 11th, having led for 32 laps. This marked his third consecutive race in the top 14, contributing to a total of 59 laps led across the last four events. Gibbs acknowledged improvements in his performance but noted challenges, stating, “Unfortunately, [Ty Dillon] drove us into the fence, and I got tight.”
Gabehart was actively involved in team communications, providing critical information directly to Gibbs during the race. Gibbs praised this dynamic, stating, “It’s really helpful…the whole team is…I have a fun team and we’re just taking it as we get it.”
With eight races remaining in the regular season, Gibbs currently stands 24th in the championship standings. He expressed the belief that a win will be necessary to secure postseason entry, despite earning a points berth for 2024.
Reflecting on his return to pit strategy, Gabehart acknowledged some adjustments but felt the core elements of his role came back intuitively. "You just have to learn all the people and circumstances," he noted, highlighting the necessity of adapting to new dynamics within the team.
The collaboration aims to maximize Gibbs’ chances as the season progresses, reinforcing the commitment of Joe Gibbs Racing to deliver competitive results.
