Joe Gibbs Racing is a well-recognized NASCAR team worldwide. But, with a great name comes great responsibility- a pressure to perform and outdo the competition! The legendary NFL coach, who mentored seasoned racers like Carl Edwards, Denny Hamlin, and Kyle Busch to bring out their potential in his team, is caught between a rock and a hard place. And this is because of fans believing that a bad apple in the lot is from his own garden!

As the 2025 Cup Series season barrels forward, Ty Gibbs’ underwhelming start has fans, analysts, and even his own family reeling. Things have gone South so far that Ty’s mom, Heather Gibbs, shared her heartbreak saying, “It’s heartbreaking to see Ty struggle like this amid all the expectations tied to our family’s legacy.” His blood ties to Joe Gibbs are both a blessing and a curse. But, things on track might make Coach make a tough call. However, all doesn’t seem lost when we talk of the #54’s recent endeavors.

Numbers are not favoring Ty Gibbs anymore

During his sprint car debut at Kubota High Limit Racing Heat 3 on March 15, 2025, Ty flipped his No. 84 Monster Energy Drink car at Las Vegas, finishing 6th unofficially, qualifying for the A-mains race. Ty’s FOX Sports admission saying, “I’ve made some crazy decisions on the track, and I’m working to address that,”  couldn’t be truer! This crash could raise doubts in Joe Gibbs’ mind, who had blessed all his drivers to race dirt again not so long ago. But, the NASCAR Cup series run is also not so fruitful either.

After 77 starts with Joe Gibbs Racing, Ty Gibbs is still without a win and he’s just two races away from becoming the longest-tenured JGR Cup driver without a victory, outpacing JJ Yeley’s 78 winless starts.  Ty Gibbs recently said, “I don’t know what to say. I feel like I’m a foot higher than every person on this track. I have no rear grip anywhere, and after about 10 laps, might as well just throw this thing away.” After four races in 2025, Ty’s only top-20 finish was a P16 at Daytona, since then he’s crashed out at Atlanta (32nd), struggled at COTA (34th), and limped to 25th in Phoenix.

Insider Colby Evans tweeted: “Ty Gibbs only 3 races away from becoming the longest tenured JGR Cup driver without a win.” Well, now he can make it ‘2 races’ as Ty Gibbs finished 22nd in the Pennzoil 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. And, fans are asking, “What’s going on with the kid who won the 2022 Xfinity title?”

Remember the 2022 Xfinity Series race at Martinsville? Ty Gibbs spun his teammate Brandon Jones in the last lap to secure victory. Fans did not take it well and chanted, “Thank You, Grandpa” as Gibbs celebrated the win. In the post-race interview, when he was asked about being the newest villain of NASCAR, he said, “I always go back to the same verse, that Jesus was hated first and among all the people.” We do not think fans have left Ty off the hook for this yet.

In addition to that, Joe Gibbs, the titan of NASCAR teams is feeling the heat. With JGR members like Christopher Bell (three wins in four races) and Chase Briscoe (Daytona 500 pole) shining, Ty’s lack of results threatens the team’s legacy. His best was a runner-up at Darlington last year. This long struggle could redefine JGR’s dominance for the worse! JGR co-owner Dave Alpern also added his thoughts saying, “We’re concerned about Ty Gibbs and the No. 54 team’s performance early in the 2025 season.”

So, what’s Joe Gibbs to do? As team owner and grandfather, he’s torn. Ty’s new crew chief, Tyler Allen, might stabilize things, but if results don’t improve, Joe could face brutal choices restructuring the No. 54 team or, glass-break situation, benching his grandson. NASCAR insider Dan ‘Spider’ DiOrio urged patience, “While Gibbs’ performance was a cause for concern, he had shown promise previously… He specifically cited his top-five finish at COTA and a top 10 at Las Vegas last year.” But with fans buzzing, can Joe wait?

The stakes are sky-high. Ty could draw inspiration from Bell’s success but the gap is still stark. Joe’s legacy hangs in the balance prompting him to channel his NFL perseverance to rally Ty or take the necessary steps to protect JGR. Fans are holding their breath, hoping Ty can silence the doubters. For now, Joe Gibbs is on the hot seat, and the road ahead looks bumpy.

Carson Hocevar’s explosive outburst at Ty Gibbs shakes Pit Road

Carson Hocevar completely lost it on Ty Gibbs and unleashed a profanity-laced rant after feeling blocked in the pits, per Yardbarker. He didn’t stop there, Hocevar hit Gibbs’ pit box and shoved him on pit road, screaming, “You wrecked me, you piece of s—-!” after on-track incidents left him fuming.

Gibbs, already under intense scrutiny is now public enemy number one for Hocevar. Now, Hocevar’s rage, driven by Gibbs’ aggressive driving, piles on the pressure. Hocevar, known for his fiery style let his emotions get the best of him. While Gibbs, battling a family legacy and a shaky season, faces another PR nightmare.

All eyes are on Joe Gibbs to guide his grandson through this storm. Fans are torn hoping Ty rebounds but shocked by Hocevar’s unfiltered fury. This clash could define their 2025 stories, testing tempers and team dynamics. Hold tight, NASCAR nation this rivalry’s just ignited, and the tension will only add to Ty Gibbs’ rebound story.