The race was enjoyable. After the Richmond race, Daniel Surez remarked, “If NASCAR and the fans didn’t like these option tires, I don’t know what they would like because they were amazing.” We now understand why. In NASCAR, tire strategy is more than simply a bet on pit road. At 180 mph, it’s a mental game. Ask Joey Logano, please. A costly drive-through penalty at Phoenix in 2025 almost destroyed his chances. However, he came charging back thanks to softer tires, slicing through traffic and taking second place in Stage 2. At Darlington, however, a veteran who has been a strong supporter of the tire policy has benefited greatly from it. Denny Hamlin has demonstrated 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, Joe Gibbs Racing’s No. 11 Toyota team transformed uncertainty into dominance with a methodical and patient strategy. The true winner, though, is the one who is more in charge of driving performance. Here’s a question if you can’t guess who it is. Who makes decisions about what tactics to use?
The mastermind behind Denny Hamlin’s Darlington victory
Calls for the tire and other related tactics are always made by the crew chief. Chris Gayle, Denny Hamlin’s crew chief, carefully considered every race situation for the Goodyear 400 at Darlington Raceway in order to maximize their strategy. According to Gayle, “you fit it to, okay, what do I have for our car today after we look at all those scenarios.”
This customized strategy was essential for adjusting to the changing circumstances of the race. However, preparation was far more important than time in Hamlin’s victory. Gayle also disclosed it. Long-term speed issues with Hamlin’s No. 11 Toyota compelled Gayle to think about a riskier approach. “Because we had discussed that tactic. We think, “Well, 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 running 60 laps toward the end of the race and it goes green, on the basis of our long-run strategy, we’re going to be much worse than second or third, Gayle revealed.
The squad understood when to attack. This risk paid off when Hamlin’s pit crew executed a flawless stop that put him ahead after Kyle Larson’s late spin prompted a caution. Christopher Bell, William Byron, and others were repelled by Denny Hamlin. When the chequered flag dropped, he was 0.597 seconds ahead of William Byron after he had switched to the outside lane for a final restart. Even though Reddick had the lead in the early going, Hamlin’s team won the race by using their short-run strength at the restart of overtime. Gayle compared their strategy to that of Tyler Reddick’s squad, which depended on long-distance speed. Gayle observed, “They likely had a better long-run speed for them, or perhaps they weren’t entirely sure.
This is his second consecutive victory since his triumph at Martinsville, and he has now broken the tie with Rusty Wallace for 11th on the all-time win list in NASCAR’s premier series. However, the race result was a huge disappointment for other drivers, especially for Byron, who had been dominant throughout the race but lost out on a win in the final stages. After the race, Hamlin praised his pit crew for their flawless execution under pressure, saying, “They just did an amazing job.”
The emergence 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 frequently determining race outcomes. Charles Denike, the crew chief for Bubba Wallace, was instrumental in securing Wallace’s third-place finish at the 2025 Martinsville race; earlier, at Homestead-Miami, Denike rallied the No. 23 team after a difficult start, leading 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 said, emphasizing his focus on execution and consistency. Other crew chiefs have also shown their tactical prowess; Freddie Kraft, known for his keen spotting abilities, has been crucial in assisting drivers like Bubba Wallace navigate chaotic races.
Numerous victories have also resulted from Rudy Fugle’s strategies with William Byron, demonstrating how tactical choices can optimize a car’s strengths even in unpredictable race conditions. One such instance is the 2024 Martinsville Speedway race, where Fugle’s early pit stop call under green flag conditions gave Byron a significant track position advantage, ultimately leading to a historic 1-2-3 victory for Hendrick Motorsports on their 40th anniversary. Chris Gayle’s audacious strategy at Darlington further highlights the significance of crew chiefs in contemporary NASCAR.
Crew chiefs are increasingly taking on the role of success architects as NASCAR develops. More than ever, their capacity to manage their teams while striking a balance between risk and reward is influencing race results. With characters like Denike and Gayle leading the push, tactical genius is changing what it means to compete at the greatest level.
