Hamlin surprised Earnhardt Jr. not joining Gibbs
BROOKLYN, Mich. - Joe Gibbs Racing's Denny Hamlin says he thought the team was still in the running for Dale Earnhardt Jr. as recently as about a week ago, but from what he heard, he wonders if the star driver hadn't already made his mind up to join Hendrick Motorsports from the beginning.
"I knew probably about a week ago, just through talking to some guys, their last conversation with that whole [Earnhardt Jr.] camp, it sounded like they already had their mind made up before the whole deal even started," Denny Hamlin said. "I think going to other teams was really just a kind of motion that they went through."
Denny Hamlin said it's his understanding the Gibbs organization pursued talks with Earnhardt Jr. almost to the end.
"The people who represent Gibbs, just talking [to] them, I think they were
