NASCAR: ‘Worst kept secret’ finally confirmed for 2022

Just days before the start of the 2022 NASCAR season, the “worst kept secret” of silly season has finally been confirmed.

For the last several months of the 2021 NASCAR season and throughout pretty much the whole offseason, it was believed that Ty Gibbs would become a full-time driver for Joe Gibbs Racing in the Xfinity Series.

Gibbs competed part-time for his grandfather’s team behind the wheel of the “star car”, the #54 Toyota, in 2021, and finished in 13th place in the championship standings.

He finished highest among all non-playoff drivers, despite the fact that he missed 15 of the 33 races on the schedule, and had he been championship eligible, he would have been not only a playoff driver but a title contender.

Gibbs won in his series debut at the Daytona International Speedway road course. He ended up going on to win three more races throughout the season.

Meanwhile, Joe Gibbs Racing’s three full-time drivers combined to win just one race in 99 starts;  Gibbs quadrupled that total in less than one-fifth the number of starts.

All signs have long pointed to Gibbs, who won the 2021 ARCA Menard Series championship with 10 wins in 20 races, becoming a full-time Xfinity Series driver in 2022, yet there was never a formal confirmation.

The only one of the team’s three full-time drivers set to return in 2022 is Brandon Jones behind the wheel of the #19 Toyota. 2021 champion Daniel Hemric has vacated the #18 Toyota for Kaulig Racing to replace the Cup Series-bound Justin Haley behind the wheel of the #11 Chevrolet, and Harrison Burton has vacated the #20 Toyota to move to the Cup Series with Wood Brothers Racing to replace Matt DiBenedetto behind the wheel of the #21 Ford.

But now that formal confirmation has arrived, and Gibbs is officially set to pilot the #54 Toyota throughout the 33-race 2022 season.

Here is what the 19-year-old Charlotte, North Carolina native had to say in a team release.

"“I’m excited to get going on the 2022 season. Chris Gayle and the crew guys from the 54 were great last year and hopefully we can have even more success this year. Of course, I can’t thank everyone at Toyota and TRD enough for all their support as well. I’m just ready to get going in the No. 54 Toyota GR Supra.”"

Set to serve as the crew chief for Gibbs and the #54 team is Chris Gayle. Gayle was Gibbs’s crew chief for his 18 Xfinity Series starts last year after returning to the series following a four-year run in the Cup Series with Erik Jones.

Meanwhile, Joe Gibbs Racing’s “star car” is set to be the #18 Toyota in 2022. The only confirmed drivers for that car so far are Trevor Bayne for seven races and Drew Dollar for four. Joe Gibbs Racing don’t have any plans to run the #20 Toyota in 2022.

The 2022 season is scheduled to get underway this Saturday, February 19 with the Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. 300 at Daytona International Speedway. The race is set to be broadcast live on Fox Sports 1 beginning at 5:00 p.m. ET.