NASCAR Xfinity Series driver Chase Briscoe competed in Monday night’s first preliminary round for the Chili Bowl Nationals in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
In the first of five qualifying nights for the annual event, Briscoe won his heat race and started third in the A-Main in the Boss Factory Racing No. 21B.
Thanks to a cool on-board camera above Briscoe’s cockpit, you can watch him wheel his dirt midget around the 1/5-mile indoor track. Briscoe finessed his way through some pretty hairy moments en route to a fifth-place finish, three position below the transfer spot to become automatically locked into the A-Feature event. Briscoe will get another shot to make it through to the marquee show with the B-Main on Saturday evening.
Rookie stripes come with the turf in your first season in NASCAR’s top series and hard lessons get learned along the way. This year’s rookie class includes Daniel Hemric (No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet), Ryan Preece (No. 47 JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet), Matt Tifft (No. 36 Front Row Motorsports Ford) and Tanner Berryhill (No. 97 Obaika Racing Toyota).
William Byron, Erik Jones, Chase Elliott, Kyle Larson, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Joey Logano, Denny Hamlin, Kyle Busch, Ryan Newman and Kevin Harvick are among the current full-time Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series drivers to earn the Sunoco Rookie of the Year Award. Who will join this list following the 2019 season? NASCAR.com’s RJ Kraft and Chase Wilhelm break down which freshman will earn top honors.
KRAFT: Daniel Hemric has yet to win a Sunoco Rookie of the Year Award in his NASCAR national series career and I expect that to change in 2019. While there will be growing pains for the rookie — as there are for nearly all rookies (see William Byron’s 2018 season), Hemric’s tendency to run a clean race and avoid trouble will serve him well in the points and, ultimately, the rookie battle. Remember, the rookie scoring system mirrors the point structure for the season-long championship.
The North Carolina native got his feet wet in the sport’s top series last year with two starts and reached the Xfinity Series Championship 4 for the second straight season. While he did not win in the Xfinity ranks (or in the Gander Outdoors Truck Series, for that matter), he was a top-five and top-10 machine the past two seasons. (Side note and a fun fact: Jimmie Johnson had just one Xfinity win in his career as a regular in that series before he went on to become a seven-time champion — so a lack of Xfinity wins is not a complete predictor of future success.) With Luke Lambert’s steady hand atop the box, I expect Hemric to maintain the top spot among the rookie contenders for the bulk of the season and hang around in contention for one of the final playoff spots.
WILHELM: Hemric’s a great choice, but I’m getting behind Ryan Preece on this one. After taking an unconventional path from the Whelen Modified Tour ranks, the 28-year-old Connecticut native made the most of his opportunity with Joe Gibbs Racing in the Xfinity Series the past two seasons. In his first race driving the No. 20 Toyota at Chicagoland Speedway on July 2017, Preece finished a career-best second behind Kyle Busch. His first victory came shortly afterward, edging out Kyle Benjamin at Iowa Speedway. Another partial schedule in 2018 saw Preece take victory again, winning the Xfinity Dash 4 Cash bonus at Bristol Motor Speedway.
Long story short, the guy is good. Really good. Sometimes it’s hard to gain much momentum when you’re running a partial schedule, but that didn’t pose a problem for Preece, earning seven top five and 10 top-10 finishes in 15 races last season. Preece has earned his ride at JTG Daugherty Racing. A talented driver like him is just what the organization needs to see their No. 47 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 up front more often – enough to earn Sunoco Rookie of the Year.
Whether you’re following a race, planning a trip to the track or spending a few minutes catching up on your favorite sport, NASCAR.com’s redesigned homepage will make it easier to find what you’re looking for.
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OREGON, Wis. — It was another very competitive and exciting racing season featuring the best drivers in the Midwest in the NASCAR Whelen All American Series at Madison International Speedway. The NASCAR Late Models, Sportsman, and Bandits headlined the 2018 slate.
Zack Riddle (NASCAR Late Models), Robert Hansberry Jr. (Dave‘s White Rock Sportsman), and Nick Schmidt (Pellitteri Waste Systems Bandits) picked up 2018 track championships.
Hometown favorite Zack Riddle of Oregon, Wisconsin, won his second track championship in the Late Models after taking home the crown in 2015. Riddle won three features, two heats, and three dashes and set fast time on four nights, including turning the fastest lap of the season with an 18.545 second time on Wisconsin‘s Fastest Half-Mile.
