In actuality, though, Gibbs hasn’t yet been able to reach top gear. He was left without a victory in the 2024 campaign, and it was his responsibility to silence the critics who called him a product of nepotism. However, the beginning of the new year was essentially unchanged. The #54 team’s best result in the season’s first six races was 16th place at Daytona. And they were feeling the effects of the pressure. Coach Gibbs had to admit that things were difficult: “There’s no secret here, we’ve gone through a tough time.” You know, to begin the year and all of our experiences. Not much has gone our way. The sole route forward for the 22-year-old driver was to keep his head down and start grinding.
And you know what? At last, the efforts and persistence are beginning to bear fruit. Ty made a statement last Sunday at the Bristol Motor Speedway with a P3 result, following a drive in the top 10 at Darlington Raceway. Gibbs was quietly rising and recorded the best result of the 2025 season thus far, while Kyle Larson made headlines with a commanding victory. However, Ty believed the club could score more top five runs. “I believe we’re having a wonderful day. We are undoubtedly a team that can finish in the top five each weekend, in my opinion. However, I’m glad to have a strong run and am confident that we will be strong. Following the race, Ty Gibbs stated.
However, the gap between this year’s event and last year’s spring Bristol race was striking. Due to drivers pushing 89-90 laps on Goodyear tires that melted after 40 laps in 2024, tire wear was essentially nonexistent. If anything, the race was an exact replica of Kyle Larson’s victory in the fall, when he led 462 laps. Additionally, the driver of the No. 5 Chevy led 411 500-lap laps and won both stages last Sunday in yet another impressive effort. The short-track package, in which drivers have little to no opportunity of passing their competitors on the circuit, has been the subject of much discussion. The crucial factor is track position; if the race remains green, it turns into a snooze fest and less of bumper-to-bumper action, which a track like Bristol was known for. Well, this has been the state of short-track races ever since NASCAR rolled out the Next Gen car. And let’s just say, Ty, like other veteran drivers, has almost given up on demands for a better on-track racing product.
When Everyone’s Toolbox Is the Same
When asked what was wrong with the sport following a successful race, Gibbs sounded almost philosophical. “It’s just what it is, because we all drive the same car,” he stated. Because everyone has the identical things and only little changes, it will be difficult to pass. I believe they desired that, and it’s sort of what we currently have. The Cup Series garage has been filled with the sound of that silent complaint. However, NASCAR might have forfeited racing excitement and performance nuance in exchange for equity. In the last race in Bristol, where Gibbs was speaking, there were lengthy stretches of single-lane racing and minimal overtaking, which infuriated some drivers and fans.
Although Gibbs didn’t specifically criticize NASCAR, it was known. He insisted on explaining the irony of parity by saying, “You can keep adjusting the tire and slowing it down, but then we all slow down together.” The alternative tire that NASCAR introduced at Martinsville last year and brought to the Phoenix race at the beginning of the season was his subtly designed version of it. However, it appears that NASCAR has also concluded that trial. In order for NASCAR to accommodate the international race in Mexico, the Richmond Raceway had to forfeit a day on its schedule. Road course events may have been chalked off, but given the present patterns, it appears that short tracks are the the most vulnerable. It will be interesting to see how NASCAR deals with the growing concerns surrounding short-track racing.
