Jimmie Johnson Embarrassingly Secures the Rookie of the Season Honor for Joe Gibbs

One man’s loss is another man’s gain. The proverb has been proven occasionally, and more so in NASCAR. Capitalizing on other drivers’ mistakes and openings on the track to gain positions is a quintessential aspect of the Cup Series. In recent news, seven-time champion Jimmie Johnson might have given birth to a similar situation through the decisions of his team, Legacy Motor Club.

Taking advantage of the situation will be one of the two rookies to transition into the top echelon, Joe Gibbs Racing driver Ty Gibbs. With the events that have unfolded in recent weeks, Ty looks set to add another Rookie of the Year award to his resume.

Jimmie Johnson presents Ty Gibbs with the Rookie of the Year award

Ty Gibbs entered the 2023 season as a rookie alongside Noah Gragson, both of whom have been forces of nature in the Xfinity Series. While Gibbs continued to develop under the services of JGR, Gragson was impressed with his feats for Dale Jr.-owned JR Motorsports. As Gibbs rose to the Cup to represent Joe Gibbs, Gragson took to the tracks under the tutelage of Jimmie Johnson for Legacy Motor Club.

But in an incident that shook the NASCAR community, Gragson had to face the brunt of his insensitive actions on social media and was handed an indefinite suspension by NASCAR. Following an unfortunate series of events, he decided to leave the LMC roster, ultimately leaving Ty as the sole runner in the race for Rookie of the Year.

Driving the #54 Camaro, Gibbs had already taken big steps toward securing the award. In the first 12 races of the season, Gibbs beat Gragson to the finish line on 10 instances and from the looks of it, would have clinched the coveted title irrespective of the suspension of Gragson.

He has utilized the difference in the facilities and crew of JGR to LMC to the maximum extent as well. To solidify his case, Gragson even missed the race at Sonoma with an injury.

With no challenger left to blemish his campaign, the 20-year-old has been assured of another huge positive to take from the season. One might even consider the possibility of seeing him in the playoffs with a surprise win at the final race of the regular season at Daytona.

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“I enjoy being a rookie”: JGR driver on being the underdog

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In his first season with some of the best drivers in the sport, Ty Gibbs has shown that it’s not the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog. The 2021 Xfinity Series Rookie of the Year has shown immense potential in the #54 Toyota. Carrying on the form, he translated it into a championship-winning season in the second-tier competition as well, drawing eyes towards his talents. Speaking to Racer earlier in the season about the grand new experience, Gibbs claimed, “It’s huge in there,”

“I think being a rookie is something you don’t take for granted. I enjoy being a rookie. Being in the Xfinity Series in 2021 as a rookie was really cool. Being an ARCA rookie was awesome. It’s a cool experience.”

Being on the same team with stalwarts of the game like Denny Hamlin and Martin Truex Jr. has also helped him massively in improving his skillset. Even to the extent that Denny drew a comparison between himself and Ty, albeit not for sporting reasons. Elaborating about the feeling of getting underestimated and taking pride in fighting against the odds, he added,

“It’s fun because people around you don’t think you’re going to do well and I like proving them wrong. Even though I’m not out here to prove people wrong, I’m out here because I enjoy racing cars. It’s the cool part about being a rookie — you only get to do it one time. It’s my third and last chance before I go do something different.”

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If anything, Joe Gibbs and his grandson will have a lot to celebrate about their performances this season. From competing for a playoff spot in his debut season as a full-time driver to claiming the coveted award for rookies, Ty has surely come a long way.