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Ty Gibbs captured the win at Bristol Motor Speedway, his first career NASCAR Cup Series victory.
Ty Gibbs is finally a NASCAR Cup Series winner after entering the sport’s premier division in 2022. Gibbs captured the checkered flag at Bristol Motor Speedway in the Food City 500.
Series insiders believed Gibbs was inching closer to his first Cup victory thanks to his hot start with Joe Gibbs Racing this year. The No. 54 team started the year with five top 10s through the first seven races. With Bristol being Gibbs’ best track on the circuit, it was only a matter of time before he claimed the checkered flag. Prior to this weekend’s race, he led 440 laps at Bristol.
And Gibbs’ first message when he stepped into the media center after Sunday’s triumph was to silence his critics.
“People can say what they want, can say false things,” Gibbs said. “I don’t really have an issue with it. I’m not big on social media. I just love racing cars. In a blessed position to do this. Just try to maximize my resources. I really love it.”
Gibbs competes for the team owned by his grandfather, Super Bowl champion Joe Gibbs. His first win came in his 66th start.
“I think I truly enjoy the position I’m in, obviously being around such great group of people is so much fun,” Gibbs said. “These guys love racing as much as I do, or even more, and I know I love it a lot. Having that is super important. Having a great group of guys, building off of what we had last year, getting better and better from half the season on, keep improving our notebook is really important. Fortunately, have been really fast in Bristol in the past. Haven’t won, but have been close. To win here, especially my first win is super cool.”
Ty Gibbs’ Journey
Gibbs entered the Cup Series in a high-pressure situation, first replacing an injured (and eventually, a retiring) Kurt Busch in the Michael Jordan-Denny Hamlin-owned 23XI Racing No. 45 car in 2022.
He first strapped into a Cup car the morning of the 2022 M&M’s Fan Appreciation 400 at Pocono Raceway, finishing 16th after starting at the rear of the field. Expectations were high after that, as he continued to dominate what is now the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series.
Gibbs was crowned the 2022 O’Reilly Auto Parts Series champion, dominating the series for the second straight year by winning seven races. And due to his early success as a teenager, Coach Gibbs opted to replace a departing Kyle Busch for his grandson. He swapped the car’s number from No. 18 to No. 54 to give the younger Gibbs a fresh start.
His No. 54 has been inconsistent at times, with an 18th-place average finish over the course of his young career.
But after Sunday’s win, Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Chase Briscoe said, “It’s the first of many and it wouldn’t surprise me if he went on a tear.”
Gibbs’ Championship Hopes
Gibbs has been on a tear to start the 2026 Cup Series season, and he believes his No. 54 team is a title contender.
“One win doesn’t change my career not one bit,” Gibbs said. “I knew I was capable of it. My team, obviously I know they’re capable of it. I could win the next five or just win this one and be done for a long time. It doesn’t mean anything. I feel like I knew I was capable of doing it. It’s obviously about putting it together. We’ve had great runs in the past. People are going to hammer me on my position I’m in. That’s fair. I don’t really care. Just keep working hard. I really love racing, so it’s fun.”
Gibbs sits an impressive fourth in the standings after his win. And if he can replicate what he did in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, he could deliver Joe Gibbs Racing its first Cup title since Busch in 2019.
Joseph Wolkin Joseph Wolkin is a motor sports expert, focusing on telling the untold stories inside of Nascar, Formula 1 and the IndyCar Series. He is currently working on a new book about team leaders turn racers into champions. Follow Joseph on X at @joewolkin. More about Joseph Wolkin
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