Ty Gibbs is the perfect replacement for Kyle Busch at JGR


Ty Gibbs is the perfect replacement for Kyle Busch at JGR

Kyle Busch and Ty Gibbs (Credits: IMAGO/ USA Today Network)

Joe Gibbs Racing surprised everyone in the NASCAR garage when they allowed Kyle Busch, the greatest driver in their history, to sign with RCR. The Toyota giants failed to table the contract extension Busch was hoping for. The contract talks went south after JGR failed to find a sustainable replacement for M&M; the No:18 long-time partner exited the sport at the end of this season.

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Joe Gibbs had no choice but to recruit a new driver for 2023. The cup garage was full of talents who could step in and immediately fight for the win. But no one was surprised when it was announced that Ty Gibbs, the 2022 Xfinity series champion, would drive for JGR in the No:54 ride in 2023. Gib’s grandson has been waiting on the wings to get into the cup series for the last two years, and 2022 provided the best opportunity for him to earn the seat.

The Busch family had a significant role to play in his cup entry. Ty was able to showcase his cup potential after he got the chance to drive the No:54 and later the No:23, 23X1 Racing cars. He replaced veteran Kurt Busch, who was sidelined due to a concussion. Kyle’s exit gave him the full-time cup seat as well.

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Why is Ty Gibbs the perfect replacement for Kyle Busch?

Ty Gibbs
Ty Gibbs wins the Nalley Cars 250

When Kyle Busch joined JGR from HMS in 2008, he was a more experienced and refined racer. But Rowdy Busch was still the hot-headed young man who would do anything for a win, even if that meant wrecking his brother. His aggression and competitiveness were unmatched. That made him one of the most hated drivers of his generation.

Ty Gibbs is no different, a hot-headed, sometimes entitled youngster who is known for his aggression. Like Busch, he is ready to do anything for a win, even if that means wrecking your teammate and ending his Playoff dreams. Unlike Kyle, he will enter the JGR garage as a rookie, but that is a price the team has to pay for a long-term investment.

Before securing a seat in the cup series, Busch ran full-time in the Xfinity series in 2004. He finished P2 in the championship with five wins and was a consistent performer the whole year. Ty Gibbs, in that regard, has accomplished more. He won the Xfinity championship in his Rookie year with six race wins, dominating the races against some of the most experienced campaigners.

Ty Gibbs has the best record when the part-time cup stats are compared. Before joining HMS, Kyle ran seven races in the cup series. He failed to secure a single top-20 run in his part-time runs. At the same time, Ty ran 15 races in 2022 and secured 6 top 20 finishes and a top 10 finish.

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Ty Gibbs isn’t the Kyle Busch replacement for the present. He is there for the future, a long-term investment that could produce a Tony Stewart-like champion. At present, Christopher Bell is JGR’s future. Denny Hamlin and Martin Truex Jr. are not the long terms solution for JGR. But they are the perfect mentors Ty could hope for, as they can help him to control himself to be the better version of himself as a racer.

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