Joe Gibbs Racing
Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) is an American professional stock car racing organization founded by Pro Football Hall of Fame coach Joe Gibbs. His son, J. D. Gibbs, ran the team with him until his death in 2019. Founded in Huntersville, North Carolina, in 1992. JGR has won five Cup Series championships.
Owner(s)
- Joe Gibbs
- Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment[a]
- Arctos Partners
Dave Alpern (President)
Cup Series:
11. Denny Hamlin
19. Martin Truex Jr.
20. Christopher Bell
54. Ty Gibbs
Xfinity Series:
18. Sheldon Creed
19. Ryan Truex, Aric Almirola, Ty Gibbs, Taylor Gray, Josh Bilicki, Brett Moffitt, Justin Bonsignore, Joe Graf Jr., William Sawalich
20. John Hunter Nemechek, Aric Almirola, Ryan Truex, Ty Gibbs, Christopher Bell
81. Chandler Smith
ARCA Menards Series:
18. Tanner Gray, William Sawalich
Cup Series:
11. FedEx, Sport Clips, Mavis Tire and Brakes, Interstate Batteries, Yahoo!
19. Bass Pro Shops, Reser's Fine Foods, Auto-Owners Insurance, Interstate Batteries
20. DeWalt, Interstate Batteries, Rheem, Mobil 1, Yahoo!
54. Monster Energy, He Gets Us, SiriusXM, Interstate Batteries
Xfinity Series:
18. Friends of Jaclyn Foundation, Toyota, Michael Roberts Construction
19. Toyota, He Gets Us, Go Bowling, Place of Hope, Operation 300, DiTEC Marine Products, Starkey/SoundGear, Destiny Homes, M3 Technology
20. Pye-Barker Fire & Safety, Safeway, Dial, He Gets Us, Toyota Gazoo Racing, Daisy Brand, Mobil 1
81. Mobil 1, Quick Tie, Wheelers,
Smith General Contracting, Barger Precast
ARCA Menards Series:
18. Place of Hope, Starkey/SoundGear
Cup Series:
1992 Daytona 500 (Daytona)
Xfinity Series:
1997 All Pro Bumper To Bumper 300 (Charlotte)
Truck Series:
2000 NAPA 250 (Martinsville)
ARCA Menards Series:
1999 Georgia Boot 400 (Atlanta)
Cup Series:
2024 USA Today 301 (Loudon)
Xfinity Series:
2024 SciAps 200 (Loudon)
2002 Ford 200 (Homestead)
ARCA Menards Series:
2024 Zinsser SmartCoat 150 (Mid-Ohio)
Total: 2,179
Cup Series: 1,124
Xfinity Series: 859
Truck Series: 60
ARCA Menards Series: 136
Total: 455
Cup Series: 214
Xfinity Series: 210
Truck Series: 0
ARCA Menards Series: 31
Total: 361
Cup Series: 147
Xfinity Series: 184
Truck Series: 0
ARCA Menards Series: 30
For the team's first 16 seasons, Joe Gibbs Racing ran cars from General Motors, winning three championships: two in Pontiac Grand Prixs and one in a Chevrolet Monte Carlo. The team switched to Toyota beginning in the 2008 season, and in 2015 brought Toyota their first Premier series championship with Kyle Busch's victory.[1]
The team fields four full-time entries in the NASCAR Cup Series: the No. 11 Toyota Camry for Denny Hamlin, the No. 19 Camry for Martin Truex Jr., the No. 20 Camry for Christopher Bell, and the No. 54 Camry for Ty Gibbs. In the Xfinity Series, the team fields four full-time entries: the No. 18 Toyota GR Supra for Sheldon Creed, the No. 19 & No. 20 Supra for several drivers, and the No. 81 Supra for Chandler Smith.
