Moments after Ty Gibbs wrecked Ryan Sieg, the red flag was thrown for snow; Drivers talked on pit lane and it’s not over…
On Saturday, the NASCAR Xfinity Series rolled into Las Vegas Motor Speedway. It didn’t take much time for the drama to unfold.
Watch the Ty Gibbs vs Ryan Sieg video below.
Ty Gibbs started the race from the rear of the field. In his debut full-time season with the NASCAR Xfinity Series, he was on the charge to the front.
On lap 3, 19-year-old Ty Gibbs closed right to the bumper of 34-year-old Ryan Sieg. He packed air on the left rear, taking downforce off Sieg’s machine.
As expected, Sieg got loose and was forced to lift when the car stepped out. As he did, Gibbs was right on his bumper. Light contact was all it took to finish him off.
Sieg was sent up the banking. He backed it hard into the outside wall, picking up heavy damage.
Sieg was able to keep it rolling. He’ll spend the remaining 197 laps limping a broken car around the track.
Moments after the crash, rain, snow and hail rolled into the area, all at once. The red flag was displayed and the cars were guided to the pit lane.
Drivers climbed from their cars as the race was delayed. That gave Sieg and opportunity to take a stroll to Gibbs’ machine.
The two drivers talked it out and agreed to disagree. The conversation ended with Sieg patting Gibbs on the shoulder.
Ryan Sieg comments on Ty Gibbs
“He knows what he’s doing,” Ryan Sieg told FOX Sports just seconds after the driver to driver conversation.
“He’s got the best car in the garage and he just races you, not very smart, early, on lap 10. He’s got the best car, way out, from everybody.”
“Not smart on his part. We’re just trying to survive and make through these two. Just ridding along and then you get packed with air.”
“Sucks for all of our guys. It’s tough, it is what it is.”
“He has definitely probably got to learn his lesson. You know what I mean?”
Sieg was asked if it was finished today.
Sieg added, “I don’t think so. We’ll find out,” he responded.
Ty Gibbs comments
“I got into him. It was my fault, Ty Gibbs opened with FOX Sports.
“But, we were packed up underneath each other there. Once he started to get a little bit aero free (sideways). Once it happens, it’s so quick when they come to you (by lifting to catch it).”
“There’s not enough time to get out of it. We’ve seen it before. So, I’ve made my mistake on that part.”
“I told him, ‘If my goal is to wreck you or ruin your day, you wouldn’t have made it around another lap.’ It was my fault.”
Gibbs added, “If he wants to keep it going, he can. But, like I said, it wasn’t my fault. I wasn’t wrecking him for a win. I wasn’t wrecking him at all. It was, I made a mistake. But, it wasn’t like I was trying to do it on purpose.”
Joey Logano
“I’ve been through this before. Sometimes you just gotta live with the consequences of this whole thing,” Joey Logano stated from the broadcast booth.
“There was a lot of times early on where I didn’t realize I was doing anything wrong. Until somebody came over and told me.”
Logano was famously wrecked by the lap car of Matt Kenseth at Martinsville Speedway. That incident ended his championship run.
Related: Phone Call from Joey Logano to Matt Kenseth Might Have Saved His Championship Says Logano
“I’m a big believer in trying to talk it out. It doesn’t sound like it went that well.”
“It is what it is now. His car is wrecked and he’s gotta ride around for the next 100+ laps. He’s got a long day ahead of him. And, at some point, Ty Gibbs is going to lap him because Sieg’s car is crashed.”
“I hope nothing happens. I don’t believe that just wrecking somebody is the way to get back at someone. It’s not safe.”
“I do think that making somebody’s life hard, when they come around you, that’s probably what’s going to happen,” Logano added.
Update: Ryan Sieg retaliates on Ty Gibbs
After about an hour long weather delay, the green flag returned. Ty Gibbs quickly climbed into the top 10.
On lap 28, Sieg was posted by NASCAR for not meeting minimum speed. With the black flag, he was suppose to head for the garage.
On lap 29, Gibbs was on the bumper of Sieg and about to put him a lap down. As promissed, Sieg wasn’t done with Gibbs.
Sieg waited for Gibbs to attempt a pass. He then turned left and ran Gibbs up the banking. However, Gibbs got into the rear bumper of Sieg and turned him.
Sieg spun across the track. Brett Moffitt and Sheldon Creed made light contact with the wall as they attempted to avoid his spinning machine.
“It’s unfortunate other cars got caught up in that mess,” NASCAR Cup driver Ryan Blaney stated from the broadcast booth. “Sieg was trying to settle a score with the No. 54.”
The No. 54 driver picked up just minor left front damage. He remains in the race.
Gibbs via the team radio: “Wow, that was just really smart there. Maybe he can go punch a bag at home or something.”
Sieg was able to drive away and head for the garage. He’s done for the day and will likely be further penalized by NASCAR. Penalties are typically issued on the Tuesday or Wednesday.
The NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Las Vegas is ongoing.
Related: NASCAR tv schedule for Las Vegas
