Coy Gibbs, the co-owner of Joe Gibbs Racing, son of NASCAR Hall of Farmer Joe Gibbs, and the father of recently crowned NASCAR Xfinity Series champion Ty Gibbs died in his sleep on Saturday at the age of 49.
The cause of Coy Gibbs’ death has not been announced, but Gibbs died just hours after his 20-year-old son, Ty Gibbs, won the NASCAR Xfinity Series championship race.
Gibbs’ death news left the NASCAR world in shock on the day of the final race of the season. Before the start of the race, a moment of silence held his memory.
Son of Coy, Ty Gibbs, who was slated to drive car No. 23 in Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series Championship Phoenix Raceway in Avondale, Arizona, has been replaced by the other driver Daniel Hemric just hours before the race.
Coy was the COO and vice chairman of Joe Gibbs Racing, and he lived a life that included a career as a linebacker at Stanford University, four years as a NASCAR driver from 2000 to 2003, and several years as an offensive quality control assistant on his father Joe Gibbs’ Washington Commanders staff.
Joe Gibbs Racing announced the news of Coy Gibbs by stating It is with great sorrow that Joe Gibbs Racing confirms that Coy Gibbs went to be with the Lord in his sleep last night, and the family appreciates all the thoughts and prayers and asks for privacy at this time.”
Coy began racing in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series on a part-time basis in 2000, sharing a Joe Gibbs Racing truck with his brother J.D. Gibbs before going full-time Truck racing for the next two seasons. He earned six top-five finishes and 21 top-10 finishes in two seasons, with the best career finish of second at Texas in 2002. Coy Gibbs finished 10th in points both seasons before moving to the NASCAR Busch Series in 2003, where he scored two top 10s with a best finish of ninth at Talladega.
Photo by: Meg Oliphant
Coy would step out of the driver’s seat following the 2003 season to join his father joe Gibbs on Washington’s coaching staff, where he served as an offensive quality control assistant from 2004 to 2007. He would also go on to lead Joe Gibbs Racing’s Motocross team, and he would eventually become COO and co-owner of the family race team.
J.D. Gibbs, the brother of Coy Gibbs, also died at the age of 49 in 2019 after a long battle with a degenerative neurological disease, according to NASCAR.
Coy Gibbs spoke to the media about his son Ty Gibb,s race Saturday.
NASCAR quoted him saying “Watching it today, yeah, just to see his determination”.
Coy added I think he’s got skills and he’s determined. It definitely made me proud. I think it made my wife — we were both proud, just because he just hammered down and did his job and If he wants to do this for a living, he is going to learn how to do that,”.
Social Media reaction to Coy Gibbs’ Death news
NASCAR chairman and CEO Jim France read a statement “We are heartbroken by the tragic loss of Coy Gibbs,” and I extend my deepest sympathies to Joe, Heather, Pat, the Gibbs family, and everyone at JGR on the loss of Coy, a true friend, and racer.”
One of Joe Gibbs Racing’s most successful drivers Denny Hamlin, tweeted Today we will do what we don’t want to do, but we will unite as a family and race for the name on our chest.
David Wilson, the president of TRD Racing state that Racing is a family, and the relationships within the entire garage go so much deeper than the on-track competition today, we lost a dear part of our family, and the loss of Coy Gibbs is devastating to everyone at Toyota and TRD, our deepest condolences and prayers are with Joe, Pat, Heather, Ty Gibbs, Case, Jett and Elle, and the entire Gibbs family and Joe Gibbs Racing family.
