Nobody expects a rookie NASCAR Cup Series driver to hit the ground running from the get-go. Denny Hamlin’s a different breed when pulled off the unexpected—bag consecutive race victories at the Tricky Triangle—back in 2006, but another JGR driver, J.J. Yeley, was scripting a different story. Yeley just couldn’t find his mojo. You see, driving the iconic No. 18 JGR car came with expectations, but as 2006 closed its curtain, the team could only bag three top-10 results. This was two decades ago, but owner Joe Gibbs finds himself at a similar crossroads yet again. This time, with his grandson Ty Gibbs.

Things have gone south so far that Ty’s mom Heather admitted, “It’s heartbreaking to see Ty struggle like this amid all the expectations tied to our family’s legacy.” Given Ty’s progress in the second tier of NASCAR racing, it looked like he could match the strides of Dale Jr. and Davey Allison, who had to fill in their family’s racing legacy. To some extent, Ty did live up to the expectations. His rookie season was far from gloomy for he had a streak of four back-to-back top-10 results. His slump came much later.

There were inconsistencies in the manner he wrapped up the 2024 season, and booked a playoff berth but finished 30th or worse in the last four races. Come 2025, he is yet to catch a break. His Pennzoil 400 outing at Las Vegas Motor Speedway was no different with outbursts of frustrations palpable as he was heard on the radio desperately looking for answers,

Numbers are not favoring Ty Gibbs anymore

“I don’t know what to say. I feel like I’m a foot higher than every person on this track. I have no rear grip anywhere, and after about 10 laps, I might as well just throw this thing away.” As it turns out, 77 career races in, there’s more that both Ty and Yeley have in common than you’d think, and that’s not a record that Joe Gibbs will be particularly proud of.

Ty Gibbs is just two races away from becoming the longest-tenured JGR driver without a Cup Series win. Yeley, who once piloted the No. 54 car, was also winless after 78 starts. That must hurt. Moreover, apart from the 16th-place finish at the Daytona 500, the #54 team has hit the lows similar to the tail end of 2025. But is it entirely on Ty Gibbs?

There has been a major overhaul within the entire organization, which saw Gibbs part ways with his trusted partner Chris Gayle. This is the same guy who led him to the highs of 2022, but with Chris Gabehart moving to the role of competition director, Gayle had to move to the #11 team. Meanwhile, Ty had to settle into a new environment with Tyler Allen, who served as an engineer under Adam Stevens before taking up a crew chief role in the Xfinity Series.

Insider Colby Evans tweeted: “Ty Gibbs only 3 races away from becoming the longest tenured JGR Cup driver without a win.” Well, now he can make it ‘2 races’ as Ty Gibbs finished 22nd in the Pennzoil 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. And, fans are asking, “What’s going on with the kid who won the 2022 Xfinity title?”

Remember the 2022 Xfinity Series race at Martinsville? Ty Gibbs spun his teammate Brandon Jones in the last lap to secure victory. Fans did not take it well and chanted, “Thank You, Grandpa” as Gibbs celebrated the win. In the post-race interview, when he was asked about being the newest villain of NASCAR, he said, “I always go back to the same verse, that Jesus was hated first and among all the people.” We do not think fans have left Ty off the hook for this yet.

In addition to that, Joe Gibbs, the titan of NASCAR teams is feeling the heat. With JGR members like Christopher Bell (three wins in four races) and Chase Briscoe (Daytona 500 pole) shining, Ty’s lack of results threatens the team’s legacy. His best was a runner-up at Darlington last year. This long struggle could redefine JGR’s dominance for the worse!

So, what’s Joe Gibbs to do? As team owner and grandfather, he’s torn. Ty’s new crew chief, Tyler Allen, might stabilize things, but if results don’t improve, Joe could face brutal choices restructuring the No. 54 team or, glass-break situation, benching his grandson. NASCAR insider Dan ‘Spider’ DiOrio urged patience, “While Gibbs’ performance was a cause for concern, he had shown promise previously… He specifically cited his top-five finish at COTA and a top 10 at Las Vegas last year.” But with fans buzzing, can Joe wait?

The stakes are sky-high. Ty could draw inspiration from Bell’s success but the gap is still stark. Joe’s legacy hangs in the balance prompting him to channel his NFL perseverance to rally Ty or take the necessary steps to protect JGR. Fans are holding their breath, hoping Ty can silence the doubters. For now, Joe Gibbs is on the hot seat, and the road ahead looks bumpy.

Carson Hocevar’s explosive outburst at Ty Gibbs shakes Pit Road

Carson Hocevar completely lost it on Ty Gibbs and unleashed a profanity-laced rant after feeling blocked in the pits, per Yardbarker. He didn’t stop there, Hocevar hit Gibbs’ pit box and shoved him on pit road, screaming, “You wrecked me, you piece of s—-!” after on-track incidents left him fuming.

Gibbs, already under intense scrutiny is now public enemy number one for Hocevar. Now, Hocevar’s rage, driven by Gibbs’ aggressive driving, piles on the pressure. Hocevar, known for his fiery style let his emotions get the best of him. While Gibbs, battling a family legacy and a shaky season, faces an uphill climb to prove his worth.

All eyes are on Joe Gibbs to guide his grandson through this storm. Fans are torn hoping Ty rebounds but shocked by Hocevar’s unfiltered fury. This clash could define their 2025 stories, testing tempers and team dynamics. Hold tight, NASCAR nation this rivalry’s just ignited, and the tension will only add to Ty Gibbs’ rebound story.