In the July 6 Xfinity Series race through the streets of Chicago, Ty Gibbs showcased one of the best cars, finishing second behind Shane van Gisbergen and ahead of Kyle Larson. Despite his impressive performance, there was a puzzling moment at the first stage break when Gibbs’ No. 19 car unexpectedly slowed down pit road, prompting Cole Custer to pass him on the left. NASCAR subsequently penalized Custer for his actions.
During post-race interviews, NBC’s Dave Burns inquired about the incident. Gibbs admitted to an “embarrassing” mistake, explaining that he was in the wrong gear, causing him to go slow on pit road. The lighthearted exchange between Gibbs and Burns ended unexpectedly when Gibbs doused the reporter with his drink, a move Burns anticipated.
This humorous side of Gibbs marks a departure from his reputation in his first two Cup Series seasons, where his temper and on-track actions often made headlines. The playful interaction with Burns was the second time in three weeks Gibbs showed a lighter side, the first being during media availability in New Hampshire on June 22.
Despite a recent slump in his 2024 results, including three finishes of 23rd or worse in the last four Cup races, Gibbs remains a promising driver. With eight top-10 finishes in 19 races, half of those in the top 5, and a career-best runner-up finish at Darlington, experts believe it’s only a matter of time before Gibbs secures a victory this season.
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As Gibbs continues to balance his competitive spirit with a more relaxed and humorous approach, he is likely to benefit from this maturity in his racing career.
