Dale Earnhardt Jr. pondered what the future holds for Joe Gibbs Racing after longtime car owner Joe Gibbs eventually steps away from NASCAR.
In the wake of Joe’s grandson Ty Gibbs’ first career NASCAR Cup Series win on Sunday at Bristol, Earnhardt Jr. believes the future of the organization will dictate the driver of the No. 54 car’s success.
In a recent episode of “Dale Jr. Download,” the retired NASCAR star made it known that JGR needs to have a plan in place when Joe Gibbs is no longer the team owner.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. says how JGR carries on is “key” to Ty Gibbs’ success
Earnhardt Jr. is curious to see who steps up in place of Joe Gibbs if and when the team owner decides to step away.
The 26-time Cup Series winner noted Gibbs is “up there in age” at 85 years old, and that his celebrity status as former head coach of the Washington Commanders carries a lot of weight in the NASCAR world.
Over the last three decades, Joe Gibbs has been the glue that has held JGR together, and has been the platform to allow Ty Gibbs to emerge as a prominent NASCAR Cup driver.
The question remains, however, what will Ty Gibbs’ future hold if Joe is no longer the team owner?
“He’s a huge, big part of their sustained success. Partnership relationships and all those things. How they carry that on beyond Joe himself is the key to Ty’s success,” Earnhardt Jr. said.
Earnhardt Jr. compared the situation to his experience at Dale Earnhardt Incorporated, a team owned by his father, Dale Earnhardt.
After Earnhardt’s tragic death in the 2001 Daytona 500, DEI carried on. Yet, Earnhardt Jr. said it was never the same without his father at the helm.
“DEI with Dale Earnhardt and without Dale Earnhardt, two different buildings, two different operations, two different businesses. Even though the name’s there, the legacy’s there — it’s just not the same if that man isn’t walking in the building. The way he would come in there and talk to employees, the way he would shake hands with sponsors, and market the company,” Earnhardt Jr. said.
The challenge for Gibbs, Earnhardt Jr. believes, is what the leadership will look like without his grandfather at the top.
“DEI can be successful, but it is not ever going to be what it was without Dale Earnhardt present and in the building. That’s the challenge for Gibbs, is when Joe is gone, how can they continue to have the partnerships they need to fund the operation, maintain the critical, talented individuals and engineering and crew and support to build fast race cars,” Earnhardt Jr. said.
Earnhardt Jr. expects a 20-year career for Ty Gibbs “if they can find the magic”
If things work out and JGR has a plan in place for when Joe Gibbs is no longer the owner, Earnhardt Jr. expects Ty Gibbs to have a prosperous NASCAR career.
“If they can find that magic way to do those things, that charisma and that ability to really, truly be successful in operating the business, Ty’s got an opportunity at a solid 20-year career with a lot of wins,” Earnhardt Jr. said.
In his 131st career start, Ty Gibbs captured his first career NASCAR Cup Series win at Bristol.
The driver of the No. 54 paced the field for 25 laps and fended off Ryan Blaney on an overtime restart to snag the victory.
After eight races, Gibbs sits fourth in the points standings. The 23-year-old has finished sixth or better in the last six races, five of which were top fives.
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