Ty Gibbs, competing in the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series, has encountered a tough season, with his playoff hopes hanging by a thread. After making his first career playoff appearance in 2024, the No. 54 driver now faces the daunting challenge of securing a win in the regular-season finale at Daytona to qualify for the postseason again. Despite showing promise, Gibbs and his first-year crew chief, Tyler Allen, have yet to clinch a victory after 112 starts, while Gibbs has managed six top-10 and four top-5 finishes through 25 races this year.
Radio Communication Disruptions Surface During Richmond Race
Frustrations have mounted as Gibbs remains the only Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) driver outside the playoffs. This tension came to light during the race weekend at Richmond Raceway, where Gibbs and JGR Competition Director Chris Gabehart — who has stepped in as a de facto crew chief recently — experienced unexpected radio interference. Earlier in the night, their communication had shown teamwork, with Gibbs confirming his agreement on pit strategy:
“Yep, right with you. Having fun.”
However, their focus was soon disrupted by radio transmissions from another team’s crew chief, specifically from Corey Heim’s 23XI Racing channel, bleeding into Gibbs’ frequency. This interference sparked confusion between driver and crew chief during the event.
Driver’s Lighthearted Response to Unwanted Radio Noise
Gibbs addressed the problem directly, telling Gabehart he could also hear Bootie Barker, another crew chief, on his channel.
“I got Bootie Barker’s radio channel on mine as well,”
he said.
“We running some split radios or what?”
Gabehart responded, expressing his uncertainty about the frequency issue and indicating that someone higher up would need to resolve it. Gibbs then jokingly told him,
“Tell Bootie to shut up. He’s screaming on my radio.”
Gabehart asked if this was a new issue, to which Gibbs admitted he had been hearing the interference for some time. Despite the distraction, Gibbs remained focused and ended the race with an 18th-place finish, marking his first top-20 finish in four races.
Implications and Next Steps for Gibbs and the Team
The radio interference incident at Richmond highlights ongoing communication challenges behind the scenes for the No. 54 team, which could potentially affect race strategy and performance. With the postseason still out of reach without a win, Gibbs and his crew chief will need to overcome such obstacles as they aim to secure better results heading into the final races of the season. How they address these technical issues and maintain clear communication could provide a crucial advantage as Gibbs fights to extend his playoff streak.