Photo courtesy of Meg Oliphant | Getty Images
Over a week after winning the 2022 NASCAR Xfinity Series championship at Phoenix Raceway, Ty Gibbs has been promoted to the NASCAR Cup Series for his first full-time season in 2023. He will take over the No. 54 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota car with Chris Gayle returning as his crew chief from the Xfinity Series.
NEWS: @TyGibbs will compete full time for Joe Gibbs Racing in the 2023 #NASCAR Cup Series behind the wheel of the No. 54 Toyota Camry TRD.
(continued) pic.twitter.com/jKanIitO3C
— Joe Gibbs Racing (@JoeGibbsRacing) November 15, 2022
Gibbs climbed up the ranks very quickly in the beginning of his NASCAR career.
In 2021, Gibbs won the ARCA Menards Series championship while winning four races in a part-time role with Joe Gibbs Racing in the Xfinity Series. In 2022, he took his stardom to another level with seven race wins during his one full-time Xfinity Series season, including a win at Phoenix over Noah Gragson to win the championship.
The news comes during a somber time for the Gibbs family as they continue to mourn the sudden passing of co-owner Coy Gibbs, who sadly passed away the night of Ty’s championship.
We are grateful for all the love and support. pic.twitter.com/MiJPrxTxja
— Joe Gibbs Racing (@JoeGibbsRacing) November 15, 2022
Gibbs will replace Kyle Busch, who is leaving JGR for Richard Childress Racing after 15 illustrious years with the team. Busch won two Cup Series championships with the team in 2015 and 2019 while driving the iconic N0. 18 car. According to JGR, the team will use the No. 18 car in the coming years but is expected to be on the track in 2023.
Now that Gibbs is at NASCAR’s highest level, time will tell how he continues to grow in all areas of his life. He took over for Kurt Busch after his concussion at Pocono Raceway back in July for his first reps in the Cup Series for 23XI Racing. In 15 races, Gibbs DNF’d four times and secured one top-10 finish with an average finish of 22.9.
The 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season will begin with the Busch Light Clash at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Feb. 5. Then, the first points race will be the 2023 Daytona 500 on Feb. 19.
