Ty Gibbs entered the NASCAR Cup Series with enormous expectations, carrying the legacy of his grandfather, legendary team owner Joe Gibbs. As the next-generation driver for Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR), he was seen as a future star who could build upon the team’s storied history. However, instead of becoming the dominant force many expected, Gibbs has struggled to prove himself at the highest level.

Gibbs’ journey in the Cup Series has been marked by inconsistent performances. Despite achieving some notable milestones, such as securing his first Cup Series pole at Charlotte Motor Speedway in 2024, his overall results have been underwhelming. In the last nine races dating back to October 2024, he has finished 25th or worse in eight events, with seven of those results being 30th or worse. This slump has raised concerns within the JGR camp, particularly as his teammates, like Christopher Bell, have excelled with multiple wins.

The pressure on Gibbs is heightened by his family connections and the superior equipment he has access to. Fans and critics alike question whether his struggles are due to a lack of motivation. Although, Gibbs is in search of his first Cup win, with the current pace he might be headed towards an embarrassing record. 

Ty Gibbs’ Cup Series Struggles Are Becoming Hard to Ignore

“It’s a level above, but I think they all equally work as hard,” Ty Gibbs said, reflecting on the differences between racing levels. When Gibbs won the 2022 Xfinity Series championship in his first full-time season, it seemed like he was destined for greatness. Gibbs’ rookie Cup Series season in 2023 was underwhelming but somewhat forgivable. He finished the season ranked 18th, with no wins, four top-five finishes, and ten top-ten finishes. Despite these modest results, he earned Sunoco Rookie of the Year honors, a testament to his potential. His best race was at the Bristol Night Race, where he led a season-high 105 laps and finished fifth.

However, instead of improving in 2024, Gibbs remained stagnant. He ended the season winless, with only 12 top-ten finishes and an average finish of 17.42. And things are looking bleak for him after the 5 race weekends into 2025. Apart from the P16 at Daytona 500, the North Carolina native has finished 22nd or worse in his last eight starts. As if he wasn’t up against the task, Gibbs is now on the clock to become longest longest-tenured JGR driver without a Cup Series win. He has just three races to avoid being a part of an embarrassing statistic. After the Vegas weekends, the margins have now narrowed down to just 2 races.

The success of his former Xfinity rivals, such as Noah Gragson and Josh Berry, who have performed well in lesser equipment, raises serious doubts about whether Gibbs truly deserved his Cup ride. Gragson, now driving for Front Row Motorsports, has shown resilience despite facing challenges in the Cup Series. Berry, who recently secured his first Cup Series win at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, has demonstrated that drivers from different backgrounds can succeed with the right opportunities. Carson Hocevar, driving for Spire Motorsports, has also shown promise, achieving a top-five finish in 2025. These performances make Gibbs’ struggles even more glaring, as he faces the label of “Xfinity Lifer,” a driver who dominates the lower series but can’t hit the strides in the Cup Series.

As Gibbs navigates these challenges, he faces a critical moment in his career. Will he rise to the expectations and prove himself as a top-tier driver, or will he remain a shadow of what was once expected? The coming races will be pivotal in answering this question, and fans are eagerly watching to see if he can turn his fortunes around and live up to the Gibbs name.

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Fans Are Losing Patience as Criticism Mounts

With each passing race, frustration among fans is growing. Social media has become a battleground for debates about Ty Gibbs’ talent, with many believing his last name, rather than his ability, is the only reason he holds a Cup ride at JGR. Some fans argue that he was promoted far too early, while others go as far as calling him the weakest link in the entire JGR lineup.

Fans have expressed their discontent with comments like, “He should become an Xfinity lifer” and “He isn’t Cup material.” Well, not everyone is as lucky as Gibbs, take Harrison Burton for example. Despite snagging win number 100 for Wood Brothers Racing last year he was demoted to the Xfinity Series. Then there is Corey LaJoie who despite his seniority was ousted by Spire Motorsports and is running a limited schedule with Rick Ware Racing. Cup racing is brutal on drivers, even for those who perform, but for some reason, Ty’s future seems intact all thanks to Coach Gibbs’ blessings.

Some fans have labeled him a “fraud” who “wrecked his way to wins in Xfinity and had superior equipment.” These sentiments are fueled by memories of Gibbs’ aggressive driving style in the Xfinity Series, where he was criticized for wrecking his teammate Brandon Jones at Martinsville Speedway in 2022 to secure a win. This incident led to widespread criticism, with many calling him out for his selfish actions. During the Martinsville playoff race, Gibbs made contact with Jones, which sent him spinning towards the outside wall on the final overtime lap, allowing Gibbs to win the race despite already having clinched a spot in the Championship Four on points.

His recent performances, including a 32nd place at Atlanta, 34th at Circuit of the Americas, and 25th at Phoenix, have only added to his woes. Imagine the likes of Corey Heim or Harrison Burton getting their hands on JGR machinery, they are likely to do better. The funny ordeal about this whole situation is that he still gets sponsorship deals, while Denny Hamlin is unable to secure partners to fill the holes left by FedEx. And this is only leading to more frustration among the fans, “money alone can’t buy success at the top level.”

Others have noted that “it took 100 for Elliot” (referring to Chase Elliott’s journey to success), implying that Ty Gibbs should be given more time to develop. However, with each disappointing finish, patience is wearing thin. Fans are now suggesting “baby steps,” like aiming for a “Top 20 next race,” as a way to measure progress. This sentiment reflects the growing frustration with Gibbs’ inability to consistently perform at the Cup level.

Some fans have also made comments like “Got that Xfinity team for his birthday, and it’s been all downhill since. Dude is just cruising until he can be a full-time owner/exec.” Recently JGR announced that Ty will take over the ownership of the No. 54 team in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. Although it’s still early days, fans are predicting that Gibbs will ultimately switch to ownership of executive roles sooner or later. And by doing so he’s just holding onto a spot that would deserve a better driver. Balancing Cup racing, Sprint Car racing, and an ownership role could be spreading him too thin, further hindering his development.

If Gibbs continues to struggle, JGR may be forced to reconsider his future with the team. While his family ties give him a level of security that most drivers don’t have, NASCAR is a results-driven sport. If JGR sees better performances from its Xfinity talent or potential free-agent drivers, Gibbs’ seat may not be as untouchable as it once seemed.