Consistency paid off for Riddle, as he finished in the top five in twelve of fourteen races and only finished outside the top ten once. Riddle finished with 1318 points with multi-time champion Jeremy Miller finishing in second with 1169 points. Riddle’s race to the championship started slowly then quickly picked up steam.
“This team always comes on towards the end of the season. We were able to stay in the hunt early and finish the year strong,” said Riddle.
Riddle now has fifteen feature wins in his career at Madison which puts him tied for fourth on the all-time list for the Late Models. Riddle‘s grandfather, Johnny Ziegler, is a four-time Super Late Model champion at Madison plus his uncle, Jared Ziegler, is also a past champion in the Late Models.
It was three in a row for Dave‘s White Rock Sportsman champion Robert Hansberry Jr. of Beloit, Wisconsin. This season, Hansberry Jr. won six features, three heats, and seven dashes on his way to the championship. He was fast qualifier on seven nights and turned the fastest lap of the season with a 19.834 on the half-mile. He finished the season with 1279 points fueled by eleven top five finishes and only one race finishing outside the top ten. At the beginning of the season, Hansberry Jr. really was not sure what his racing plans would look like in 2018.
“We keep telling ourselves we‘ll stay home and not run for a championship, but I love this place so much that we had to be here,” said Hansberry Jr.
He now has five track championships (2011, 2012, 2016, 2017, 2018) and is the all-time leader in Sportsman feature wins at Madison with twenty-four checkered flags.
Nick Schmidt of Watertown, Wisconsin, won his first track championship in the Pellitteri Waste Systems Bandits. Schmidt won seven features, three dashes, and one heat in addition to setting fast time on seven nights including a new track record on the quarter-mile “Ring of Fire” of 14.695 seconds. He finished in the top five twelve out of thirteen races and totaled 1373 points.
“I want to thank Gregg and Angie for giving us a place to race on Friday nights. I race four different tracks so it‘s been a busy summer,” he said.
Schmidt now owns twelve career feature wins in the Bandits division at Madison which places him third on the all-time list.
Track owners Gregg and Angie McKarns would like to thank everyone who supported their family owned track in 2018 and are looking forward to the start of the 2019 season in May.
When seven-time champion Jimmie Johnson takes the green flag for the Advance Auto Parts Clash at Daytona International Speedway on Feb. 10, it’ll be his first race with new crew chief Kevin Meendering.
After 17 seasons with Chad Knaus on the headset, Johnson will hear Meendering call the shots for the No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports team. While Meendering isn’t a household name like that of Knaus, the road to this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to lead Johnson to a potential record-breaking eighth Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series championship was well-earned.
Meendering worked his way up the ranks at Hendrick Motorsports, fabricating and building suspension parts shortly after graduating from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, transitioning to a research and development position before joining the No. 24 team of Jeff Gordon in 2008 as an assistant engineer.
In 2016, he moved to JR Motorsports to work with Elliott Sadler atop the box. In three seasons with Sadler in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, Meendering led the No. 1 team to three wins, three playoff berths and two Championship 4 appearances (2016-17).
Between long hours in the shop during his first stint at Hendrick to his success in the Xfinity Series with a veteran driver, Meendering has proven himself worthy of this shot in the Cup Series. When asked what he wants loyal fans of Johnson and the 48 team to know about him, the first words he uttered were “hard working and very driven.”
“I want to win races, just like Jimmie does,” Meendering said when the change was announced in October. “We’re all in this … we didn’t reach this level just being complacent. I feel like I’ve earned this position. I’ve worked hard.”
“It’s my goal to take this team and take Jimmie and win that eighth championship for him,” he added. “That’s the biggest thing. It’s a little surreal to be put in this position and I’m excited. There’s a lot of history with Jimmie and this 48 team. Just to be a part of it is exciting.”
The 37-year-old admitted he has some nerves going into his first season with arguably the best driver to ever compete at NASCAR’s highest level. But behind every great driver and crew chief pairing are hundreds of people at the shop who make it all happen behind the scenes. Meendering knows the depth of the organization because he’s been there before.
“We have such a strong organization here, so many smart, important people backing you,” Meendering said. “The resources are just phenomenal. That definitely helps.”
Meendering is also confident of the relationship he and Johnson have been able to develop in such a short period of time, which is another reason why fans of “Seven-time” should have no cause of concern with this fresh start.
“He’s so easy to work with and he really is just one of the guys when you’re talking to him,” he said. “…He’s just so down to Earth and so level-headed, it’s just really easy to communicate with him.”
