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Joe Gibbs Racing calls out NASCAR insider over old take at Darlington: ‘Aged like milk’

Brian Jones Profile Picby:Brian Jones•04/06/25•

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Denny Hamlin (43)
Apr 6, 2025; Darlington, South Carolina, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Denny Hamlin (11) and his crew celebrate the win during the Goodyear 400 at Darlington Raceway. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

Denny Hamlin‘s win at Darlington on Sunday gave Joe Gibbs Racing the opportunity to fire back at the NASCAR insider. During the race, Jeff Gluck of The Athletic pointed out that the Joe Gibbs Racing drivers “might have missed it today.” Gluck said this when Hamlin was in 17th place, Christopher Bell was in 25th, Ty Gibbs was in 27th and Chase Briscoe was in 31st.

When the race was over, Hamlin earned the win, Bell came in third, Gibbs came in ninth and Briscoe finished 28th. Joe Gibbs Racing saw Gluck’s social media post and called him out on it. “Love ya, Jeff, but we’re glad this particular post aged like milk,” the team replied.

It’s been a good start to the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season for Joe Gibbs Racing. Denny Hamlin and Christopher Bell have won five of the eight races and look poised to make a run at a title.

After Sunday’s race, Joe Gibbs Racing owner Joe Gibbs talked about Hamlin’s work ethic. “I could tell you this, one of the things about going in the sim, it’s hard work,” Gibbs said. “You’re in there. Honestly, I think Denny, he is in the sim as much as anybody we have, any of the young guys. Stays after it.

“I’ve told the story, I mentioned it the last time I talked about Denny. I went to him at Watkins Glen two years ago. He struggled road racing. They went as far as putting other setups on his car. That guy went to work in the sim and worked as hard as he could. He set on three poles in road racing. You get somebody that age that still has the drive to get it done, I think Denny has a real drive, and I think we’re fortunate to have him.”

Gibbs also talked about the team getting a win at Darlington during its 75th anniversary.  “It is cool. Everybody loves coming to Darlington,” he said. “I go all the way back to Denny when we first got him, our final test for him before we signed him, J.D. who found him, my son, said, Let’s put him at Darlington. He’d never been here. Let’s put him in an Xfinity car and see what he does. He finished eighth. J.D. told me, he said, I think we need to sign this guy. I said, I agree.”