Tony Gibson: “It’s tough nowadays, I’m telling you. With all the new rules and all the things going on, it’s just really, really tough.”
Tony Gibson has been a Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series crew chief since 1994. He’s taken a few years off in the middle. But, in total, he’s been a crew chief for 428 races.
He’s known as ‘Old Man’. Why? Because he calls every one else ‘old man’. They could be 25, male or female, he’ll still called them ‘old man’.
Speaking from experience, I’d call it a borderline OCD thing. Though, that’s understandable. OCD is a common diagnosis for drivers and crew in the NASCAR garage.
He’s worked with the best of the best. His driver portfolio includes; Jimmy Hensley, Bobby Hillin Jr, Kenny Wallace, Bill Elliott, John Andretti, Ron Fellows, Jeff Green, Jason Keller, Steve Park, Michael Waltrip, Dale Earnhardt Jr, Aric Almirola, Mark Martin, Ryan Newman, Danica Patrick, Regan Smith and Kurt Busch.
Currently, he works for Stewart-Haas Racing. He’s the crew chief of the #41 piloted by Kurt Busch.
Related: Kurt Busch 2018 plans? Is he leaving Stewart-Haas Racing?
“I’d like to but it’s like I told them from day one, I’ll do whatever the company wants me to do,” Tony Gibson told Racer.
“Stewart-Haas Racing has been great to me. They have bent over backward for me and gave me a great job, surrounded me with great drivers, crews and supported my family. It’s a great place to work.
“I’ll do whatever they need me to do, but I would very soon like to take a lesser role and still be involved and help all four teams, but be able to spend more time at home while my health is somewhat good to be able to do some of those things.”
“But I’ll do whatever these people ask me to do. I’m game for whatever but I am getting old, and the grind will get you. After 31 years it will absolutely wear you into the ground.”
“Maybe in the next year or two I can come off the road and be able to support Stewart-Haas in some role and let these young guys go and do it and spend time on the road.”
“It’s tough nowadays, I’m telling you. With all the new rules and all the things going on, it’s just really, really tough.”
“The grind gets frustrating and dealing with all the rule changes and stuff like that and the tech inspection, man, it’ll just wear you down and wear on your nerves and everything else. I just want to be able to try and enjoy and see what a normal life is a little bit.”
As a crew chief Tony Gibson has captained a car that finished top five in 8% of the time. 6 wins, 53 top fives and 140 top ten’s. He last win came with Kurt Busch in the 2017 Daytona 500.
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