While a good portion of the country battles the cold weather that January brings, the racing world heats things up each year with the Chili Bowl Nationals.
This week, some of the best drivers dirt racing has to offer have flocked to Tulsa, Oklahoma, for the 33rd running of the annual indoor midget car event held on a 1/5-mile dirt oval at the River Spirit Expo Center. As of Jan. 14, more than 350 drivers and teams were featured on the entry list as five qualifying nights lie ahead leading up to Saturday night’s A-Main event. The champion gets the coveted Golden Driller, a replica of the 76-foot statue located outside the venue.
At the top of that elite list of powerhouse drivers are a few of NASCAR’s finest talents.
NASCAR Xfinity Series driver Christopher Bell goes into this year’s Chili Bowl searching for his third consecutive victory. In 2017, the Norman, Okla., native became only the second Oklahoman to win the event, beating out World of Outlaws driver Daryn Pittman for his first triumph. In 2018, Bell took advantage of Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series driver Kyle Larson’s misfortunate after engine issues parked Larson in the waning laps. Bell out-dueled two-time Chili Bowl champion and former Gander Outdoors Truck Series driver Rico Abreu for the victory.
Bell, 24, will need to get past the usual suspects in order to become just the third driver to win three or more Chili Bowls behind four-time winner Kevin Swindell (2010-13) and five-time winner Sammy Swindell (1989, ’92, ’96, ’98, 2009). Bell feels his stiffest competition is none other than Larson as both will compete under the Keith Kunz Motorsports umbrella.
“He’s the most talented guy that probably any of us have ever seen,” Bell said on the NASCAR on NBC podcast. “So, I would say he’s number one on that list.”
Monday kicked off a week of action-packed racing, including practice rounds that began at 9 a.m. local time, followed by the first night of preliminary racing. The entry list is divided into sections for each qualifying night, which includes a series of heat races and qualifiers, followed by a 25-lap feature event. The top-two finishers in each qualifying night feature event lock themselves into the 24-car A-Feature event on Saturday night.
Drivers who do not finish in the top-two positions in their respective preliminary features will have one more shot to make the field with a series of main events on Saturday, with the top-seven finishers from each of the two B-Mains transferring to make up the full field.
Former and current NASCAR drivers participating this year include:
Christopher Bell
Kyle Larson
Alex Bowman
Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
Kasey Kahne
Landon Cassill
Tanner Berryhill
Justin Allgaier
Chase Briscoe
J.J. Yeley
Along with the list of NASCAR national series regulars includes Karsyn Elledge, the niece of NASCAR on NBC race analyst Dale Earnhardt Jr. and daughter of Earnhardt’s sister and co-owner of JR Motorsports, Kelley Earnhardt Miller. The 18-year-old rising dirt-racing driver is competing in her first Chili Bowl Nationals.
For nearly two decades, the No. 48 Chevrolet set up by Chad Knaus for Jimmie Johnson was fast — dang fast. After seven championships at NASCAR’s highest level, however, the pairing of Knaus/Johnson started to slow down. The veteran Hendrick Motorsports duo failed to reach Victory Lane last season for the first time in Johnson’s full-time career, also registering career lows in top-five and top-10 finishes.
HMS decided a change was necessary, moving Knaus over to the No. 24 to pair him with sophomore driver William Byron, while Kevin Meendering will rise from the Xfinity Series ranks with JR Motorsports to helm Johnson’s No. 48.
It’s arguably the biggest shakeup since the birth of HMS, and one that will have a serious impact on the 2019 season and beyond. Which crew chief will make the biggest mark on his new team? NASCAR.com’s Pat DeCola and Chase Wilhelm debate.
DECOLA: Whatever you want to call it — a feeling, intuition, delusion — I was already all-in on Byron taking a major step forward in his sophomore campaign after an admittedly lackluster rookie season. Though he did win Sunoco Rookie of the Year, Byron’s four top 10s in 36 races were a bit underwhelming after lighting up the NASCAR world with a combined 11 wins from 2016-17 in the Xfinity and Gander Outdoors Truck Series ranks.
I talked more about this in a debate earlier this month, but I feel there were too many variables working against the then 20-year-old in his first year at the highest level of motorsports to really get things rolling consistently. Most/all of them have been cleared up for his second year, and it should culminate in an environment he can thrive in.
Then you add in the fact that he’ll now be working with arguably the greatest crew chief in the sport’s history, and it’s a no-brainer that the ceiling for Byron in 2019 is sky-high at the moment. There may be some growing pains in the early portion of the season, sure, but I think it’s a safe bet that Knaus has the No. 24 Chevrolet dialed in by season’s end and in playoff contention.
