WATCH: “Ty Midds at it again”- Fans mock Ty Gibbs as he crashes out after his wheel comes off at the Las Vegas playoffs race 

In a dramatic turn of events at the South Point 400 in Las Vegas, the confirmed Rookie of the Year, Ty Gibbs, found himself in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons. The race took a disastrous turn for the JGR driver as a loose wheel led to a blown tire, creating a spectacle that had fans and experts alike in awe.

The incident unfolded with 51 laps to go when Gibbs, racing hard on a restart, lost his left front wheel and collided with the wall. What made the situation even more astonishing was the revelation that his entire wheel, along with the rim, had come loose. Gibbs’ pit crew, in an attempt to remedy the situation swiftly, may have exacerbated the problem. 

The loose wheel not only resulted in a caution but also incurred a penalty for Gibbs. The #54 driver was mandated to be held two laps on the track, and his team faced the additional setback of losing a crew member for a two-week period. The challenges did not end there for Gibbs, as he later returned to pit road with smoke coming out from his right front tire. 

Although the team managed to address the issue without causing a caution, the incident highlighted the struggles that marred Gibbs’ performance throughout the race. Kyle Larson ultimately claimed victory in the race, leading 133 of the 267 laps and securing his spot in the Championship 4 of the NASCAR playoffs; the spotlight also fell on Gibbs. The mishap contributed to Gibbs finishing in 33rd place. 

Discover: Martin Truex Jr. admits his crew chief’s wrong pit call ‘killed them in Stage Two’

Fans mock the Gibbs family’s nepotism at play

As the incident video circulated online, a wave of fan frustration and disdain crashed upon the #54 driver, unfairly placing blame solely on his shoulders despite his lack of involvement in the mishap. While a few astute observers rightly directed their ire towards the responsible pit crew in the comment section, a significant portion of the fanbase took the opportunity to unleash their scorn on the rookie driver, criticizing his perceived lack of skill.

The comment section became a breeding ground for mockery, with fans deriding the #54 driver for what they labeled as his “frequent crashing,” turning the unfortunate event into a supposed sequel in his personal franchise of racing mishaps.

Amidst this onslaught, a faction of fans also took shots at what they perceived as nepotism. With the driver’s grandfather being Joe Gibbs, the team’s owner, some fans cynically suggested that the #54 driver would now seek solace by running to his influential grandfather.

People got mad and said mean things about the new driver because of a mistake, but it wasn’t really his fault. They didn’t focus on the real problem, which was the pit crew messing up. This shows how fans in sports can be really tough and quick to point fingers without knowing the whole story.

In case you missed it:

• Chase Elliott breaks down the ‘greatest skill’ a racer can possess
• Christopher Bell laments missed chance to make Phoenix at Las Vegas, admits ‘be that close really stinks’

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