The newly formed partnership between Denny Hamlin and crew chief Chris Gayle showed promising signs during their debut weekend at Bowman Gray Stadium.

Hamlin secured his position in the Cook Out Clash by winning his Saturday night heat race. During Sunday's main event, he led for 28 laps before finishing third, behind Chase Elliott and Ryan Blaney, as his Toyota's balance deteriorated during longer runs.

Gayle, who joined as Hamlin's crew chief in November following Chris Gabehart's move to competition director at Joe Gibbs Racing, expressed satisfaction with their first outing. Despite being familiar with the team, Gayle valued the real-world experience of working with his new crew under race conditions.

As Hamlin's sixth Cup Series crew chief, Gayle brings previous experience from working with Ty Gibbs and has observed Hamlin's driving style during Gibbs competition meetings. Their relationship, though new, shows mutual respect and clear role definition.

"We're learning each other, and certainly, it's a process," Hamlin noted, emphasizing his focus on driving and providing feedback while giving Gayle autonomy in decision-making.

While the top-five finish marks a positive start, Gayle maintains perspective, acknowledging Bowman Gray's unique characteristics as a one-off event. The partnership looks forward to building on this foundation as the NASCAR Cup Series season progresses.

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