Knaus is the perfect candidate to groom Byron into being the next “face of the franchise” that Johnson heralded for more than 15 years after “Seven-Time” inherited that duty from Jeff Gordon. Johnson drove his tail off during their tenure together, but Knaus’ ability to push the Californian to new heights amidst a sometimes-tenuous but often-dominant relationship was unparalleled.
I believe the impact he will have on Byron will be massive.
WILHELM: There’s no question the addition of Knaus on the No. 24 team is going to really take Byron’s performance to greater heights for years to come, but since we’re talking about a crew chief who will have the biggest impact this season, my money is on Kevin Meendering.
Although Meendering doesn’t have all the impressive statistics behind him that Knaus has racked up through the years, there’s a reason why he’s getting his first full-time shot in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series with a seven-time champion in Johnson. Team owner Rick Hendrick isn’t going to just put anyone in that role.
Between the three successful seasons the 37-year-old had with veteran Xfinity Series driver Elliott Sadler at JR Motorsports and his work as an engineer during his previous time at Hendrick Motorsports, there was a reason why Johnson’s phone was blowing up with praise for Meendering.
“The amount of respect everybody here at Hendrick Motorsports has for him, from Chad to Alan Gustafson, you name the crew chief, even throughout the industry … I’ve been receiving text messages from competitors saying ‘hey he’s a sharp guy and a great choice,’ ” Johnson said. “So, his reputation and the way people hold his work ethic and his value the way they look and think of him.”
Steve Letarte, an NBC Sports analyst and former crew chief at Hendrick, gave him high praise, too, saying Meendering reminded him of Knaus.
Johnson’s lackluster 2018 season was a sign he needed a fresh start to go after that record-breaking eighth championship after the first winless season of his career. Meendering is the perfect choice. A mix of the fire that still burns in Johnson to win races and championships with Meendering’s stellar prowess will get Johnson back to Victory Lane in 2019.
NASCAR drivers remembered J.D. Gibbs as a humble, gracious and ‘incredible’ person Saturday morning on social media after learning of the death of the Joe Gibbs Racing co-founder.
The 49-year-old son of Joe Gibbs died Friday from complications following a long battle with a degenerative neurological disease, according to a team statement.
His impact in NASCAR was felt throughout the garage, which was clear as respects began to pour in.
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to succeed and for guiding me along the way. We won together and we lost together, but you had a way to light up a room and bring peace to all. It was truly an honor to call you a friend. Love you JD. pic.twitter.com/RAuJDqGLsU
His car. His number. His signature above my door. I will always be grateful for what His family did for mine and the opportunity he gave me 14 years ago. Now more than ever #doitforJD
I am deeply saddened to hear of the passing of JD Gibbs. He and the entire JGR organization were key to my career in NASCAR and will forever be in my heart. My thoughts and prayers go out to the entire family at JGR during this very difficult time. pic.twitter.com/yQ42OFHAwZ
Heartbroken for the entire Gibbs family. J.D. was a great person – a family man who loved sports & racing in particular. He played a big part in my career, both as a driver & as a team owner. When he asked how you were doing, he genuinely cared. I'll miss that the most. https://t.co/fnYndYp3uy
Gutted by the news of JD Gibbs, I had the tremendous opportunity to be around him for 6 years and not a day went by where he had the smile that could light up the room! I always left that room with a smile and a sore arm from him with a surprise punch every time😏 Rest Easy JD!
Saddened to hear this. JD was truly a great person! A very positive and driven man. Dude always left you with a smile. Breaks your heart knowing such a good person had to fight what he did. Comfort knowing he woke up this morning in a bright shinny place. 🙏 https://t.co/ol7CAC6XO8
I’m so sad. This is awful news. Hugging @PaigeKeselowski one more extra time tonight before bed and thinking about the Gibbs family. 😞 https://t.co/TkCRufIasS
Devastated after hearing the passing of J.D. Gibbs 💔 I can’t begin to tell you all how incredible of a guy he was and there is no way I would be where I am today without him. That man made such an impact on the entire outcome of my life. You will forever be in our hearts
JD always had a smile on his face and took time to talk to everyone. You couldn’t pass JD without a wave. His positive attitude and joy for life is something we should all strive for. He’ll be missed but not forgotten.
