NASCAR: 3 potenial landing spots for Ty Gibbs in 2023
By Asher Fair
3 potential landing spots for Ty Gibbs No. 3 – #18 Toyota (Cup, part-time)
This scenario would probably be the most beneficial scenario for all parties, even if it is the least likely. Driving the #18 Toyota part-time would allow Ty Gibbs to get that second full season in the NASCAR Xfinity Series while continuing to gain Cup Series experience. He would effectively get to do exactly what he has done throughout the 2022 season with 23XI Racing.
The question would be who shares the ride with Gibbs, but that question would seem to have somewhat of an obvious answer in John Hunter Nemechek. Nemechek himself has been linked to Joe Gibbs Racing’s Xfinity Series team for 2023.
Nemechek has competed for Kyle Busch Motorsports since the 2021 season, but with Kyle Busch Motorsports leaving Toyota for Chevrolet amid Kyle Busch’s move to Richard Childress Racing, he is looking for a ride elsewhere.
He already has a full season of Cup Series experience, having competed for Front Row Motorsports in 2020 before making the decision to drop back down to the Truck Series to reunite with Toyota Racing Development.
Competing part-time in the Cup Series next year would also allow Nemechek to compete full-time in the Xfinity Series. With Joe Gibbs Racing also losing Brandon Jones to JR Motorsports for the 2023 season, this would prevent them from needing to look too far in order to find their two full-time drivers.
Given the aforementioned uncertainty about Martin Truex Jr.’s future, perhaps the #18 Toyota could serve as an audition-type ride for both Gibbs and Nemechek ahead of potential full-time promotions in 2024.
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The only downside here is the fact that the #18 team would not have a driver in contention for the championship. However, the #18 team would still get to compete for the owner title, which is big as it pertains to the financial side.