Ty Gibbs wrecked teammate Brandon Jones for the win at Martinsville Speedway; Fellow NASCAR drivers are in strong disapproval
Brandon Jones and Ty Gibbs took off the gloves in the closing laps at Martinsville Speedway. As the race went into triple overtime, the racing at the front was great.
Until the final lap when Gibbs brought out the brass knuckles. As they entered turn one, Gibbs lined up square to the rear bumper of Jones. He then sent him into the corner backwards.
As Jones slammed the wall, Gibbs drove to victory lane. The crowd erupted, showing displeasure toward Gibbbs.
Had Jones won the race, he would have advanced into next week’s championship round. Now, it will be three JR Motorsports drivers (Noah Gragson, Justin Allgaier, Josh Berry) vs Ty Gibbs.
It was announced several months ago that Brandon Jones will leave Toyota and Joe Gibbs Racing at the end of the 2022 season. He’ll make the move to a Chevrolet via JR Motorsports.
Ty Gibbs crashes teammate Brandon Jones for Martinsville win on final lap (Video)
Brandon Jones comments after getting crashed by Ty Gibbs
“I had the race won, I think,” Brandon Jones told NBC Sports.
“I love everyone on this No. 19 group but I’m excited to make my move to JRM next year and be a part of that organization. A little bit more respect over there, probably.”
“We’ve got one race left. Phoenix, I know we can go out there, win that and shake this up a little bit.”
“I have no words. We had some fun beating and banging. But, I’ve never wrecked him or done anything, for a win. Just kinda shows what that level is there.”
“I think it opened up the opportunity to get moved. But, I don’t know about dumped and destroyed.”
Jones added, “He’s made plenty of friends out here on the racetrack. He’s just going different places and I’m going different places.”
NASCAR fight between Ty Gibbs and Sam Mayer at Martinsville (Video)
Noah Gragson
Noah Gragson will be a teammate to Brandon Jones in 2023.
“The No. 19 raced us clean, all race,” Noah Gragson said of Brandon Jones.
“When you restart on the outside and win the race, I feel like you’ve earned it. If you’re third row, second row and you just clean the guy out, I don’t know if I agree with that.”
“I thought Brandon Jones and the No. 19 Ty Gibbs Racing car, I mean, Joe Gibbs Racing car did a great job. That’s a dirtbag move.”
Gragson added, “If I was in that position, I’d be pretty worked up, if I was Brandon.”
In another interview, Gragson again called it the Ty Gibbs Racing car and made the same correction. Meaning, he was likely making the mistake on purpose.
Josh Berry
Josh Berry will be another teammate to Jones in 2023. However, Berry expects him to be team JRM as early as Phoenix.
“I’ll tell ya, I just can’t believe what I saw at the end,” Josh Berry stated with an ear to ear smile.
“I’ve raced my whole life and I have seen things happen. But, I’ve never seen anything like that.”
Berry added, “I think team Brandon Jones is going to be team JRM, one week early going into Phoenix. We’ll just see what happens.”
Other comments
Denny Hamlin tweeted, “I miss J.D.”
Erik Jones: “Hope that race isn’t taken as an example by anyone coming up racing as how it’s supposed to be done.”
Chase Briscoe: “If he did care then he wouldn’t have celebrated like that…”
Clint Bowyer: “Class used to mean something.”
David Ragan: “Makes me sick to see Brandon Jones get wrecked like that at the end. Saying sorry every time by Ty Gibbs sure does get old. Some of those guys on Sunday want take that crap.”
Todd Bodine: “I just lost all respect for Ty Gibbs. I totally agree with Jeff Burton and Steve Letarte not good!”
Eddie Gossage: “I believe Ty Gibbs will come to regret moves like this. All professionals want to be respected but these incidents will haunt him for years. Folks will forget the “wins” but not this. Kyle Busch paid a price for his manner & Ty will, too. Maybe different but there will be a price.”
Stephen Mallozzi: “Ty Gibbs is such a loser. And I root for his failure at every corner. I mean seriously, the definition of a silver spoon kid who deserves nothing he’s been given. Sick of watching such a shithead race. If he did that to me, I’d beat his ass. Differences between wrecking and movin.”
Austin Hill and Myatt Snider had an altercation after Saturday’s race at Martinsville (Video)
Ty Gibbs talks Jesus
“I went to give the No. 19 a push and get him out of the groove. I just hit him too hard, my fault. But, I was racing for the win,” Gibbs said of the contact.
Ty Gibbs climbed from the car after the win to a sea of boos from the crowd. However, those boos don’t bother the 20-year-old.
“I always go back to the same verse,” Ty Gibbs stated via Sirius XM NASCAR Radio.
“Jesus was hated first and among all the people. That’s part of it, silencing out the crowd. I feel like that’s what you have to do as a professional athlete.”
Gibbs added, “Some the best people are going to get booed and that’s part of life. … And, if I did let it eat me up then that would be weak on my part.”
2023 plans haven’t been announced for Ty Gibbs. Kyle Busch will leave JGR for RCR in the NASCAR Cup Series. The No. 18 car at JGR hasn’t been filled.
Watch the video of Ty Gibbs wrecking Brandon Jones
Links
Ty Gibbs | Brandon Jones | Noah Gragson | Josh Berry | Joe Gibbs Racing | Martinsville Speedway | NASCAR
