NASCAR CUP SERIES: BASS PRO SHOPS NIGHT RACE

September 13, 2025

Joe Gibbs

Press Conference

An Interview with:

THE MODERATOR: We're going to go ahead and bring up our race-winning team owner, Joe Gibbs. Coach, you may be the happiest owner in the garage because JGR swept all three races in the opening round of the playoffs.

Obviously a big win for Christopher tonight and a solid run tonight for Ty as well. Just talk a little bit about the night from your perspective.

JOE GIBBS: Yeah, just so excited about the start to the playoffs. Just appreciate everybody back at our race shop. I talk about that all the time. We'll hang a banner on Monday and I get a chance to thank them, but it honestly takes everybody to be able to get our cars to the racetrack like this.

We've got fast cars right now. It means a lot.

I think about just for us as a company, it's our sponsors. Tonight it was great, Johnny Morris had everything about tonight's race and had Chris up front, Chase up front, and so that was a big deal for us.

Then Ty had a good night, and then to have Christopher win the race, it was just great.

Anyway, for us, couldn't be a happier time for us right now.

Q. I wanted to ask, because I was standing right next to the 54 pit most of the night and watching that unfold, watching him lead a ton of laps. What do you think about his progress from what was a tough start to the season and then oh, so close tonight?

JOE GIBBS: Yeah, the 54 group has just really fought their heart out, and our pit crew and everybody, it's so tough, and this sport is really tough, so when you get off to a tough start like we did -- but I admire the fact that they just keep fighting right now. I think we're improving as we go.

I think tonight is an example of that. Last week I thought we had a real solid week in St. Louis.

Anyway, real progress with the 54. Still got work to do. But I admire that group.

Sometimes you admire the people the most that are fighting when it's really, really tough, and right now it's been tough for the 54. Tonight was just a real -- the last two or three weeks have really been good for us.

Q. Coach, building off what Doug asked, I'm curious, what went into or what has gone into the decision to have Gabehart a little bit more involved with guiding some of the radio communication and working with Ty and what benefit you feel that's been able to give him?

JOE GIBBS: Yeah, I think obviously Chris is our competition director, so really he's trying to help all four cars. At one point we had three in the playoffs, and so our focus turned to the 54, trying to get that car in.

So we put extra effort in that, including Chris's effort. But now we kind of worked back away from that. We've got Tyler back making the calls there.

That's kind of been a progress for us. We've added a lot to that team this year as we went. So it's a big deal for us to have a couple of good weeks like we've had the last couple weeks.

Q. For tonight being Christopher's first win since those three in a row way back at the start of the season, what have you seen out of the 20 bunch with Christopher and Adam and all those guys that have kept your faith that they're right there and they're going to have their chances?

JOE GIBBS: I think that's a great point because when you go through 16 weeks or whatever it is -- but when I talk to Christopher, I say, Christopher, think about this: You've won three times, you've been second four times, and counting tonight, 25 percent of the races he's been first or second.

It shows you the competitive spirit that he has, and I appreciate so much Adam. Adam is such, for us, a real leader. He is exceptional. He does such a great job getting those guys pointed in the right direction.

I just think all the way around for our teams, it's great. Toyota, our partner, couldn't be happier for them, so it's a huge deal for us. We had a great weekend.

And hey, it was Young Life car last night; we were proud of that too. We've got a lot of things going on right now, but we all know this: In our sport it's week to week and it's going to start all over in six days. You can count on that.

Q. It's one thing if one driver goes out and sweeps a round, but to do it as a team the way you have in this opening round, how much does that add to the morale at JGR as you guys position yourselves for a title run?

JOE GIBBS: Yeah, I think it adds a lot because even though when we were back at our race shop we act as one team, but still, it's four different teams. And we talked about the 54 and the struggle we had earlier in the year and for them to be bouncing back.

Then to have our other three cars winning in this first round, I think it just says a lot for the way we feel back at the race shop. It's a big deal all the way across the board for us. It really means a lot.

This sport, obviously, when you win like that, so many people are involved with it. In particular I look at it from our sponsor standpoint. It's just huge. DeWalt, Stanley Black & Decker, they've been with us for a long time, and just really appreciate them.

Q. Were you aware of Christopher Bell's outburst after the race last week on the radio where he --

JOE GIBBS: Yeah, I think you hear, obviously. That doesn't go missed. But here's what I've learned in sports. I've been on the sideline. I've heard some outbursts. We've had some outbursts in our competition meeting in racing. I've learned when you're around sports and things don't go your way, guys -- they put so much into it that you've got to say to yourself, that's going to happen every now and then.

Q. My question is did you say anything to him and Adam about it, or do you just let them handle something like that?

JOE GIBBS: I let them handle it. I really do.

Q. I know you've had to console drivers in the past after they've nearly won a race or even nearly won their first race, but as Ty's grandfather, how do you approach him now and console him after what could have been another win, or a win for him?

JOE GIBBS: Yeah, this sport is really hard. I keep telling him, honestly, I use the word "patience," and two races ago we were talking after the race, and he said, Coach, will you quit using the word patience; I don't want you to use it ever again. So patience is out the window. We're trying to win here.

I just think he knows this is what he's wanted to do his entire life, and so he's after it. I admire, like I said, our entire 54 team. To be truthful, they're young, but the pit crew, everybody, they just keep fighting, so it's really great.