Former Cup Series driver Kevin Harvick has weighed in on Chris Gabehart’s situation ahead of this year’s Daytona 500. Gabehart, who spent the 2025 season as the director of competition for Joe Gibbs Racing, his first season in that role, is practically a free agent now.
Before that, Gabehart served as the crew chief for Denny Hamlin and the No. 11 team. Together, they bagged 22 series wins during their six-year partnership. Following the 2024 season, Gabehart shifted his focus to JGR’s No. 54 entry driven by Ty Gibbs, resulting in the young racing phenom winning the NASCAR In-Season Challenge.
Following Gabehart’s departure, Hamlin was paired with Chris Gayle. Gayle, who had been a JGR crew chief since 2013, took the driver to his 60th career win last season at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Recently on the “Happy Hour Podcast,” Kevin Harvick addressed Gabehart’s situation and questioned what led him to part ways with Joe Gibbs Racing in the first place.
“Chris has been a huge part of the 11 team,” Harvick said. “So, as a business owner, for me, going through the years, it’s always interesting the difference between a crew chief and a general manager, competition director or whatever it is. I think that there’s some of those crew chiefs that can step out of that box and do things in another role.”
“So, it is interesting to see how all of this unfolded with Chris Gabehart and everything that happened at Joe Gibbs Racing,” Harvick added. “Not sure the details of what, why, how it all played out, but Chris is a smart guy,” he added.
When Gabehart left Joe Gibbs Racing in early December, rumors surfaced that Spire Motorsports could be his new home in 2026 and beyond. But nothing has been confirmed yet.
“I Might Just Make a Comeback”- Kevin Harvick Hints at Potential NASCAR Comeback
Just recently, Kevin Harvick expressed his interest in a NASCAR return. His last race as a Cup Series full-timer came at Phoenix Raceway in 2023, where he finished seventh. He did return to racing in 2025, taking part in various Late Model events, but none sanctioned by NASCAR.
It seems like Tony Stewart’s abrupt NASCAR return has given Harvick the itch to try NASCAR racing again. In an episode of his “Happy Hour Podcast,” Harvick touched upon the matter, saying:
“I might just make a comeback, why not? Tony Stewart’s going to drive the truck race at Daytona. Why not? What should we race? I’m starting to get the bug again, I think.”
Harvick spent more than two decades racing in NASCAR, during which he picked up 60 career victories and one championship. He last drove the No. 4 Ford Mustang for the now-defunct Stewart-Haas Racing. He is now 50 years old and lives in Cornelius, North Carolina.
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