Denny Hamlin and Chris Gayle's new partnership showed promising results during their debut weekend at Bowman Gray Stadium. Hamlin secured his spot in the Cook Out Clash by winning Saturday's heat race, then led 28 laps in Sunday's feature before finishing third behind Chase Elliott and Ryan Blaney.

Gayle, who was appointed as Hamlin's crew chief in November following Chris Gabehart's move to competition director at Joe Gibbs Racing, expressed satisfaction with their initial collaboration. Despite being new to working together directly, Gayle was already familiar with Hamlin's feedback style from previous team meetings.

"It's a good first attempt," Gayle noted, highlighting the value of experiencing real-race decision-making processes with the new team. As Hamlin's sixth Cup Series crew chief, Gayle brings fresh perspective to the No. 11 Toyota team.

Hamlin emphasized their mutual approach to building the relationship: "We're learning each other, and certainly, it's a process. I'm trying to give him the full free rein while focusing on my role as driver and providing clear feedback."

The third-place finish marked a solid foundation for the new pairing, though both recognize the unique nature of the Bowman Gray track. While the strong start is encouraging, Gayle maintains perspective, stating, "It's nice to have a decent solid run to start, but this is a unique situation, so I don't put that much stock into it."

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