When people talk dirt racing, names like Christopher Bell and Kyle Larson always come up. But let’s not forget about Ty Gibbs. The 22-year-old had a blast at his debut Chili Bowl, and with Joe Gibbs lifting the infamous ban on JGR drivers racing outside NASCAR, this could be just the beginning for him.

Sure, the ban was originally in place for safety reasons, but it also restricted drivers from branching out and gaining that valuable racing experience. Variety is key when it comes to building a driver’s skill set and Ty Gibbs is all about growing as a racer. If his Chili Bowl experience is any indication, he’s hungry to dive into more types of racing, and that could only make him stronger in the Cup series.

Gibbs wrapped up his 2025 Chili Bowl campaign with a respectable 6th-place finish in the F main. A disappointing run overall, but considering this was his very first time racing in the event, he’s definitely got reason to be proud. He didn’t make the transfer, but he came away with the biggest takeaway: he had a lot of “fun” and wants more.

Ty Gibbs wants to do all kinds of racing.

It’s not just dirt racing that’s on his mind. Ty Gibbs is itching to try anything with four wheels. Whether it’s more Chili Bowl action or something completely different, he’s all in. When asked how much more dirt racing he plans to do, Gibbs said, “After my mains, I’d say a lot. Kind of whatever I guess. I feel I’d be way better if I could do just whatever I want to do racing-wise. And if that’s too much for me. I could stop and race once a week in Cup.”

He also wants to try sports cars. Maybe he can give the Trans Am Series a try. “I honestly enjoy racing. Just not dirt racing for me, I love to go to these sports cars. I just do whatever. I like it a lot. I really do.”

The guy is only 22, and he’s already an ARCA champion (2021) and the Xfinity Series champ (2022). In just his second season in the Cup Series, he finished a solid 15th overall. While most kids his age might be focused on a variety of things, Gibbs is laser-focused on one thing: racing!

“Yeah, I mean, I’m 22. So there’s a lot of other things I could sneak out there, that are probably not good. But for me, I want to go racing because my family raised me to be the best I could be as a driver. I think that helps me, so I’m doing that and I love doing that,” he said. Talk about the apple not falling far from the tree, he’s got that Gibbs work ethic! Grandpa Gibbs is a three-time SuperBowl winning coach for the Washington Commanders in the 1980s and 90s (then known as the Washington Redskins). Ty’s father, Coy Gibbs, along with Joe, led JGR to 5 Cup championships. And now it’s Tyler’s turn.

But Ty’s also mindful of keeping things in perspective. He’s been making sure not to be too hard on himself and always reminds himself to have “fun.” And honestly, he said the word “fun” about a hundred times when reflecting on his Chili Bowl experience.

Gibbs opens up on his maiden Chili Bowl experience

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Okay, so finishing 6th in the F main might not be the flashiest result. But let’s keep it real: this was Ty’s first time at the Chili Bowl, and his only other midget race before that was in the 2024 USAC National Midget Turkey Night Grand Prix at Ventura Raceway. For a rookie in the midget racing world, this was a pretty solid showing.

He opened up to Matt Weaver about how the whole experience felt to him, saying, “I had a ton of fun. I really appreciate this whole deal. Hopefully, this is the first of many races I’ll do in this thing for the rest of my life. I love racing, I am passionate about it. It’s so much fun. I feel this week makes me appreciate racing a lot more because you only get in the car a certain amount of times in a week… I had a lot of fun. I got the transfer in the F which is still pretty far back there… but I had fun”

Dirt racing also hits an emotional note for Gibbs. He’s spoken before about how it reminds him of his childhood, especially the Supercross races he used to go to with his late father. “I had a lot of fun… I love the whole atmosphere of it. I grew up on the Supercross race with my father. I really miss that… it’s kind of similar. So I love it, ” He added.

It’s clear that dirt racing has a special place in Ty’s heart and he’s only just getting started. It’s safe to say we’ll be seeing a lot more of him in non-NASCAR events in the future. What do you think about Ty Gibbs branching out into other forms of racing? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!