The team has a driver development program that groomed future Cup winners Joey Logano and Aric Almirola and won one championship in the Camping World East Series (now known as the ARCA Menards East Series) with Logano. The team won the 2021 ARCA Menards Series championship with Ty Gibbs. The organization teamed up with former NFL player Reggie White in 2004 to create a diversity program,[2][3] fielding drivers such as Almirola, Marc Davis, and Bubba Wallace, and forming the basis for NASCAR's Drive for Diversity program.
In 2021, JGR formed a technical alliance with 23XI Racing.[4] In 2023, JGR sold minority stakes to Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment (HBSE) and Arctos Partners.[5]
Controversy[edit]
Following the 2008 Chicagoland race, NASCAR made a regulation change specifically to Toyota, which mandated them to run a smaller restrictor plate to cut horsepower by an estimated 15 to 20 horsepower (15 kW) from their engines. After the August 16, 2008 NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Michigan International Speedway, NASCAR used a dynamometer to test the horsepower of several cars from all competing manufacturers. While testing the two Joe Gibbs Racing cars, officials found that the throttle pedal on both cars had been manipulated using magnets a quarter-inch thick to prevent the accelerator from going 100 percent wide open. Joe Gibbs issued a statement saying "we will take full responsibility and accept any penalties NASCAR levied against us" and "we will also investigate internally how this incident took place and who was involved and make whatever decisions are necessary to ensure that this kind of situation never happens again."[130] Seven crew members were suspended indefinitely and two drivers and the team were penalized 150 points apiece.[131]
Additionally, JGR has been at the center of controversy regarding the closure of smaller teams who formed a technical alliance with them and TRD. Examples of this are the closure of Furniture Row Racing in 2018[132] and Leavine Family Racing in 2020.[133]
Motocross team[edit]
In 2008, Gibbs branched out into motorcycle racing, forming the JGRMX team competing in the AMA motocross and Supercross championships.[134][135] The team is based in Huntersville, North Carolina and is managed by Gibbs' son, Coy Gibbs.[134]
On January 5, 2008 the Muscle Milk/Toyota/JGRMX Team made its racing debut in the first round of the 2008 Supercross Series in Anaheim, CA with riders Josh Hansen and Josh Summey.[136] Josh Grant and Cody Cooper rode for the team in 2009,[137] with Grant winning the opening round of Supercross at Anaheim. Grant and Justin Brayton rode for the team in 2010,[138] and Davi Millsaps replaced Grant in 2011.[139] James Stewart replaced Brayton in 2012,[140] and won the Oakland and Daytona Supercrosses, while Millsaps finished second in points. On May 6, 2012, Stewart and the team officially parted ways.[141]
Grant and Brayton returned as the team's two riders in 2013[142] and were joined by Phil Nicoletti in 2014. Justin Barcia and Weston Peick replaced Grant and Brayton on the team in 2015,[143] with Barcia winning two nationals (Budds Creek and RedBud). In 2017, the team switched from Yamaha to Suzuki and added a 250cc effort, with Nicoletti and Matt Bisceglia.[144] For 2018, JGRMX/Autotrader/Yoshimura Suzuki became the official factory Suzuki program, with riders Peick and Justin Bogle (450) and 2017 250SX West Champion Justin Hill, Nicoletti, Jimmy Decotis, and Kyle Peters (250).[145] Hill scored a win at San Diego while Bogle missed most of the season with injuries as Malcolm Stewart filled in for him.[146] The 2019 team consists of two-time Supercross champion Chad Reed, Peick, Hill (450), Decotis, Peters, Alex Martin, Enzo Lopes (250).[147] Peick suffered serious facial injuries in a crash at the Paris Supercross in October 2018.[148]
J. D. Gibbs health complications and passing[edit]
It was reported on March 25, 2015, that J. D. Gibbs had begun treatment for symptoms impacting areas of brain function, including speech and processing issues.[149] It was later announced on January 11, 2019, that J. D. Gibbs had died following complications of degenerative neurological disease. A memorial service was held on January 25, 2019.[150]