After the first four races of 2025, Ty Gibbs has recorded only one top-20 finish, a P16 result in the season opener at Daytona. Since then, he has finished 32nd in Atlanta, 34th at COTA, and 25th in Phoenix. Given this rough stretch, Gibbs’ mother and JGR co-owner, Heather Gibbs, has admitted that concerns are growing within the No. 54 camp.
Speaking to Kyle Dalton, Heather addressed the stark difference in form between the two Joe Gibbs Racing drivers — one on the verge of a four-peat, while the other has yet to crack the top 15 this season.
Concerns Growing Within Ty Gibbs’ Camp Amid Poor String of Results
Since October 2024, Ty Gibbs has finished 25th or worse in eight of his last nine races. Even though 32 races remain in the season, tensions are rising within the Joe Gibbs Racing camp due to the young driver’s struggles.
His mother was blunt when speaking to Dalton.
“I mean, you’re concerned!” she said. “Obviously, we want to compete. We want to compete for our sponsors and show up to the track with fast cars every week.”
No one will deny @TyGibbs has struggled to start the 2025 @NASCAR Cup Series season with three of his first four results 25th or worse. Joe Gibbs Racing co-owner and Ty's mom, Heather Gibbs, admitted there is concern with the No. 54 team. pic.twitter.com/bUmJZaFZtL
— Kyle Dalton (@kdsportswriter) March 15, 2025
For Heather Gibbs, it was unfortunate that the first two races of the season were both on superspeedways, which take an added toll on drivers. These tracks have a “high probability of crashing,” leaving drivers shaken.
At COTA, the young driver was ready to compete at the front, but a first-lap mishap forced him to nurse his car rather than push it. Then, in Phoenix, Heather believed that a different tire compound could have helped her son.
Some see Gibbs’ struggles as a case of inexperience, especially compared to his JGR teammate. However, that’s not entirely true.
The No. 54 driver has already completed two full Cup Series seasons with his grandfather’s team, in addition to a part-time run with 23XI Racing in 2022. Despite his experience at NASCAR’s top level, Ty Gibbs has yet to deliver a performance that truly showcases his talent.
To be fair, Gibbs did earn a top-five finish at COTA last year and even made it into the playoffs. However, his run ended early, as he was eliminated in the first round. Gibbs also led 417 laps in 2024, nearly quadrupling his total from 2023.
But what he lacks is consistency. As time goes on, speculation grows that Gibbs is getting a longer leash in NASCAR because of his background. However, with every team focused on winning, patience from JGR’s leadership may not last much longer.