The reigning NASCAR Xfinity Series Champion is moving up a series as Ty Gibbs will drive the number 54 in the Monster Energy Cup Series in 2023. Gibbs was tapped by his grandfather and co-owner, Joe Gibbs, to advance to the next level. The 20-year-old has flashed a lot of talent in both the ARCA and Xfinity Series, but has also had his share of controversy due to the way he qualified for the Xfinity Series finale.
OPEN SEAT
We all knew when Richard Childress Racing announced that Kyle Busch would be taking over the number eight car in 2023, there was an open seat at Joe Gibbs Racing. While Ty Gibbs was certainly one of the favorites, there were some questions about his candidacy. At 20-years-old, he is a bit immature. Yes, it is his grandfather’s team, but Joe Gibbs is a Hall of Famer in two sports, he’s not going to put just anybody in his ride. Add in the fact Ty Gibbs wrecked his own teammate for a win in the next to last race of the Xfinity season, and it would be easy grandpa to not promote him. I’m not entirely sure why JGR waited until after the season to make the announcement, but I wonder if Joe Gibbs was giving his own grandson a closer look?
CHANGING NUMBERS
Besides the driver, the other big change for the JGR Monster Energy Cup team is the number. Ty Gibbs will continue to drive the 54 that he drove in the Xfinity Series. That’s a big change from the 18 that Joe Gibbs has had since he entered NASCAR in 1992. Two current NASCAR Hall of Famers, Dale Jarrett and Bobby Labonte, both drove that car number. Jarrett won the Daytona 500 in the 18 while Labonte won the 2000 NASCAR Cup Series Championship. Kyle Busch has driven that number since 2008, piloting it to two championships in what is sure to be a Hall of Fame career. Joe Gibbs Racing has announced the 18 will run in future seasons, but there’s no word on when.
TY GIBBS: TRIUMPH AND TRAGEDY
It’s been an up and down month for Ty Gibbs. He won at Martinsville, but was lambasted by media and fans alike for wrecking his teammate for the win. He won at Phoenix to clinch the title, then the worst possible thing that could’ve happened did. His father, Coy Gibbs, died that night. Right now, it’s not clear how Coy died, but the Gibbs family is certainly entitled to grieve in private. Now, Ty Gibbs has been announced as a Monster Energy Cup Series driver. I hope he learns from all of this. As I said before, he’s talented, but he still has some growing up to do. I am definitely intrigued by this promotion, for better and for worse.
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