Joe Gibbs Racing officially announced Tuesday afternoon that 2022 NASCAR Xfinity Series champion Ty Gibbs will compete in the NASCAR Cup Series next season aboard the No. 54 Toyota Camry TRD.
For the first time since Joe Gibbs Racing’s inception in 1992, the Huntersville, N.C. organization will not utilize its flagship No. 18 driver – instead allowing Gibbs to carry the renumbered No. 54 which Gibbs utilized to build his Xfinity brand that included 11 wins between 2021 and 2022 respectively.
Gibbs will replace Kyle Busch as the team’s fourth driver in the premier NASCAR Series next season. Busch and JGR could not come to terms on a new contract following the departure of Mars Inc. (M&M’s Candies) opening the door for Gibbs to replace the two-time Cup Series champion.
Chris Gayle, who served as crew chief during his NASCAR Xfinity Championship season, will move with Gibbs to serve as crew chief in the Cup Series.
Gibbs, 19, competed in 15 Cup Series races this season in a substitute role for the injured Kurt Busch at 23XI Racing. Gibbs was set to compete in this month’s Cup Series Championship Race at Phoenix (Ariz.) Raceway aboard the No. 23 Toyota Camry – but Gibbs stepped out of the seat after the unexpected passing of his father, Coy, the night after winning the Xfinity Series title.
In 15 Cup starts, he earned a best finish of 10th at Michigan International Speedway and carried an average finish of 22.9. Gibbs also led two laps during his young Cup Series tenure also at Michigan where he qualified 11th.
In his sophomore and championship Xfinity Series season, Gibbs, the grandson of team founder Joe Gibbs delivered five poles, seven wins, 16 top-five and 23 top-10 finishes and 990 laps led.
In addition to Xfinity, Gibbs also won the premier ARCA Menards Series championship title in 2021.
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