Ty Gibbs walked into the NASCAR Cup Series as a driver with a famous last name but little goodwill in the garage. His aggressive style and cutthroat decisions on the track rubbed many veterans the wrong way. His reputation took a hit in 2022 when he wrecked teammate Brandon Jones out of the Xfinity Series Championship 4 race to secure a win at Martinsville. While he later accepted his mistake and apologized publicly. But that didn’t go well with many.
Noah Gragson voiced what many in the garage felt: “I’m just sick and tired of ‘I’m sorry, trying to learn’ deal.” Many in the garage felt that Gibbs was just another driver from a racing family who did not respect others. However, he shut everyone down by winning the 2022 Xfinity Series title. This also paved the way to transition into the Cup series with his grandfather’s team. But this made things worse. Gibbs continued his learning curve by wrecking others.
This didn’t sit well with Brad Keselowski, who slammed JGR for giving him the opportunity. “I can’t be mad at Ty. I did a lot of dumber things when I was a teenager, but I wasn’t at this stage… this is not the place to learn those lessons,” he admitted. Fast forward to 2025, and the debate is still haunting Ty Gibbs. While he did make the playoffs last season based on the points he collected in the regular season, the 2025 is proving to be a tough ask. This is only sparking debates on whether or not he is fit to race in the Cup Series, especially when a talented prospect like Corey Heim is being snubbed.
Christopher Bell echoes Joe Gibbs’ sentiments!
As the NASCAR caravan reaches Las Vegas, Christopher Bell is currently the man to beat. In the last three races, the No.20 team clinched wins and dominated the field. He is one of the biggest championship contenders in the ongoing season. But his success contrasts sharply with Ty Gibbs. The 22-year-old youngster has been involved in wrecks, lacked pace, and failed to finish races. The gap between the two Joe Gibbs Racing teammates couldn’t be more obvious.
Despite this, Bell recently defended Gibbs. He acknowledged that Gibbs is facing a tough period but emphasized that every driver goes through. “If he comes to me and asks for advice or help, I help him all I can… As long as you’re prepared going into a weekend, that’s all you can do as a driver. There are just so many pieces of the puzzle that have to go right to perform and win at the NASCAR Cup Series. I’ve lived it where I didn’t have all the pieces of the puzzle, and it certainly can be frustrating,” Bell said while speaking on Rubbin is Racing.
Notably, Bell’s comment has its backing. While critics label Gibbs as a nepotism case, Bell reminded everyone that the young driver is more than just a famous last name. He won the 2022 Xfinity Series championship dominantly, showing he could handle pressure. His rise through the ranks suggested he was ready for the Cup Series, but the transition has not been smooth. Joe Gibbs himself has dismissed claims that his grandson is only in NASCAR because of family ties.
Image Credits: Imago
In 2023, he passionately defended Ty, saying, “You got to earn your way… you got to race your way.” Notably, NASCAR has always been family-oriented. From the Earnhardts to the Elliotts, legacy drivers have faced intense scrutiny. Some, like Chase Elliott, silenced critics with success. But everyone has not been that good especially Ty Gibbs. In 2024, he made it to playoffs after strong finishes in the first half of the season.
However, in the last ten races, he has more than five finishes of 30th or worse. He has yet to record a top-15 finish in 2025. His poor results in Atlanta and COTA have sparked further questions about whether he truly belongs in the No. 54 car. While Joe Gibbs Racing has a history of developing elite drivers, some wonder if another young talent could have been a real deal. Despite these struggles, Ty Gibbs is looking forward to making a comeback. To do that, he is following none other than Christopher Bell.
Ty Gibbs to follow in Bell’s footsteps!
Christopher Bell has long been one of NASCAR’s most versatile racers. His success in the Chili Bowl Nationals, World of Outlaws, and other dirt events helped shape him into the driver he is today. Now, Ty Gibbs is taking a similar approach. Gibbs dipped his toes into dirt racing last year at Ventura Raceway’s Turkey Night Grand Prix. He followed that up with a run at the Chili Bowl Nationals, where he performed respectably but didn’t win.
Now, he’s making a more serious commitment. He will debut in a Sprint Car at Kubota High Limit Racing’s season opener at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Backed by Chad Boat’s CB Industries, Gibbs will drive the No. 84 Monster Energy machine on the half-mile dirt oval. Earlier this month, he tested a 410 Sprint Car at Carolina Speedway, and veteran Lynton Jeffrey praised his potential. “Ty was very impressive… he took the car like a professional and was very smooth,” Jeffrey said.
Notably, Bell and Kyle Larson are among those drivers who have been successful on various racing tracks. Interestingly, when they dominated dirt tracks, this success also translated into the Cup Series. For example, in 2021, Larson won more than 10 races in different series before winning the championship. Similarly, Bell won this year’s Chili Bowl Nationals and is currently the most successful driver of the season.
Gibbs is now hoping to experience the same growth. But the road ahead won’t be easy. The Cup Series is unforgiving, and the expectations that come with being a Gibbs make the challenge even greater. But if racing in another stream helps Ty Gibbs find his groove, he might just rewrite the narrative surrounding his career. Until then, the pressure continues to mount, and the scrutiny isn’t going away.
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