“That was a fun race. These option tires, if NASCAR and the fans didn’t like it, I don’t know what they would like because they were amazing,” said Daniel Surez after the Richmond race. And now we know why. Tire strategy in NASCAR isn’t just a pit road gamble. It’s a mind game at 180 mph. Just ask Joey Logano. At Phoenix in 2025, a costly drive-through penalty nearly buried his chances. But softer tires brought him roaring back, carving through traffic and finishing Stage 2 in second. But a veteran who has been very supportive of the tire policy has made the most out of it at Darlington.
Denny Hamlin has proved that experience and expertise beat talent on a good day. He had the timing, tire wear, and just enough risk to turn fourth into first. At Darlington, a patient, deliberate approach turned doubt into domination for the No. 11 Toyota team of Joe Gibbs Racing. However, the real win is of someone more responsible for driver performance. If you cannot figure out who, here’s a question. Who calls the shots on what strategy to implement?
The mastermind behind Denny Hamlin’s Darlington victory
It’s always the crew chief who makes calls for the tire and other related strategies. For the Goodyear 400 at Darlington Raceway, Denny Hamlin’s crew chief, Chris Gayle, meticulously evaluated various race scenarios to optimize their strategy. Gayle explained, “We look at all those scenarios, and then you fit it to okay, what do I have for our car today?” This tailored approach was crucial in adapting to the race’s evolving conditions. But the secret behind Hamlin’s win was much more than timing it right; it was preparation. And Gayle revealed it.
Hamlin’s No. 11 Toyota struggled with long-run speed, forcing Gayle to consider a riskier strategy. “Because we had talked about that strategy. We’re like, okay, we don’t have a good long-run car, so if we do this strategy, we’re rolling the dice for a caution before they get to us and then we don’t fall off really heavily in the last 10 laps if we’re at a 60-lap run towards the end of the race and if it goes green, we’re gonna be way worse than second or third based on our long-run strategy,” Gayle revealed. The team knew exactly when to strike. This gamble paid off when Kyle Larson’s late spin triggered a caution, allowing Hamlin’s pit crew to execute a perfect stop that placed him in the lead.
Denny Hamlin held off William Byron, Christopher Bell, and others. He took the outside lane for a final restart and edged further, 0.597 seconds ahead of William Byron when the chequered flag fell. While Reddick led earlier portions of the race, Hamlin’s team capitalized on their short-run strength during the overtime restart to secure victory.
Gayle contrasted their approach with Tyler Reddick’s team, which relied on long-run speed. “For them, they probably had a better long-run speed, or maybe they didn’t quite know,” Gayle noted. Reddick pitted on Lap 240 of 297, whereas Byron pitted on Lap 244. The race result was a major disappointment for other drivers, especially for Byron, as he had been dominant throughout the race but lost out on a win in the final stages. But Hamlin is happy and extends praises to everyone involved in the process.
Chris Gayle was not surprised that Tyler Reddick had as big of a lead that he had on strategy. He however was very excited for his team as today’s win was a fulfilling group effort and learning lesson all around. #NASCAR | #Racing | @MtrsprtsToday pic.twitter.com/kYyHPS280g
— Tim Moore (@IveBeenTimMoore) April 7, 2025
Hamlin praised his pit crew for their flawless execution under pressure. “They just did an amazing job,” he said after the win. This is his second straight win after his success at Martinsville. He has now broken the tie with Rusty Wallace for 11th on the all-time win list in NASCAR’s premier series. But today’s results do come with a question: Are crew chiefs the biggest tactical advantage for this era of NASCAR?
The rise of tactical crew chiefs in the Next-Gen era
The Next-Gen era has elevated the role of NASCAR crew chiefs, with strategic decision-making often determining race outcomes. At the 2025 Martinsville race, Bubba Wallace’s crew chief, Charles Denike, played a pivotal role in securing Wallace’s third-place finish. Earlier, at Homestead-Miami, Denike rallied the No. 23 team after a challenging start, guiding Wallace to a third-place finish.
“We did what we said we wanted to do from Vegas, and that’s to see the race all the way through,” Denike remarked, highlighting his focus on execution and consistency. Other crew chiefs have similarly demonstrated their tactical prowess. Freddie Kraft, known for his sharp spotting skills, has been instrumental in helping drivers like Bubba Wallace navigate chaotic races.
Rudy Fugle’s strategies with William Byron have also yielded multiple wins, showcasing how tactical decisions can maximize a car’s strengths even in unpredictable race conditions. A notable example is the 2024 Martinsville Speedway race, where Fugle’s early pit stop call under green flag conditions allowed Byron to gain a significant track position advantage, ultimately leading to a historic 1-2-3 win for Hendrick Motorsports on their 40th anniversary.
Chris Gayle’s bold strategy at Darlington further exemplifies the importance of crew chiefs in modern NASCAR. As NASCAR continues to evolve, crew chiefs are increasingly becoming the architects of success. Their ability to balance risk and reward while managing their teams is shaping race outcomes more than ever before. With figures like Denike and Gayle leading the charge, tactical brilliance is redefining what it means to compete at the highest level.
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