MONSTER RESTARTS ELEVATE GIBBS TO EMOTIONAL FIRST-CAREER WIN

BRISTOL, Tenn. – Ty Gibbs repelled relentless attacks by Ryan Blaney and Kyle Larson at Bristol Motor Speedway on Sunday, etching his name into the list of NASCAR Cup Series winners.

Ty Gibbs defeated the two former champions in Overtime at the Last Great Coliseum. He chose track position over tires when Chase Elliott’s spin set up a restart with 15 laps to go in the scheduled distance. A Riley Herbst wreck triggered one final restart, and Ty Gibbs held serve in the end.

“It’s just an honor to win with my family,” Ty Gibbs said. “The rewarding part is also working with a bunch of great guys every single week that want to win as much or more than I do.”

Ty Gibbs joined Rusy Wallace, Dale Earnhardt, Erine Irvin and Kurt Busch as drivers to claim their first-career victory at Bristol.

“Those are the most bad-ass guys there ever was,” Ty Gibbs said. He singled out Kurt Busch as one of the drivers who played a major part in Gibbs ’ path to the Cup Series.

“Kurt having his first win, me having my first win, it’s super cool,” Ty Gibbs said. “I’m in the Monster colors. Obviously, Kurt was in them, too. Kurt has been such a big help for me in my career. I really appreciate him.”

Another individual whom Ty Gibbs credited in his success was his grandfather and team owner, coach Joe Gibbs. The 23-year-old talked of learning to maximise his resources as coach taught.

“I think coach started with two million bucks, is what he always said,” Ty Gibbs said. “I think it’s worth a lot more than that now.”

The 2022 O’Reilly Series Champion lost his father, Coy Gibbs, on the same night that he won the title. Both Coy Gibbs and his brother J.D. Gibbs passed away within four years. Joe Gibbs said that Ty’s triumph was one of his best experiences.

“When I think about Coy, he brought Ty up the entire time,” Joe Gibbs said. “I know he’s probably watching. So I just want to thank so many people. It starts with God. He’s blessed us and our family. Just really, really can’t say enough.”

Second-place finisher Ryan Blaney commended Ty Gibbs in his post-race remarks.

“Gosh, I really wanted to win at Bristol here,” Blaney said. “But congrats to Ty. He’s been really close. Nothing is more special than your first Cup win.”

Blaney, who took four tires on the caution with 15 to go, restarted second on the final restart, and Gibbs broke away after taking the white flag.

“Gave it my best shot the last restart,” Blaney said. “Was close, but just couldn’t get it done.”

Pit problems from the pit crew cost Blaney 87 on-track positions throughout the first eight races of 2026. Bristol proved to be no different. Blaney lost spots nearly every time he drove down pit road, costing him crucial stage points to Kyle Larson, who finished third.

“Blaney had by far the best car,” Larson said. “His pit crew just kept putting him behind all day, which really allowed us to lead a lot of laps, get those stage wins.”

Larson led 284 laps, eclipsing over 2,000 laps led at Bristol in his career. He is ninth all-time at the 0.533-mile short track, closing in on the marks set by Bobby Allison and Richard Petty.

“Ty got strong there the last run,” Larson said. “That was probably my worst run.”

Larson elected to take two tires in his final stop.

“The strategy got kind of crazy there at the end,” Larson said. “We took the third-place car and finished third.”