Joe Gibbs Returns to Phoenix: In the wake of the one-year anniversary of his son Coy’s tragic passing, car owner Joe Gibbs is returning to Phoenix Raceway, a place intertwined with memories of both joy and sorrow. On November 6, a year ago, Coy Gibbs, at the age of 49, left this world, just hours after celebrating his son Ty Gibbs’ Xfinity Series championship.
Joe Gibbs finds solace in the recollection of those precious moments. He recently shared his thoughts on the upcoming return to Phoenix, saying, “I would say theres going to be part of that that will be remembering things that happened. And part of it was, hey, (Coys wife) Heather said thats the happiest shes seen Coy that night, everything that happened on the racetrack.”
Coy Gibbs had a deep involvement in motorsports, running the family’s Supercross and Motocross team from 2008 to 2020. After his brother J.D.’s passing, he also took on a more prominent role at Joe Gibbs Racing, serving as vice chairman and chief operating officer. He was a former Stanford University linebacker and even competed in NASCAR’s Truck Series from 2000 to 2002, as well as the Xfinity Series in 2002-2003, running a total of 97 races across both series. Coy played a pivotal role in guiding his son Ty Gibbs‘ racing career.
Returning to Phoenix Raceway evokes a complex mix of emotions for Joe Gibbs Racing and its drivers. While Ty Gibbs, who starts 11th in the race, does not publicly discuss his father’s passing, his presence at the track serves as a testament to his resilience and determination.
NASCAR’s community was devastated by Coy’s passing on the Cup Series championship race morning. He died in January 2019 at the same age as his brother J.D. after a protracted fight with a degenerative neurological condition.
Last year’s Championship 4 race at Phoenix was a rollercoaster of emotions for all involved. Christopher Bell, the lone Joe Gibbs Racing driver competing for the championship, reflected on that fateful day, saying, “Last year was just a whirlwind of emotions. Going in there in my first Championship 4, it was very exciting and happy. It flipped very quickly on Sunday morning.”
In the wake of Coy’s passing, team officials gathered at the track to inform the racing community, and the Joe Gibbs Racing family united in their determination to honor his memory by striving to win the championship.
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Our Reader’s Queries
Who is driving for Joe Gibbs in 2023?
For the upcoming 2023 season, the team has enlisted the talents of John Hunter Nemechek and Sammy Smith. These two drivers had previously competed part-time in the team’s “star car” during the 2022 season, but will now be competing full-time. With their skills and experience, the team is looking forward to a successful season ahead.
What happened to Christopher Bell in NASCAR?
Christopher Bell’s hopes of winning the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series championship were shattered when he crashed into the outside wall during the second stage of Sunday’s season-finale at Phoenix. Despite starting in 13th place, Bell had managed to climb into the top five before the unfortunate incident. However, his dreams of victory were dashed as a result of the collision.
Why did Joe Gibbs switch to Toyota?
Joe Gibbs revealed that Toyota provided the team with resources and options that were beyond their financial reach had they stayed with GM.
Why is Bell out of the race?
Christopher Bell experienced a major setback in his NASCAR Cup Series journey on Sunday. During the race, his Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota suffered a brake rotor failure, which ultimately led to his elimination from championship contention. Unfortunately, Bell’s race came to an abrupt end when he crashed in Turn 3 on lap 108 while running in sixth place.