NASCAR driver makes absurd ‘Jesus’ comparison

Ty Gibbs compared himself to Jesus Christ after wrecking his teammate out of a spot in the NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship 4.

Joe Gibbs Racing’s Ty Gibbs again found himself on the spotlight for all the wrong reasons on Saturday night at Martinsville Speedway, where he ultimately secured his sixth victory of the 2022 NASCAR Xfinity Series season.

Before the race actually ended, Gibbs had already locked up a spot in the Championship 4 on points, becoming the third driver to secure a berth.

JR Motorsports’ Josh Berry had already done so by winning the round of 8 opener at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and teammate Noah Gragson had already done so by winning the round’s second race at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

That left just one open spot in next Saturday’s winner-take-all round at Phoenix Raceway, and Joe Gibbs Racing’s Brandon Jones was in position to take that final spot.

That is, until Gibbs wrecked him from the lead on the final lap.

That fourth and final Championship 4 spot ultimately went to JR Motorsports’ Justin Allgaier, who beat out Jones, Kaulig Racing’s A.J. Allmendinger, Richard Childress Racing’s Austin Hill, and JR Motorsports’ Sam Mayer on points.

There are three JR Motorsports drivers and just one Ty Gibbs Racing (as some now refer to it) driver in the Championship 4 — Gibbs himself. The highest finishing driver of those four is set to be crowned champion.

The fact that Gibbs would wreck a teammate for a win he didn’t even need, while eliminating said teammate — one who absolutely needed that win — and opening the door for a rival team to land a third Championship 4 spot, has only added to the long list of criticism against the 20-year-old Charlotte, North Carolina native.

Gibbs has long been perceived as a kid who was “born with a silver spoon in his mouth” and has always been all but guaranteed a spot with his grandfather’s NASCAR team, and the fact that he has been at the center of so much controversy with very little consequences makes any issue in which he is involved that much more controversial to the public eye.

Specifically, the Richmond Raceway and Martinsville Speedway Xfinity Series races back in April and the Texas Motor Speedway Cup Series race can provide just a few examples.

This is no different, and he only made it worse after to the race.

To the tune of thousands of boos and chants of “Thank you, Grandpa!” — among other things — from the Martinsville Speedway crowd, Gibbs did his burnout and celebrated his “victory” on the front straightaway.

Afterward, he actually compared himself to Jesus Christ.

“I always go back to the same verse that Jesus was hated first, and among all the people. That’s a part of it,” he told Claire B. Lang on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio after the race.

https://twitter.com/SiriusXMNASCAR/status/1586502855560613888

Gibbs has never been afraid to cite his religion throughout his racing career, particularly when things are going well. He never forgets to give thanks to his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

There is nothing wrong with that whatsoever.

Having said that, it almost seems like he is hiding behind his religion to avoid taking responsibility for yet another controversial action that benefits only him.

And while benefitting oneself may be the name of the game in racing, this incident literally saw him reduce his own team’s Championship 4 car count by 50%.

The fact that he would compare himself to Jesus after wrecking a teammate and keeping him out of the Championship 4 speaks volumes.

There have already been those who cry hypocrisy when Gibbs invokes his Christian faith, given some of the other controversial incidents in which he has been involved.

After this latest stunt, those cries have reached a new level, to the point where some are wondering if he’s just putting on an act and is merely talking the talk and playing the “holier than thou” card.

The question is when he finally gets nailed by another driver.

The NASCAR Xfinity Series season finale is set to be broadcast live on USA Network from Phoenix Raceway beginning at 6:00 p.m. ET this Saturday, November 5. Don’t miss your chance to begin a free trial of FuboTV now!