Ty Gibbs NASCAR Cup Series struggles reached a boiling point during the Go Bowling at the Glen race at Watkins Glen International, as mounting pressures and a tense exchange with Joe Gibbs Racing leadership exposed deep-seated challenges for the young driver. The incident, unfolding late in the 2025 season, has intensified scrutiny over the trajectory of the 22-year-old’s career and the mounting frustration within his team.
High Expectations Meet Prolonged Winless Streak
Entering the Cup Series in 2023 as a 20-year-old rookie, Ty Gibbs arrived with a reputation as one of the sport’s most promising prospects. By the end of his third year and after more than 100 starts, however, not many would have predicted that he would still be chasing his first career win. Gibbs, the grandson of Super Bowl-winning NFL head coach and NASCAR team owner Joe Gibbs, initially made strides by securing his first Cup Series playoff berth last season. Yet, rather than continuing on an upward path, his third year has seen a noticeable regression, prompting questions about what is hindering his anticipated rise to NASCAR stardom.
Watkins Glen Collapse Highlights Ongoing Issues
The recent race at Watkins Glen delivered the starkest evidence yet of the challenges facing Ty Gibbs. At the start of the final stage, Gibbs appeared poised for a breakthrough, starting inside the top 10 with fresher tires than his competitors. However, the advantage slipped quickly as Shane van Gisbergen, who had even newer tires, surged past, dominating the field en route to another road course victory. This setback marked the start of a downward spiral for Gibbs’s race day.
The tension within Joe Gibbs Racing came to the forefront during a heated radio conversation between Gibbs and Chris Gabehart, competition director for Joe Gibbs Racing, who has been working closely with No. 54 crew chief Tyler Allen. Gibbs voiced his frustration, stating,
“We’re (expletive) right now, so we’ve gotta do something different,”
—Ty Gibbs, Driver. Gabehart answered in kind, offering the option for Gibbs to decide team strategy but urging focus, saying,
“You can call the strategy if you want, or we can keep rolling. But I would do the best I could to go as fast as I can.”
—Chris Gabehart, JGR Competition Director.
Following that exchange, the No. 54 team began a full-scale unraveling. Gibbs quickly lost track position before his final scheduled pit stop, which was hampered when the car fell off the jack. In a desperate move with only laps remaining, the team opted for an additional pit stop, hoping a caution flag would unpredictably benefit their strategy, but no such opportunity materialized, resulting in a disappointing 33rd-place finish.
Adversity and Growth Challenges Test Young Driver
This latest meltdown is not unique for Ty Gibbs; it reflects a recurring inability to regroup when circumstances turn unfavorable. Despite being part of a successful team ownership family and enjoying advantages throughout his development, the transition to NASCAR’s top division has proven more difficult than anticipated for the young driver. Every challenge has served as a reality check, underscoring the gap between expectations and the demands of the Cup Series.
While the pressure continues to mount, the current season does not dictate the entirety of Gibbs’s future. Instead, this series of setbacks presents an opportunity for him to learn resilience and adapt his approach to adversity—qualities essential for survival and success in NASCAR’s highest level. Adopting the tough lessons from leadership, such as those delivered by Gabehart, may be the catalyst Ty Gibbs needs to develop mental toughness and navigate the inevitable difficulties that mark every great racing career.
The coming races and seasons will reveal whether Gibbs can harness these difficult moments to reshape his approach, live up to his early promise, and carve out his place among NASCAR’s elite drivers.