what sad news to wake up to this morning. never got to drive for J.D. but had a lot of great conversations with him about life and racing. have missed him being around the track and his smile he had for everyone. thinking and praying for the whole Gibbs family and organization https://t.co/LosqpymTUJ
I didn’t personally know JD Gibbs, but it’s so obvious to me the amount of impact he had and the good he brought to this world…….🙏🏼 out to the entire family! https://t.co/ljHPD5At6i
J.D was the type of man we all strive to be. His heart, smile and attitude were contagious where ever he was. He will be missed. Thoughts and prayers to the Gibbs Family. https://t.co/cYcN6mkEm1
Enjoyed getting know JD when we raced late models together and then in the business of the sport. He was a great man with a wonderful family. Prayers to all. https://t.co/amtQyokymI
J.D. Gibbs wasn't only a great leader at JGR, he was one of the greatest people I've ever met and he spread that quality to many people he touched. I'll forever remember what he did for me and my career as well as his influence on others. Sad, but I know he's in a better place.
I always enjoyed my conversations with J.D. He would smile, laugh and listen. One of the good guys that had time for you. You couldn’t pass by him at the track without a wave. I will always remember and miss you JD. https://t.co/OPxKuT7Lw8
J.D. was a great man of faith that loved his family and served others. Now he is spending eternity with his Heavenly Father and no more suffering. Thinking about all the Gibbs family. https://t.co/3Gi0VMdCGG
My heart hurts for the Gibbs family and everyone at @JoeGibbsRacing . He was such a nice guy. Cared about others, treated everyone with kindness and respect. He had a great impact on this world while he was here. 🙏🏻
J.D. Gibbs, who followed his famous father’s path from football to stock-car racing, died Friday evening. He was 49.
Gibbs’ passing was announced by Joe Gibbs Racing, the family’s racing team, citing “complications following a long battle with a degenerative neurological disease.” Gibbs had undergone treatment for symptoms impacting areas of brain function in recent years.
Gibbs served as president and later co-chairman of Joe Gibbs Racing. Before joining the organization’s senior management, Gibbs was an over-the-wall crewmember and a part-time driver, making 13 NASCAR national series starts from 1998-2002.
“We were privileged to watch J.D. Gibbs grow within the sport, displaying an endearing personality, a keen eye for talent and the strong business acumen that helped grow Joe Gibbs Racing into a pre-eminent NASCAR team,” NASCAR Chairman & CEO Jim France said in a statement. “The NASCAR family has lost a truly special member. On behalf of NASCAR and the France family, I extend my deepest condolences to Joe Gibbs, Pat, Melissa, Coy and the entire Gibbs family.”
Drivers poured in condolences and memories on social media as well, with former JGR driver Tony Stewart seemingly speaking for the group in this tweet: “Heartbroken for the entire Gibbs family. J.D. was a great person – a family man who loved sports & racing in particular. He played a big part in my career, both as a driver & as a team owner. When he asked how you were doing, he genuinely cared. I’ll miss that the most.”
Jason Dean Gibbs was born Feb. 21, 1969, near Los Angeles as his father served as assistant football coach at the University of Southern California. His upbringing included plenty of moves, according to a team biography, as his father was hired as an assistant at Arkansas before reaching the pros with stops at St. Louis, Tampa Bay and San Diego. But it also included a pursuit of speed, with J.D. and his brother, Coy, taking an interest in go-karts, jet-skis and motorbikes in their young age.
His car. His number. His signature above my door. I will always be grateful for what His family did for mine and the opportunity he gave me 14 years ago. Now more than ever #doitforJD
Before following his father’s career arc into motorsports, Gibbs pursued another of his father’s passions in football. The younger Gibbs played defensive back and quarterback at William & Mary from 1987-90, then transitioned to join his father’s race team after his college career.
“I wasn’t really stellar from an athletic standpoint,” J.D. Gibbs told the Richmond Times-Dispatch in 2006. “So for me to go into business, starting a family business with my dad, was really great. I’m glad we had a chance to do that together.”
Chris Trotman | Getty Images
Joe Gibbs Racing formed as the elder Gibbs was wrapping up his first stint as coach of the NFL’s Washington Redskins, a tenure that yielded three Super Bowl wins. Joe Gibbs Racing hit the track in 1992 with a staff of 17 people operating out of a 5,000-square foot shop.
J.D. Gibbs was a tire-changer for JGR in its earliest years, which included a breakthrough Daytona 500 win with Hall of Famer Dale Jarrett in 1993. Back then, the younger Gibbs still thought his future was in football, becoming a fixture on the sidelines as his father had done.
