With the Ty Gibbs NASCAR playoff battle reaching a critical point, Zane Smith stands as one of eight drivers still in contention for NASCAR’s inaugural In-Season Challenge, eager to progress further as the competition heads to Sonoma Raceway. While Smith’s immediate task is to outfinish Ty Gibbs of Joe Gibbs Racing in this crucial round on Sunday, his ambitions are set even higher as he seeks a pivotal victory that would grant him a spot in the season-ending playoffs.
Smith Prioritizes Playoff Qualification Over Head-to-Head Rivalry
Zane Smith and Ty Gibbs, having both survived the earliest rounds of a 32-driver bracket, now prepare to compete directly against each other at Sonoma in one of the challenge’s headline matchups. Elsewhere in the bracket, drivers like Ty Dillon, Alex Bowman, Erik Jones, John Hunter Nemechek, Ryan Preece, and Tyler Reddick also face off in high-stakes duels, all striving for a spot among the final four competitors.
Although finishing ahead of Gibbs is the benchmark for advancement, Smith views this as a secondary accomplishment compared to the overarching goal of making the playoffs. In contrast to Reddick and Bowman, who already have favorable playoff prospects, Smith must win one of the seven events remaining in the regular season to secure his position. This reality intensifies the pressure at Sonoma, making Victory Lane the only thing that matters for the Front Row Motorsports driver.
Observing the landscape, it appears Gibbs faces a similar scenario this weekend, focusing on a win as the surest ticket to the postseason.
“I don’t want to speak for Ty,”
Smith remarked on Wednesday.
“But I feel like we’re both in the boat, as of today, that, ‘We’re going to Sonoma to try to win the race and advance to the playoffs.’”
—Zane Smith, Cup Series Driver
While Smith expects to receive updates about Gibbs’ position and strategy as the race unfolds, the sophomore Cup Series driver plans to keep his concentration on personal performance. Only a race victory will guarantee Smith entry into the playoffs, making his own result paramount regardless of Gibbs’ fate.
“I’m sure I’ll get told once or twice about where he’s running or what’s going on with him and what strategy they’re doing and many other things,”
Smith said of Gibbs.
“But ultimately, we’re trying to advance to the playoffs.”
—Zane Smith, Cup Series Driver
Underdog Story Grows as Smith Advances Through In-Season Challenge Bracket
Seeded 14th in the NASCAR In-Season Challenge, Zane Smith’s journey has taken on elements of a Cinderella story after successive upset victories. In Round One at Atlanta, Smith bested 19th-seeded Austin Cindric of Team Penske, then went on to topple the highly-regarded Chris Buescher, seeded third with RFK Racing, at the Chicago Street Course.
Despite most observers doubting Smith’s chances in either face-off, he managed to outperform both competitors and keep his pursuit alive.
“It’s cool to still be alive in this bracket challenge,”
said Smith, currently piloting the No. 38 Ford for Front Row Motorsports.
“My last week’s pairing with Chris, I knew we were gonna have our work cut out for us, just with Chris’ stats. But it’s still racing. And things happen. And we were able to advance.”
—Zane Smith, Cup Series Driver
A win in the In-Season Challenge would be a shock to the NASCAR world, given how Smith reached this stage. If successful, Smith has already considered how he might use the $1 million winner’s prize.
“I don’t know how much I would totally get,”
Smith said.
“But hopefully, I’d be able to get a decent chunk and be able to split it across the whole (No.) 38 team. And they can go and do whatever they want with it. Then, if I’ve got any left over, I’d maybe put some money towards a pool or something.”
—Zane Smith, Cup Series Driver
What Lies Ahead for Smith and the Remaining Drivers
Looking toward Sonoma, Smith faces a pivotal race with dual significance: get past Ty Gibbs in the In-Season Challenge, and more importantly, secure the win that could vault him into the Cup Series playoffs. The tension and uncertainty surrounding the Ty Gibbs NASCAR playoff battle offer high drama, as established names like Erik Jones, John Hunter Nemechek, Ryan Preece, and Tyler Reddick continue to pursue postseason spots of their own.
If Smith can pull off another surprise and take the checkered flag, he not only prolongs his In-Season Challenge run but also claims a coveted slot in the season’s final bracket. Regardless of the outcome, Smith’s underdog run has already reshaped the narrative as the Cup Series inches toward its playoff threshold, keeping fans and competitors alike watching for the next twist in his story.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Why does Ty Gibbs drive the 54?
A. In 2022, Gibbs competed full-time in the Xfinity Series. He drove the No. 54 Toyota for his grandfather, team owner Joe Gibbs.
That year, Gibbs impressed people by winning seven races and securing a spot in the playoffs. He also got a chance to race in the Cup Series at Pocono Raceway.
Q. Has Ty Gibbs ever won?
A. Ty Gibbs, the grandson of team owner Joe Gibbs, burst onto the NASCAR scene in 2021. He won his debut race in the Xfinity Series at the Daytona Road Course. In 2022, Gibbs began racing full-time in the Xfinity Series and clinched the championship in his first season.
Q. Has Ty Gibbs won?
A. Gibbs won the NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2022 and the ARCA Menards Series in 2021. His grandfather, Joe Gibbs, was an NFL coach and owns a NASCAR team. Gibbs also helps run Joe Gibbs Racing.
