Gibbs the newest to be enshrined in Texas HOF

FORT WORTH, Texas -- Joe Gibbs joined yet another hall of fame as the three-time Super Bowl-winning coach and Pro Football Hall of Famer became the newest member of the Texas Motorsports Hall of Fame during Friday evening's gala at The Speedway Club at Texas Motor Speedway.

Gibbs was honored along with Cup Series star Kyle Busch, four-time Cup Series champion Jeff Gordon, JTG Daugherty Racing's Marcos Ambrose, legendary engine builder and car owner Robert Yates and veteran motorsports journalist John Sturbin.

Gibbs

Gibbs joins previous inductees A.J. Foyt (2003), Johnny Rutherford (2003), Terry Labonte (2004), Lee Shepherd (2004), Kenny Bernstein (2005), Jim Hall (2005), Eddie Hill (2006), Mark Martin (2007), Jim McElreath (2007), Bobby Labonte (2008) and Bruton Smith (2008) into the Texas Motorsports Hall of Fame.

"This is awesome," Gibbs said of Texas Motor Speedway and the Texas Motorsports Hall of Fame. "I think this is one of the greatest sports complexes in the world. And for us to get a chance to race here, I know how the drivers feel. It's a thrill for me to be a part of it."

Gibbs, a five-time winner as car owner at Texas Motor Speedway, has carried his success from the National Football League to NASCAR. Since Joe Gibbs Racing opened its doors in 1992, he has led the organization to two three Cup Series championships (2000, '02, '05) and most recently won his first Nationwide Series championship last season with Kyle Busch.

Gibbs' championship driver, Busch, was honored as Texas Motor Speedway's racer of the year. Busch became the first Nationwide Series drivers to win four consecutive races at The Great American Speedway.

The honor came on the strength of Busch's performance during last November's Dickies 500 weekend as he nearly became the first driver in NASCAR history to win three national series events on the same weekend. He captured his first career Truck Series victory at Texas and followed with a victory in the Nationwide race the following day. Busch came up two laps short in his bid for history as he ran out of fuel on Lap 332 of the 334-lap Cup Series race, relinquishing his lead to older brother Kurt.

"It's been great to come back to Texas," Busch said. "This place has always been fun for me. I started racing here in 2004 in the Nationwide Series and I finished second and I was devastated. I wrecked six Cup cars here and I just could never figure it out. Finally something clicked in 2007. Wasn't sure what it was but we have been pretty decent here since."

A pair of NASCAR's most respected drivers, Ambrose and Gordon, received the Texas Motor Speedway Sportsmanship award. Ambrose has continued to climb up the NASCAR ranks since making the jump from V8 Supercars in Australia. He has proven to be the consummate professional both on and off the track.

"My father always told me that it's good to win but it's even more important to be a good loser," Ambrose said. "He didn't mean that by losing races, but you have to learn to be humble in defeat and take your licks when they come. No one likes to lose, but when I do I like to do it with integrity."

Gordon, winner of 82 career Cup Series races, was honored for his accomplishments off the track. Gordon has continued to help the lives of ill children through the Jeff Gordon Foundation that he established in 1999. Since then he has gone on to help raise more than $10 million for children facing critical illness. (Continued)