Ty Gibbs may only be 20 years old, but he is already getting adjusted to the pressure of having eyes on him at all times. The 2022 Xfinity Series champion is moving to the Nascar Cup Series in 2023, and the pressure is on.
Gibbs, a highly touted prospect who won in his first-ever Xfinity Series start, is replacing two-time Cup champion Kyle Busch. Besides the pressure of replacing Busch, he’s also competing for his grandfather’s team, Joe Gibbs Racing. While they will swap numbers to give Gibbs the No. 54 instead of the No. 18, it is clear that expectations are high.
With seven Xfinity Series wins en route to the 2022 Xfinity Series championship, it became clear that he would emerge as a favorite for a Cup ride in 2023. JGR had several major question marks, including whether or not Martin Truex Jr. would retire, Busch’s contract that evidently fell apart and what will 23XI Racing’s lineup look like.
Gibbs did take over one of the 23XI Racing cars in 2022 after Kurt Busch’s concussion at Pocono Raceway. He competed in 15 races, earning one top 10, as he got familiar with the Cup car. This experience, combined with his growing stardom, enabling his grandfather to make the call to put him in a Cup car starting in 2023.
“[It’s] definitely going to be fun,” Gibbs said at the championship awards in Nashville. “I‘m very thankful to be put in that opportunity. Again, thank you to (23XI co-owners) Denny (Hamlin) and Michael (Jordan) for the opportunity. It was really cool. Going back and forth and double-duty and racing for the championship in one series, it was a lot, but I did feel like I got comfortable with it (the Cup car). I‘m thankful to have had the experience.”
Unfortunately, hours after the championship race, Gibbs’ father, Coy Gibbs, died in his sleep at the age of 49. The shocking loss was made public just minutes before the Nascar Cup Series championship race at Phoenix.
While the 20-year-old stayed silent for a few weeks following his father’s sudden death, he reemerged into the public light at the awards ceremony. He remained calmed, but didn’t comment on how his loss will change his life going forward.
“I‘ve been doing good, thank you for asking, definitely appreciate you guys,” Gibbs said in Nashville about his father’s death. “Right now, I‘m not going to touch on that subject at all, just going to stick with the racing questions.”
Not only will Gibbs be racing in his father’s honor next year, but he will do so for the rest of his career.
Chris Gayle, who was Gibbs’ Xfinity Series crew chief in 2022, will make his return to the Cup Series with Gibbs in 2023. Gayle has four years of experience as a Cup Series crew chief, winning two races with Erik Jones.
Gibbs had a controversial end to the 2022 Xfinity Series season. In the penultimate race of the year, he wrecked teammate Brandon Jones while battling for the lead late in the going at Martinsville Speedway. If Jones, who announced he’s departing JGR for JR Motorsports in 2023, won the race, he would have given JGR two cars in the Championship 4 since Gibbs locked in on points.
Fans booed Gibbs when he celebrated the win, his sixth of the year. His peers also criticized his actions on social media.
The week prior to the championship battle, Gibbs’ rival Noah Gragson, publicly critcized the Toyota driver. At one point, he purposefully called the team “Ty Gibbs Racing.”
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December 30, 2022 at 02:04AM
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Ty Gibbs Prepares For A Pressure-Filled Nascar Cup Series Career - Forbes
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