Joe Gibbs talks the future for Ty Gibbs

Ty Gibbs passed them through the grass and claimed a NASCAR Xfinity Series win in his first career start

For years, Ty Gibbs has been climbing the lower ranks of stock car racing. The now 18-year-old is the grandson of NASCAR team owner Joe Gibbs.

On Saturday, Gibbs make his NASCAR Xfinity Series debut in the No. 54. He wow’d them…

In a late race restart, Ty Gibbs ran three wide through the grass into turn one. The dirt flew 30 feet in the air and it looked like his race was over.

Ty Gibbs stated, “On that last restart, we were 5th, I believe. The No. 99 kinda checked up on the restart and that’s when I took advantage. I dove to the bottom after we passed the start finish line.”

“I can’t remember who was in front of me. But, they came over a little bit and I had to jump in the grass. I went for a little ride there.”

It was far from over. Gibbs drove to the front of the field. Two corners after getting off track, Gibbs found himself in the lead.

The pass through the grass was the defining move as it allowed him to put a gap between himself and fast charging Austin Cindric. Gibbs drove to victory lane, claiming his first NASCAR Xfinity Series victory in his first start!

Related: Daytona race results from February 20, 2021 (NASCAR Xfinity Series)

Ty Gibbs wins in first NASCAR Xfinity Series race - Daytona
DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 20: Ty Gibbs, driver of the #54 Monster Energy Toyota, celebrates with the checkered flag after winning the NASCAR Xfinity Super Start Batteries 188 At Daytona Presented by O’Reilly at Daytona International Speedway on February 20, 2021 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)

Ty Gibbs on the future

“Right now, we’re just trying to get forward to the next race and focus on that,” Ty Gibbs said after his win.

The driver added, “I really don’t know what to expect for the rest of this year, especially on the Xfinity side. I’m just excited that we won.”

Ty Gibbs on haters

He has a few. Gibbs is one the most-hated newcomers to the sport, since Austin Dillon. For some, that hate fuels them. But, for Gibbs, he just tunes it out.

“It’s hard to judge a book by it’s cover. I’m going to get that for the rest of my life. But, I’m not out here to prove to anybody, anything. I feel like if you’re doing that, you’re not doing the right thing. I’m just chasing my dream because I love it.”

“I’ve had a hell of a ride and I can’t thank everybody enough. You just gotta block the haters. It doesn’t really bother me at this point, I’ve never really had an issue with it.”

“That’s the kinda stuff you’re going to have to go through to be a champion. I will take it.”

Related: Austin Dillon gets ‘pumped up’ when he hears the phrase ‘silver spoon’

Kyle Busch and NASCAR team owner Joe Gibbs
DOVER, DELAWARE – OCTOBER 06: Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 Interstate Batteries Toyota, talks with team owner, Joe Gibbs, prior to the start of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Drydene 400 at Dover International Speedway on October 06, 2019 in Dover, Delaware. (Photo by Matt Sullivan/Getty Images)

Joe Gibbs comments after the win

“I don’t think you even dream of this. Stepping up to Xfinity, I was so nervous. Cause he was starting kinda mid-pack. You’re just hoping he can make laps and get through everything,” Joe Gibbs stated.

“As the race started to play out, you see ‘Oh my gosh, he’s up front.’ I was thrilled from that standpoint.”

“He’s got a big schedule this year. Just turning 18, he now can run the big stuff. So, he’s going to run a lot of ARCA stuff. Then, he’ll run probably 10 Xfinity races.”

“Ty’s really got a full schedule. In some racing weekends, he’ll race ARCA and Xfinity. They tried to pick out the places that would help him the most and where he would grow the most,” said on Saturday.

Gibbs previously ran well on the Daytona Road Course with the ARCA Series. They’ve picked places were he’s performed well in the past, or similar tracks.

“I thought his schedule was already out. But, we’ll probably print that soon. I think it’s still a little bit flexible. So, we could add a little more, at the end of the year.”

“This race was a test in a lot of ways. I think we were 12th on that one restart. This thing was hard fought.”

On Saturday, Ty’s 2021 Xfinity schedule wasn’t released. That schedule was released this morning.

Denny Hamlin, Bubba Wallace, Christopher Bell, Kyle Busch - Joe Gibbs Racing - 23XI Racing - Daytona International Speedway - NASCAR Cup Series
Denny Hamlin, Bubba Wallace, Christopher Bell, Kyle Busch – Joe Gibbs Racing – 23XI Racing – Daytona International Speedway – NASCAR Cup Series Credit: DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 10: Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 FedEx Toyota, leads the field during practice for the NASCAR Cup Series 63rd Annual Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 10, 2021 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

Where is Ty Gibbs going to go as he climbs the ranks?

In the last year, two of the NASCAR Cup Series drivers at Joe Gibbs Racing have re-signed. Christopher Bell is in his first year and Kyle Busch isn’t retiring any time soon.

It’s the never ending problem in the Toyota pipeline. Where’s Ty Gibbs going to go?

“This is all we do. And everybody at JGR, we know, you gotta have a great driver. You gotta have the crew chiefs and pit crews, it’s a total team effort.”

“Ty in Cup, that’s a long ways off. But, I am thrilled right now, with our current lineup. What we’re trying to do is just prepare ourselves for the future.”

“Every day, we go to work. And the only thing we work on, is racing. We love it. We’re racing 9 cars in 3 divisions. We think the Xfinity and ARCA really help our Cup program.”

What about adding a Toyota team?

Joe Gibbs added, “I think Toyota will have a lot to say about that. I know Michael and Denny have talked about adding a car.”

Recently, Toyota has also hinted at another Toyota team popping up for 2022 in the NASCAR Cup Series. In fact, they have suggested there could be three new teams.

Related: New NASCAR teams for 2022?

Related: Losing drivers in the Toyota Racing Development pipeline is ‘what keeps them up at night’

Ty Gibbs
2021 NASCAR Xfinity Series
Schedule

Note: The schedule below was released after the media availability comments above.

March 13
Phoenix Raceway

April 9
Martinsville Speedway

May 8
Darlington Raceway

May 15
Dover International Speedway

May 29
Charlotte Motor Speedway

June 5
Mid-Ohio

June 27
Pocono Raceway

July 3
Road America

August 7
Watkins Glen International

August 14
Indianapolis Motor Speedway

August 21
Michigan International Speedway

September 11
Richmond Raceway

October 9
Charlotte Motor Speedway (ROVAL)

October 23
Kansas Speedway

Ty Gibbs
Passing in the grass
Links

Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota Racing | NASCAR

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