NASCAR: ‘Worst kept secret’ of Ty Gibbs deal finally revealed
By Asher Fair
Rookie Ty Gibbs is indeed set to compete with primary sponsorship from Monster Energy during the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season.
Many knew it was coming for several months, but Joe Gibbs Racing only officially announced that Ty Gibbs was set to become a full-time driver for the organization’s NASCAR Cup Series team early in the offseason.
Gibbs is set to replace Kyle Busch, who left after 15 seasons with the team to reunite with Chevrolet and join Richard Childress Racing. Gibbs is set to use the No. 54 on his Toyota as opposed to the No. 18 which Busch used for the last decade and a half.
What wasn’t confirmed was sponsorship information for the 20-year-old Charlotte, North Carolina native, and considering the fact that lack of sponsorship is ultimately led to Busch’s departure, this was seen as particularly intriguing.
But at the same time, this was also seen as somewhat of a poorly kept secret.
The reigning Xfinity Series champion proudly represented longtime primary sponsor Monster Energy during NASCAR Champion’s Week in downtown Nashville, Tennessee.
While the specifics of the deal haven’t yet been announced, it is official that Monster Energy is indeed set to sponsor Gibbs during the 2023 season, and in a “strong capacity”, according to a report by Sports Business Journal’s Adam Stern.
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Gibbs, who won seven races en route to claiming the 2022 Xfinity Series championship in his only full season in the series, also unexpectedly got the opportunity to compete in 15 Cup Series races throughout the year.
23XI Racing’s Kurt Busch was sidelined for the season’s final 16 races after suffering a head injury in a qualifying crash at Pocono Raceway in July. 23XI Racing, which have a technical alliance with Joe Gibbs Racing, called upon Gibbs to replace him in the first 15.
Gibbs was set to compete in the season finale at Phoenix Raceway before the passing of his father Coy the night before, the same night he won the Xfinity Series title at the track. Daniel Hemric drove the No. 23 Toyota in that race instead.
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In 15 Cup Series starts as the replacement for Busch, who was sponsored by Monster Energy himself, Gibbs recorded an average finish of 22.9 and a top finish of 10th place.