Coy Gibbs, Father of NASCAR Xfinity Series Champ Ty Gibbs, Dies at 49

Joe Gibbs Racing made this announcement on Sunday morning at Phoenix Raceway in Arizona: “It is with great sorrow that Joe Gibbs Racing confirms that (team co-owner) Coy Gibbs went to be with the Lord in his sleep Saturday night. The family appreciates all the thoughts and prayers and asks for privacy at this time.”

No other details were released.

Coy was the 49-year-old son of team owner Joe Gibbs, a five-time winner of the NASCAR Cup Series title (twice each with Tony Stewart and Kyle Busch, and once with Bobby Labonte) and a four-time winner of the Xfinity Series title, once each with Daniel Hemric, Daniel Suarez, Busch, and Ty.

Coy Gibbs raced briefly in NASCAR after a football career at Stanford University and was generally accepted as his father's successor whenever the 83-year-old NFL and NASCAR Hall of Famer retired.

Coy’s 20-year-old son, Ty, won the 2022 Xfinity Series title by winning Saturday night’s season-ending race in Phoenix. Ty, recently substituting for injured Kurt Busch for 23XI Racing, has been replaced by Hemric for today’s championship-deciding Cup Series race.

The entire four-team JGR stable -- Denny Hamlin, championship contender Christopher Bell, Martin Truex Jr., and Busch – is expected to compete today.

“We are heartbroken by the tragic loss of Coy Gibbs. On behalf of the France Family and all of NASCAR, I extend my deepest condolences to Joe, Pat, Heather, the Gibbs family and everyone at Joe Gibbs Racing on the loss of Coy, a true friend and racer," said Jim France, NASCAR Chairman and CEO.