It's been a long time coming for Ty Gibbs.
It was 131 races, to be exact, or what amounts to nearly four full NASCAR Cup Series seasons without a victory, with 116 of them coming for one of the fastest teams in the sport. And as the grandson of the owner of said team, he has always faced some extra pressure to prove he belongs.
At times, it didn't look like he did, despite being a champion of NASCAR's Xfinity (now O'Reilly Auto Parts) Series. After a promising sophomore campaign in 2024, he took a concerning step backwards last year during a tumultuous season that involved former team competition director Chris Gabehart serving as a de facto second crew chief in an effort to solve his problems.
Now Gibbs is a winner at the highest level at last, breaking through on Sunday at Bristol Motor Speedway. And the difference is all between the ears.
Ty Gibbs is racing with much more maturity in 2026, and it's showing
Throughout his first three seasons, Gibbs' biggest issue was his race craft. He had impressive raw pace at times, but struggled with the "little things" such as managing his tires, keeping his car in one piece, and most of all, staying calm, cool, and collected when adversity threw a wrench into his day. Time and time again, he would find ways to turn a top 10 afternoon into a disappointing finish.
This year, the difference in the execution department for Gibbs has been night and day. Ever since two sub-optimal results on drafting tracks to begin the season, he has finished fourth, fourth, fifth, sixth, fourth, and now first. In five of those six races, his final result has been better than his average running position.
It certainly doesn't hurt that Joe Gibbs Racing, and more broadly Toyota, have been red-hot to start the 2026 season. The manufacturer has won six of the first eight races, claiming three of the top four drivers in points and five of the top nine. With stability at crew chief in Tyler Allen's second season, this is easily the most ideal situation Gibbs has ever had in Cup.
Still, the driver deserves his share of credit. Gibbs has had no shortage of detractors throughout his career, and in his first few seasons, both his results and his attitude have often validated their criticism. But the talent has always been there, and now he is beginning to put it all together.
At 23 years old, Gibbs is growing up right before our eyes. And now that he's figured out how to win in the Cup Series, don't expect him to forget anytime soon.