Dale Earnhardt Jr. Insists Ty Gibbs Desperately Needs Chris Gabehart After Watkins Glen Drama

Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr. believes that Ty Gibbs needs someone like Chris Gabehart to keep the former in check, like he did at Watkins Glen.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. Insists Ty Gibbs Desperately Needs Chris Gabehart After Watkins Glen Drama

Ty Gibbs (via USA Today), Chris Gabehart (via Getty), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (via Imagn)

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Ty Gibbs‘ performance throughout the Watkins Glen weekend remained insignificant. Gibbs’ woes began early on in the weekend after he could only achieve a P14 start to the main event. Even during the Go Bowling at The Glen, the 22-year-old couldn’t perform well and lost positions desperately as he finished way back in P33. During the final stages of the race, the #54 driver lashed out at his strategist, Chris Gabehart, which caused some sore eyes towards the former.

Now, Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr. has weighed in on Ty Gibbs and his drama with his strategist at Watkins Glen. Gibbs dropped an F-bomb while criticizing his race pace and performance, before he went on to finish P33. Chris Gabehart maintained a level head and responded neutrally to not agitate the driver further. Regardless of the heated moment, Earnhardt Jr. revealed that the #54 driver needed someone exactly like the 44-year-old to be his strategist.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. pointed out that Ty Gibbs needed a stern but helpful response in the matter, as Chris Gabehart gave exactly that. Earnhardt Jr. asserted that Gibbs needed a guy like Gabehart to help and mentor him during races. The 44-year-old has been involved in the sport for the past two decades, as his experience would definitely be crucial for the #54 driver to succeed.

This is what Ty Gibbs needs, He needs a guy like Gabehart. Gabehart is there to help this kid, and mentor this kid.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. said via Dale Jr. Download.

Ty Gibbs is relatively new in NASCAR and could use some of the great advice and methods Chris Gabehart has to keep a cool head while driving on the track. Dale Earnhardt Jr. sympathized with Gibbs and revealed that he, too, had such moments back in the day. The Hall of Famer acknowledged that no one outside the car was aware of the intensity of the issues faced by a driver in the car. As such, it wasn’t completely unfair of the 22-year-old to burst out on the radio against Gabehart.

That was just something, that was a moment — I’ve been in those moments on the radio. I’m upset, I’m out there driving the car, the car isn’t doing what I want. I’m in trouble, and I know I’m in trouble. I don’t feel like anyone else realizes just how bad this s**t is.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. added.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. claims ‘no one better’ than Chris Gabehart for Ty Gibbs

Chris Gabehart showcased his maturity and did not fight back with Ty Gibbs, as seen by some other race strategists in the past. Gabehart helped Gibbs get his head in the game and recover a few lost places on the track. If it weren’t for the 44-year-old, the #54 couldn’t have finished even in P33. As such, Dale Earnhardt Jr. declared that there might not be any other spotter better than him.

Ty Gibbs
Ty Gibbs (Via IMAGO)

Dale Earnhardt Jr. asserted that every aggressive driver needed a calm and collected person on the radio working as a strategist. A good spotter must reassure the driver that the entire crew is here to help them and not ruin their race in the end. Hence, the 50-year-old reckoned that he couldn’t think of anyone else better than Chris Gabehart who would do this with Ty Gibbs.

You need a person on the radio that tells you, ‘We’re all here to help you, man. We’re not here to argue.’ I don’t know anyone better suited for that person, to sort of get Ty back into the game, than Gabehart. So, I thought it was refreshing.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. noted.

Ty Gibbs fought with the #54 Toyota to the best of his capabilities. Even though he gave it his all, his finish at Watkins Glen came as one of the worst finishes this season after the COTA back in March. As such, Gibbs will now hope to recover from the performance slump and perform better at the upcoming Cook Out 400 and finish much better than this weekend.

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