Ty Gibbs experienced his third consecutive difficult race as he finished outside the top 20 at Watkins Glen, intensifying his frustration with his team during the event. The ongoing Ty Gibbs Watkins Glen struggles came to a head when he openly questioned the team’s strategy on the radio, triggering a sharp retort from new strategist Chris Gabehart.
New Strategist Chris Gabehart Joins Team Amid Rising Pressure
Chris Gabehart, previously Denny Hamlin’s crew chief, was brought on board in June as a strategist and consultant to oversee the team’s decision-making, which has seen near victories but no race wins. Gabehart’s role is to help guide Gibbs, whose team has struggled to close the gap on top competitors despite promising performances earlier in the season.
Race Incident and Handling Issues Contribute to Gibbs’ Frustration
Starting from 14th position, Gibbs’ race fell apart late in Stage 2 after contact with John Hunter Nemechek caused Nemechek to spin out. Troubles continued as Gibbs battled rear grip problems during the final 34 laps, leading to his dissatisfaction with his No. 54 Toyota Camry’s handling and the team’s race strategy. This frustration boiled over during a radio exchange with Gabehart.
We’re f***ed right now. So we gotta do something different,
Gibbs stated on the radio. Gabehart responded sharply from the pit box:
Well, I’m sure you’ve got a real good understanding of that from inside the car. So, you know, you can call the strategy if you want, or we can keep rolling. But I (would) do the best I could to go as fast as I can.
Gibbs replied with a brief 10-4.
On-Track Battles and Strategy Complexities Affecting Performance
Gibbs’ difficulties were intensified when he was trying to overtake Ryan Preece but was forced to slow down following a maneuver by Christopher Bell affecting Alex Bowman. This delay caused him to lose valuable rear grip while trying to pass Bowman, a factor Gabehart identified as impacting Gibbs’ race pace.
Addressing the heated exchange after the race, Gabehart commented,
Of course, it’s heated. It’s a hot day, and the driver’s working his butt off in there and doesn’t know the details of who’s on what for strategy.
He further explained that an early caution in Stage 2 created a split in strategies across the field, leaving drivers uncertain about how to gauge their progress against rivals, which complicated decision-making on the pit box.
And on the pit box, you’re working to figure all that out as those cautions fall. There’s only so much prep work that you can do prior to when it happens. Now, what do we do? And that’s the moment that was going on there.
Final Pit Stop Decisions and Race Result Highlight Continuing Struggles
During the final pit stop on Lap 81, Gibbs proposed his own plan to pit and then remain on track under any subsequent caution to gain track position. Gabehart followed that strategy and called Gibbs into the pits for four new tires; however, no yellow flag appeared afterward to benefit their plan. Ultimately, Gibbs finished 33rd at Watkins Glen, marking his worst finish since the Circuit of the Americas race in March.
As the grandson of team owner Joe Gibbs, Ty Gibbs continues to chase his first NASCAR Cup Series victory since winning the 2022 Xfinity Series championship. Meanwhile, his teammates Chase Briscoe, Denny Hamlin, and Christopher Bell have each earned play-off berths with race wins this season, underscoring the urgency for Gibbs to improve results.
Recent Performance Trends Show Sharp Contrast in Results
Before Watkins Glen, Gibbs had shown promising form, achieving a third-place finish at Michigan, followed by three straight top-15 results: 11th in Mexico City, 14th at Pocono, and 14th at Atlanta. This was followed by three top-10 appearances – second in Chicago, seventh at Sonoma, and fifth at Dover. However, the past three races have seen a decline, including back-to-back 21st-place finishes at Indianapolis and Iowa, culminating in the disappointing 33rd place at Watkins Glen, reflecting a tough period for the young driver.