“I figured I’d do this for a couple of years and then I’d go coach,” Gibbs said in a 2004 profile in The Washington Post. “But we got in at a perfect time, the Lord kind of blessed us, and it has grown.”
Gibbs attempted a limited schedule in Xfinity and Camping World Truck Series competition, during the same time that he moved into an administrative role with JGR, becoming its team president in 1998. He tested for the first time at Darlington Raceway in March of that year, with plans to run 8-10 races later in the season.
Gibbs’ brief audition behind the wheel was less than successful. Later in his life, he was able to make light of his driving days with self-deprecating wit. “If it was just me, I could be a pretty good racer,” he told The Washington Post in 2004. “But then you put 42 other cars out there and that causes some issues.” He also quipped at a convention with sponsor Interstate Batteries in San Francisco in 2014: “My dad, he fired me in a nice way,” Gibbs said, with his father and driver Kyle Busch alongside. “He gave me an office and said, ‘hey, you’re now the president, because you’re a horrible driver.’ ”
Rusty Jarrett | Getty Images
J.D. Gibbs’ competitive spirit translated into his management style, fueling a period of dramatic growth for Joe Gibbs Racing. The organization expanded to a two-car team in 1999 and quickly snared its first two championships — with Bobby Labonte in 2000 and Tony Stewart in 2002.
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to succeed and for guiding me along the way. We won together and we lost together, but you had a way to light up a room and bring peace to all. It was truly an honor to call you a friend. Love you JD. pic.twitter.com/RAuJDqGLsU
When his father rejoined the Redskins in 2004, bringing Coy Gibbs with him as an assistant coach, J.D. Gibbs was solely in charge of JGR’s day-to-day operations. J.D. said he was initially concerned for the added responsibility, but lauded the foundation that his father had established. Even then, he had plenty of support from within the organization.
“I think he underestimates his ability as the team leader,” Stewart told the Associated Press in 2005. “J.D. is a really smart guy — a lot smarter than he lets people know.”
One year later, the team had expanded to a three-car effort, highlighted by a second premier series title for Stewart and the debut of Denny Hamlin, who remains with the team as JGR’s longest-tenured driver.
Joe Gibbs resigned from his second NFL coaching tour in January 2008 after taking the Redskins to two more postseason appearances, rejoining his son in JGR’s senior management. Together, they navigated another season of change, adding Kyle Busch to the driver roster and shifting manufacturers to Toyota.
The younger Gibbs was also instrumental in forming the JGR Diversity Program in conjunction with his father and the late Reggie White, an NFL Hall of Famer. That initiative groomed Aric Almirola for a career in NASCAR’s big leagues and continued with the ascension of Mexican-born standout Daniel Suarez to the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series ranks.
Streeter Lecka | Getty Images
J.D. Gibbs’ health became a serious concern in fall 2014, when he exhibited symptoms that led to a neurological diagnosis. Joe Gibbs provided an update on his condition in March 2015 as his son began treatment for the ailment, which had affected his speech and processing functions.
The elder Gibbs said there were “very few answers” about the cause of his son’s condition. He pointed to his son’s action-sports lifestyle — with racing, football, snowboarding and mountain biking among his pastimes — but said doctors were unable to pinpoint a single traumatic event that caused his illness.
I am deeply saddened to hear of the passing of JD Gibbs. He and the entire JGR organization were key to my career in NASCAR and will forever be in my heart. My thoughts and prayers go out to the entire family at JGR during this very difficult time. pic.twitter.com/yQ42OFHAwZ
It wasn’t the first time J.D. Gibbs had faced severe medical adversity. His son, Taylor, was diagnosed with leukemia as a 2-year-old in 2007. After numerous surgeries and treatments, Taylor Gibbs recovered, completing chemotherapy in 2010.
“To have somebody go through what J.D.’s going through … and have all the tough times, never to complain. Not once, not once,” Joe Gibbs told the Orlando Sentinel in 2016. “I know I’m not strong enough to do that and he is.”
J.D. Gibbs’ presence at the track diminished in his later years. He was named co-chairman of JGR ahead of the 2016 season, succeeded as president by Dave Alpern. But his impact on the organization was a lasting one, a family legacy that spanned football and NASCAR success.
“Any kid wants to see what their dad is doing,” J.D. Gibbs told the Associated Press in 2006. “If you have a good relationship with them, you’re going to want to do what they do, no matter what the profession is. Football for most kids is pretty cool. So is racing cars.
“To be involved as a kid, that’s just what we love to do, that’s what we did.”
