Denny Hamlin encountered a major mechanical issue last Saturday during Cup Series practice at the Chicago Street Course when his engine failed catastrophically. This incident prevented the NASCAR veteran from gaining crucial track time, intensifying his frustration amid an already challenging season. The rising mechanical problem with Hamlin’s car has become a central concern for both the driver and his team.

Hamlin’s crew chief, Chris Gayle, shed light on the situation, explaining the impact of the failure on Hamlin’s preparation. After exiting Turn 4, Hamlin’s #11 car suffered a blown engine, which caused him to spin and spray fluids before completing even a pace lap. The disappointment was audible as Hamlin expressed his frustration over the radio while speaking with team owner Joe Gibbs and competition director Chris Gabehart.

“You don’t need to have those kind of instance incidents at all. It doesn’t matter how much time you focus on car prep and what the strategy is going to be, what the setup is going to be. If you can’t make laps in practice, you can’t be better. You don’t have anything to kind of build a notebook or know if you’ve made the right call before you start the race.” —Chris Gayle, Crew Chief

“So you can’t really develop in that case. And if you’re in Denny’s shoes, he’s had quite a few instances here over the last calendar year or so, and so it’s just frustration on his part, like, okay with part of trying to get more depth at JGR, Gabeheart going to the competition role, all these things, was to kind of get in front of a lot of these problems.” —Chris Gayle, Crew Chief

Ongoing Engine Failures Raise Concern for Hamlin and JGR

This engine failure was not an isolated incident for Hamlin this season. He previously faced similar mechanical breakdowns at Texas Motor Speedway and Kansas Speedway, making the recurring issue a growing problem for Joey Gibbs Racing (JGR) and Toyota. These setbacks have prevented Hamlin from maximizing his performance throughout the year and have heightened anxiety within the team.

Due to the lack of practice in Chicago, Hamlin had limited opportunity to familiarize himself with the technical 12-turn, 2.2-mile street circuit. Starting from the back of the field in the Grant Park 165, Hamlin managed to fight his way through the pack and finish fourth, demonstrating resilience despite the mechanical challenges.

Possible External Causes Behind Engine Troubles, Says Crew Chief

Chris Gayle pointed to factors potentially outside the team’s immediate control as the root of Hamlin’s mechanical failures. He suggested that the problem likely stemmed from an issue with components supplied by Toyota Racing Development (TRD). Gayle remains optimistic that TRD is working diligently to identify and resolve the issue to prevent further occurrences.

“There was more than likely a problem out of our control that TRD, I’m sure, will get addressed really quickly, and is doing everything they can to sort that out and come to a full conclusion with what happened and how to prevent anything like that from happening to any of the rest of the season.” —Chris Gayle, Crew Chief

Hamlin’s Road Ahead and Upcoming Race

The ongoing mechanical troubles underline the challenges Hamlin and Joey Gibbs Racing face this season, with engine reliability becoming a critical factor in race performance. Resolving these issues is essential for Hamlin to contend consistently at the front of the field and for JGR to maintain competitiveness in the Cup Series.

Looking forward, Hamlin and the team will aim to arrive at Sonoma Raceway on Sunday, July 13, 2025, with improved equipment and preparations. Overcoming the setbacks from recent mechanical problems will be key for Hamlin to regain momentum and chase stronger results in the coming races.