NASCAR MEDIA CONFERENCE

August 9, 2026

Ty Gibbs

Press Conference

An Interview with:

THE MODERATOR: We've now been joined by today's NASCAR Cup Series winner here at Iowa Speedway, Ty Gibbs. Driver of the No. 54 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota. Ty, some would consider this a breakout year for you. You're now a two-time Cup Series winner. Can you talk to us a little bit about what it's like this year.

TY GIBBS: Yeah, it's been great, and I have a great team around me. I had a lot of fun today. Great facility at the track. This year has been a lot of fun. Everybody has been doing a great job. And it's been fun to work with everybody, and everybody has been so encouraging. Made some big strides from last year, obviously, and yeah, super fun.

Q. What's the difference here in that last stint, two tires versus four tires?

TY GIBBS: Commanders, baby. That was a two-tire call, and it worked. The difference between two tires and four tires that you're asking, just a little bit more overall grip, a little tighter of a balance.

Q. Was there any hesitation when you heard it was going to be a two-tire call?

TY GIBBS: I can't do anything, so just run with it.

Q. In that situation, do you want your crew chief to be more aggressive and go for it there?

TY GIBBS: I think in the position with the points situation we're in, for sure.

Q. I was trying to look up at one point how big your deficit was to the points lead. At one point you were at least 152 back. I'm sure it's been bigger at times. Now you're second in points and 103 out with three races to go. I'm not saying three races is enough to erase 103 points, but second in points from where you were, you've got to be pretty happy about that?

TY GIBBS: Really happy. It was a really great day for us. Score a lot of points in the last few races is -- I think we were high stage point guy. To be able to finish it off today was awesome. Bummed about Indy. Feel like we had a good shot there, just kind of strategy went to crap with the little foam on the frontstretch. Just unfortunate. But I've been in contention at a lot of these, and it's been so much fun this year, so just keep working hard.

Q. I know it's not a huge gap between second in points, third in points, but it could add up, could make a difference. How much do you want that second in points?

TY GIBBS: Yeah, I think the leader to the guy in 16th is like 100 points when the playoffs start. Puts you in a better shot for the title at the end of the year. Yeah, we'll just go from there.

Q. Ty, I'm curious what motivates you because three years, no wins, you could really shut down mentally and this is just what my career is going to be. But this season you really show off your swagger, second in points now. Was it something maybe recently that you discovered? I'm curious what motivates you every day?

TY GIBBS: Yeah, really, I just really like race cars. Obviously the first couple years were up and down and everything. But I feel like if we had the same team now roll off for the first year, it would be the same results.

Just took us a little bit to figure out what I needed and what I needed in the team, and now we got it. I think it would be different if we had started out with the same program I've got now than what it was before.

Q. Ty, how tough was it staying composed after the long stop at the end of the first stage?

TY GIBBS: Not really. You're kind of -- it just is what it is. You hose that for that deal, so you've just got to stay locked in and keep working.

Q. Kind of building off a past question, one year ago this weekend you were 16th in points. Now you're second. What do you feel like has changed about yourself in the last year?

TY GIBBS: A little bit but not a lot. Just changed the team around me and obviously running a lot better. I think obviously it shows in the results.

Q. Just reflect on the closing laps there because Christopher closes in, then separates and gets back there. What's going through your mind there, especially the final two laps?

TY GIBBS: Yeah, he was right there. I got loose into 3 and the lap cars were kind of difficult to pass. So I just got loose and covered the line, and he, I think, had a moment behind me. And we were just so close, and I think he missed a little bit off of 2 and I got it, so it worked out.

Q. We're getting pretty close to the Chase here and you're going to enter in a good points position. Do you allow yourself to start thinking about that and what it might look like late in the season, or do you just take it week to week?

TY GIBBS: Week to week for me but obviously want to win the title.

Q. We'll be going to New Hampshire and then Richmond afterward. Given how you've run there in the past, does this weekend give you a lot of confidence going into those two weeks as well as Daytona for the finale?

TY GIBBS: Yeah, for sure. We sucked there the last couple years. Same with here too. So I've just worked hard, got the program back where we needed to, and now we're here.

Q. With your team being so successful this season, what does it do for the overall -- your overall confidence, not just for the success that you've had but also all of your teammates?

TY GIBBS: My teammates have been a big help to me in my career and obviously me to them. We all work hard to get our organization better and our program better, but my confidence doesn't waver. I'm not like a head case, worrying about confidence and feeling good to go race every weekend. Every single weekend is different, and there's always different things going on. If you're searching for confidence, you need to go do a therapy session or do something else.

Q. You talked just a minute ago about wanting to win the title. You're probably going to have to race your teammates for it. You guys look like the organization to beat right now, especially intermediates being such a big part of the Chase. What do you think the dynamic will be between you guys during those 10 weeks?

TY GIBBS: Yeah, just got to keep getting there, staying up on top of our program, in our meetings, and keep getting everything better and just go from there.

Q. When you compare your team versus that of the 11, what are your strengths and weaknesses versus theirs?

TY GIBBS: I mean, the 11 to the 54 team? I think we're all pretty close. I think that the big thing from the 11 to mine is Denny is just such a great driver and has so much experience. He's the top -- probably one of the best guys in the world. Obviously he's been in the shot to win the title a bunch but won a ton of races.

I think that's the difference. Driver to driver I think the teams are pretty close, pit crews are pretty close, but Denny is just a great driver, and he's helped develop our program and kept the family going.

A lot of respect to him, but yeah, a lot of experience.

Q. Ty, this track obviously is going to have a full repave. After having a day like you did today, do you wish they wouldn't repave it?

TY GIBBS: Well, I wish they would have left it a couple years ago. But I wish now that they repave it, and they're going to repave it. Simple as that.

Thank you, guys.