“Frustrated With Myself” – Ty Gibbs Unsatisfied as He Completes Joe Gibbs Racing in the Playoffs

As the NASCAR Cup Series schedule zooms past the 2-mile Michigan International Speedway, all eyes are on the rookie Joe Gibbs Racing driver, Ty Gibbs. Despite being Kyle Busch‘s replacement at the helm of the #54 Toyota, Joe Gibbs’ grandson has had a decent rookie season compared to fellow rookie Noah Gragson.

While the young gun has made it into the playoffs, edging out seasoned drivers in his rookie year after jumping into the fray following his success in the Xfinity Series, the 20-year-old remains self-critical, as he voiced his disappointment after his Michigan run.

“My team deserved better”,  Joe Gibbs Racing’s young gun, Ty Gibbs, vents out his frustration.

For many fans out there, Ty Gibbs is a name that closely relates to privilege, with some even deeming the 20-year-old as someone born with the silver spoon. Following his triumphant Xfinity season last year, in which he outclassed the phenom John Hunter Nemechek to claim the title, the youngster’s arrival on the Cup Series scene has been widely criticized.

Many deemed it a far-stretched, hasty decision from the coach himself, trying to move his grandson into the elite category. However, as we head to Indianapolis Motor Speedway for next week’s road race after a rather thrilling Speedway race at Michigan, the youngster has proved all the naysayers wrong, climbing into the playoffs—something even the most seasoned of drivers couldn’t do.

Though he got an impressive 11th-place finish at the highly technical speed, hanging in there with the veterans of the sport, Gibbs is still seeking more from himself. Unlike fellow rookie Noah Gragson of Legacy Motor Club, who just got his 2023 season turned around real quick, young Gibbs has had a far greater season as he is currently in the 16th spot compared to the bottom dweller, Gragson, who is 33rd in the rankings.

Speaking to the media after his Michigan run, Gibbs did not shy away from expressing his disappointment, saying, “I mean it was a clean day, just I didn’t execute on my part, I do better job so just frustrated with myself the car deserved way better, my team deserved better than my finish.” 

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Ty Gibbs makes the cut. Who else is in the playoff conversation?

Bubba Wallace and Ty Gibbs made the playoffs as 15th and 16th in the rankings, respectively. While the rookie proved his mettle despite being the 2-time champ, Kyle Busch’s replacement in the JGR camp slipped past the playoff bubble. The youngster is just 3 points ahead of Michael McDowell, who is in the 17th spot, closely tailing him.

While the 20-year-old has managed to edge out the far more experienced and seasoned drivers like Daniel Suarez and AJ Allmendinger, the scene is about to change as we head to a thrilling road race at Indy next week, or will it? That’s the question.

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Well, for now, we can only speculate on his chances, as experience and race craft will certainly favor road racing specialists like Michael McDowell and Trackhouse Racing‘s #99, Suarez. Now for 23XI Racing’s #23 driver, Bubba Wallace, the Alabama native is comfortably perched in the 15th spot, with 55 points separating Gibbs in the 16th position.