The first race of the Round of 12 finished with Ryan Blaney lifting the trophy at NHMS, but it was marred by multiple incidents. One in particular got the garage buzzing. As Joe Gibbs Racing carried massive momentum after sweeping the Round of 16, an incident between teammates Hamlin and Ty Gibbs on Lap 111 shifted focus, with Hamlin’s contact spinning Gibbs and triggering frustration that echoed beyond the track. This kind of drama often draws tough questions from broadcasters, putting drivers in tight spots.

And it is very common in NASCAR for race outcomes to get overshadowed by mid-race flare-ups when journalists press for answers in raw post-race moments, much like Kurt Busch’s 2012 Richmond confrontation, where he clashed with reporters Joe Menzer and Jenna Fryer over questions about his feud with Jimmie Johnson. That’s the vibe that unfolded when broadcaster Kim Coon approached Gibbs about his tangle with Hamlin, who fumed on the radio amid his championship push.

Ty Gibbs faces tough post-race grilling

The interview by Kim Coon captured a charged moment right after the race, where she pressed Ty Gibbs on the Lap 110 incident that saw Denny Hamlin make contact, spinning Gibbs’ No. 54 Toyota into the wall. Hamlin, a veteran with 59 Cup wins and five victories in 2025, radioed sharply, “Does Ty know we’re going for a championship? What the fu-k?” and added, “Are they afraid to talk to him? That’s what I feel like, they’re scared of him.” This stemmed from Gibbs holding position aggressively against teammates Bell and Hamlin in a three-wide battle exiting Turn 4, frustrating Hamlin’s championship chase in his 20th full season.

Coon opened with, “Denny Hamlin was not happy with you talking about how he was racing for a championship. As you look at the incident, was somebody in the right and somebody in the wrong, and where does that lay out?” Gibbs replied evenly, “Yeah, you know, it’s unfortunate, but I’m excited to go race next week and looking forward to it,” setting a tone of deflection that highlighted the awkwardness.

From there, the interview intensified as Coon followed up, “Denny also mentioned that he felt like somebody from the organization should talk to you. What do you expect that conversation to look like?” Gibbs stuck to his script, saying, “Yeah, we’ll have a good race next week. We’re looking forward to it.”

This repetitive approach drew quick backlash, including from broadcaster Danielle Trotta, who tweeted, “If someone told Ty Gibbs to dodge reporter questions w a canned answer they gave him bad advice.” Trotta’s point resonates, given Gibbs’ youth at 22 and his third Cup year without a win, where learning to handle media scrutiny openly could build fan rapport. But this interview of Gibbs reflected a strategy to avoid escalating team tensions but also potentially missing a chance to show accountability, as seen in his past Xfinity wreck with teammate Brandon Jones in the 2022 run.

If someone told Ty Gibbs to dodge reporter questions w a canned answer they gave him bad advice.

— Danielle Trotta (@DanielleTrotta) September 21, 2025

Coon herself addressed the pushback in a tweet: “One of the biggest mistakes you can make as a journalist is assuming you know how someone is going to answer a question. A second mistake would be then allowing that assumption to keep you from asking the questions that have to be asked.” Her stance underscores the role of probing in NASCAR coverage, ensuring accountability in high-stakes moments.

One of the biggest mistakes you can make as a journalist is assuming you know how someone is going to answer a question.

A second mistake would be then allowing that assumption to keep you from asking the questions that have to be asked. https://t.co/welxpCt4eu

— kim coon (@kimmiecoon) September 22, 2025

Gibbs’ interview stint echoes Kyle Busch’s 2017 Phoenix interview, where, after a meeting with officials and Joey Logano following a race tackle in Las Vegas, he repeated like an answering machine, “Everything’s great! Looking forward to getting back to the racetrack and getting into my race car,” four times to different questions before walking away.

Amid the fallout from this altercation, attention turned to Joe Gibbs Racing‘s leadership for resolution. Their responses offered a glimpse into managing internal conflicts.

JGR leaders tackle Hamlin-Gibbs rift

Joe Gibbs, the Hall of Fame owner with five Cup championships, emphasized driver autonomy in resolving the clash, stating, “It’s always the drivers that have to handle that. They’re the ones that have got the wheel, and that’s always the case. So that’s what we’ll do. Those guys all are the ones driving the cars, and so those guys will get together on their own and figure it out.”

This reflects Gibbs’ hands-off philosophy, honed over decades managing stars like Tony Stewart and Kyle Busch, where he prioritizes private talks to maintain focus amid playoff pressure. With three drivers advancing after the Round of 16 sweep, Gibbs’ words aim to keep the team united heading to Kansas.

Competition director Chris Gabehart, Hamlin’s former crew chief, broke down the dynamics, noting, “[Denny] was probably looking for more of a break than he got. That’s what I would guess. That’s what I saw. The hard part is the 54 is trying to win races and trying to make a name for himself as well. So, everybody needs more space than they have.”

He added balance is key, explaining, “Yeah, this is the type of conversation that, you know, when you run well, you’re fortunate enough to have to have every so often. And we’ll have to have that conversation again. But I think there’s a reasonable etiquette to follow where everybody can get what they need out of it.” Gabehart’s perspective stresses competitive edge without full concessions.

Joe Gibbs reiterated his view on the drivers’ role, saying, “I think it’s hard for me, okay. It’s not me; it’s the drivers. It’s the way I’ve always looked at this.” This public stance from the 84-year-old owner underscores JGR’s success formula, over 200 Cup victories, by letting racers hash out issues while leadership enforces overall strategy. As the playoffs heat up, these comments signal a proactive fix to avoid repeats.