Steve Letarte, known for his expertise in identifying emerging driving talent, has signaled that Ty Gibbs is edging closer to his first NASCAR Cup win. Letarte, a veteran crew chief and current TV analyst, shared his measured yet positive assessment as the current season heads deeper into its later rounds.
Letarte’s Assessment of Ty Gibbs’ Nascar Development
Despite Ty Gibbs not qualifying for this year’s NASCAR Cup playoffs, Steve Letarte remains focused on his growth and prospects. Drawing from decades as both pit crew member and crew chief, Letarte’s perspective carries significant weight in the racing community. He’s followed Gibbs, the grandson of prominent team owner Joe Gibbs, noting strengths and areas of development even as the championship picture for other drivers unfolds this season.
Letarte conveyed his belief that Gibbs is poised for victory soon, potentially within the seven remaining races or during the early races of next season.
“Ty Gibbs, he’s still winless, but I was impressed,”
said Letarte. —Steve Letarte, TV Analyst. Gibbs, who turns 23 this year, fell short of making the playoffs after a fifteenth-place finish last year, his only playoff appearance so far. However, Letarte underscored Gibbs’ considerable skill and readiness to finally achieve his first NASCAR Cup Series victory.
“I know that sounds weird, but I’ve seen him make other mistakes that I thought were kind of youth or inexperience or frustration.”
—Steve Letarte, TV Analyst. This comment highlights Letarte’s attention to how Gibbs’ earlier errors may reflect his relative newness to the Cup Series, rather than lack of ability or determination.
Learning from Bristol: Mistakes and Growth
In a recent race at Bristol, Ty Gibbs was positioned for a strong finish, perhaps even a top-five, but a costly late-race error—missing the pit road entrance—saw him end up in tenth place. Bristol, known for its challenging pit entry points, provides a stiff test, even for experienced drivers. Letarte contextualized the mistake and its implications for Gibbs’ continued development.
“This was all the right type of mistake,”
Letarte said. —Steve Letarte, TV Analyst. He continued,
“It was a driver trying too hard. It’s hard to fault a guy for trying too hard.”
—Steve Letarte, TV Analyst. This perspective suggests that such errors are a sign of Gibbs’ ambitious approach rather than a fundamental flaw. Letarte emphasized the complexity of Bristol, noting the dual pit entry and the difficulty it brings, especially to younger drivers.
“This is one that I think he’s going to want to get back,”
Letarte added. —Steve Letarte, TV Analyst.
“I feel like he had a car capable of winning the race. I think he was doing everything right. It was a mistake we’ve seen a lot of drivers make, but that just reminds us when you say, ‘Hey, [Christopher] Bell come out of nowhere and won the race.’ Well, that’s how much stuff you have to do, right?”
—Steve Letarte, TV Analyst. This reflection cores in on how fine margins and minor missteps can transform a driver’s fortunes, especially in a field as competitive as the NASCAR Cup.
Building Momentum with Strong Performances
Gibbs’ recent record backs up Letarte’s optimism. In his last four starts, including tracks as varied as Daytona, Gateway, and Bristol, Gibbs has posted three top-ten finishes. He was among three Joe Gibbs Racing drivers in the top ten at Bristol, where his teammate Chase Briscoe secured the victory. On that same night, the normally dominant Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin, currently points leader and a previous Gateway winner, finished down in thirty-first place, underscoring the highs and lows that define each race.
During NASCAR media commentary, host and journalist Alex Weaver echoed Letarte’s analysis of Gibbs’ near-miss at Bristol.
“You did make an interesting comment in the booth about the first one’s the hardest,”
Weaver stated. —Alex Weaver, Host. She continued,
“The first is so hard to get, but it’s also, you have to have experience,”
—Alex Weaver, Host. These insights frame the challenge facing new talents like Gibbs breaking into victory lane for the first time.
“It’s a matter of when Ty Gibbs gets his first win, not if he gets his first win. And he has been knocking on the door numerous amounts of times. But this one, it looked like it may be the 54’s shot. And man, he missed pit road,”
Weaver summed up. —Alex Weaver, Host. Together, these statements highlight a consensus among observers that Gibbs has been on the brink of breaking through multiple times, with tiny margins making all the difference.
Why Experience and 100 Starts Matter
Letarte’s analysis is rooted in a long-held belief that milestone experiences, particularly accumulating starts in the Cup Series, are critical in turning a talented driver into a winner.
“I think you need a hundred starts in the Cup Series before your talent is willing to be evaluated, especially in my opinion,”
Letarte remarked. —Steve Letarte, TV Analyst. He further explained,
“So, for Ty Gibbs, even though he’s been in premier equipment, yeah, it takes a hundred. He’s just now, I think about 115 starts [Gibbs has exactly 116 starts, with zero wins but two runner-up and six third-place finishes in his Cup career], and I think now’s the time where we should expect him to win a race.”
—Steve Letarte, TV Analyst. This philosophy tracks the progression of many established winners, transforming raw ability into racecraft, poise, and ultimately, victories.
Letarte did temper expectations slightly, suggesting the timing may go either way:
“I don’t know if it’ll happen this year, but I would be shocked if we get to the [Coca-Cola] 600 next year in May and Ty Gibbs doesn’t have one or two wins.”
—Steve Letarte, TV Analyst.
Alex Weaver, aligning with this forecast, pointed to the types of tracks where Gibbs is expected to excel.
“I do think it comes fairly early next year,”
—Alex Weaver, Host. Letarte agreed,
“that’s what I think, like a spring Phoenix winner or a Las Vegas winner.”
—Steve Letarte, TV Analyst.
Looking Ahead: Ty Gibbs’ Path Toward Victory
With a solid foundation of nearly 120 Cup starts, multiple top-ten finishes in recent races, and high-profile backing from both Joe Gibbs Racing and respected analysts like Steve Letarte, Ty Gibbs appears to be at the cusp of his first win at NASCAR’s top level. As the playoffs advance and next season approaches, all eyes will be on the No. 54 car as Gibbs continues to pursue that elusive first checkered flag, with many in the sport rating it as a matter of “when,” not “if.”
