During the ARCA Menards Series race at Bristol, Ty Gibbs led a Joe Gibbs Racing 1-2. Behind him on the track was Sammy Smith, in his third career start. It is also worth mentioning that this is Gibbs’ 10th ARCA Menards Series win in the season. In fact, the #18 driver dominated the proceedings after grabbing pole position.
In order to celebrate, Gibbs and Smith parked their cars nose-to-nose and performed a burnout. All in all, it was an impressive display by the 18-year-old and his 17-year-old teammate. In the race itself, Gibbs took control at the front and led most of the laps. Though it is worth mentioning that nine cautions in the 200-lap race threatened him on occasion.
Gibbs’ 10 race wins in a season make him the first driver since Frank Kimmel to achieve the feat. To make matters even better, this is his 18th career ARCA win, as well as his Gibbs’ fourth ARCA Series East win in 2021.
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EPIC@TyGibbs_ | @sammysmithSS pic.twitter.com/0tOOWOgeP3
— ARCA Menards Series (@ARCA_Racing) September 17, 2021
Ty Gibbs was thrilled to win
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“First of all, this is just awesome,” Gibbs crowed. “To have all my guys here, my teammate and close friend [Sammy Smith] to wrap up a championship. It’s just awesome – a great night for our organization. I learned a lot. Hopefully, we have a good run and my crew chief got a great car, I really have faith in him.”
Meanwhile, Smith was really happy to score a 1-2 for Joe Gibbs Racing. He confessed that his own car was not as quick as his teammate’s, but it was the second-best car on the track. Behind the JGR drivers was Portland International Raceway winner Taylor Gray. Rookie Nick Sanchez and Corey Heim rounded out the Top 5, denting Heim’s championship hopes.
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With two races left, Heim is running out of time to catch up to Ty Gibbs. Meanwhile, Gibbs himself will be keen to extend his championship lead over his rivals with two races remaining.
READ MORE: NASCAR Star Ty Gibbs Dedicates ARCA Win to F1 Great Ayrton Senna on 27th Anniversary of His Passing