Gibbs’ call might be big advantage for Kyle Busch in title race
HOMESTEAD, Fla. — Joe Gibbs issued a team order on the eve of the NASCAR Cup Series season finale that gave title hopeful Kyle Busch an edge over the other three championship contenders.
Busch was gifted the coveted first pit stall Saturday when Joe Gibbs Racing decided to force pole-position winner Denny Hamlin, Busch’s JGR teammate, to pass on the top spot. Busch qualified second and grabbed the favorable stall after Hamlin’s team yielded to Gibbs’ demand.
“It’s an advantage for them, which stinks for us,” said Martin Truex Jr., who is trying to repeat as series champion.
Busch, the 2015 champion trying to add a second Cup Series title, will take any perk he can when he races Truex, Joey Logano and 2014 winner Kevin Harvick for the big prize this afternoon at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
“Ultimately, it’s an upper -management decision, and that’s part of it. I understand,” Hamlin said. “Sat down with Joe quite a bit. He came over pretty fast to talk to me. I could see the other side of it. If the roles were reversed, I think we would hope for the same thing.”
Busch should have an advantage because the stall in question is located at the end of pit road and gives drivers a clear exit path and a cleaner shot back onto the track. The short exit distance also reduces the concern of a speeding penalty.
“It’s great to have the number-one pit stall for the race, and I appreciate the teamwork by the guys on the 11,” Busch said, referring to Hamlin’s car number. “Coach (Gibbs) and everyone at JGR are focused on doing what they can to bring a championship for the company.”
Hamlin, who is winless this
“It’s an advantage for them, which stinks for us.”
— MARTIN TRUEX JR.
season, and crew chief Mike Wheeler had the traditional first choice of pit stalls because Hamlin posted the fastest qualifying lap. Hamlin also won the pole a year ago but denied Truex’s request for the first stall. Truex, a Toyota partner of Hamlin’s but not an official teammate, went on to win the race anyway.
“Hopefully, it all just comes back full circle. Maybe I’ll even get a thank-you text,” Hamlin said.
Gibbs, who won three Super Bowls as coach of the Washington Redskins and has four Cup Series titles as a NASCAR team owner, said he made the call this time.
“Anything like this always stops with me,” Gibbs said.
Hamlin said both he and Gibbs spoke to officials from FedEx, which sponsors Hamlin’s car, and they understood the decision for JGR to show favoritism. Still, Hamlin wondered if helping Busch for one race will become something bigger.
“The problem is, from my standpoint, is it probably will set a precedent going forward,” Hamlin said. “It probably will be a manufacturer thing more so than a teammate. I hate it, too, because I denied Martin last year. Luckily, he won the race anyway, but I just think it’s a tough deal, and you’ve got to listen to the boss.”
Busch said Friday he thought the idea would get shot down as it did for Truex, and Hamlin didn’t seem eager to give up his prize. He’s trying to extend a streak of winning at least one race every season since his 2006 rookie year, and this marks his final race with Wheeler.
Even Busch understood it was a big request of Hamlin, saying on Friday, “That’s probably too far, but it would sure be nice.”
Busch got what he wanted when Hamlin’s team chose the No. 4 pit stall, which did not violate any NASCAR policy. Logano will start fifth and has the third pit stall, Truex will start third and has the seventh stall, and Harvick will start 12th and has the 39th stall.
Logano swept Saturday’s two practice sessions and hit 171.701 mph for the fastest lap in the second session. He also had the best 10-consecutive lap average in the final practice (165.018), followed by Truex and Busch. Harvick was 10th overall and averaged only 163.124 over his fastest 10 laps.