Coy Gibbs, father of NASCAR Xfinity champion Ty Gibbs dies aged 49

AVONDALE, ARIZONA - NOVEMBER 05: Ty Gibbs, driver of the #54 Monster Energy Toyota, poses with his father, Coy Gibbs and mother, Heather Gibbs after winning the NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship at Phoenix Raceway on November 05, 2022 in Avondale, Arizona. (Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images)

Hours after celebrating a NASCAR Xfinity series championship the Gibbs family was hit by the devastating news that Ty Gibb’s father Coy Randall Gibbs passed away unexpectedly overnight reportedly due to a heart attack in his sleep.

The news was confirmed hours after the team reported that the new Xfinity champion would not race the No. 23 Cup car for Joe Gibbs Racing affiliated team 23XI Racing Sunday at Phoenix. The team released a statement just prior to the start of the final race of the season:

“It is with great sorrow that Joe Gibbs Racing confirms that Coy Gibbs (co-owner) went to be with the Lord in his sleep last night. The family appreciates all the thoughts and prayers and asks for privacy at this time.”

The son of NASCAR team owner Joe Gibbs, the 49-year-old played college football art Stanford University from 1991-1994 and served as an assistant to his father in the NFL until 2007.

Gibbs raced in the NASCAR Truck and Xfinity series before taking the role as vice-chairman and COO at his father’s race team Joe Gibbs Racing. His last public appearance came Saturday night when he did a post-race media availability at Phoenix Raceway.

The news is particularly devastating to Coy’s father Joe Gibbs who lost his older son J.D. Gibbs in 2019 who died due to “conditions related to brain function.” J.D. died at aged 49 as well.

In addition to his son Ty, Coy is survived by his wife Heather, sons Case and Jett and a daughter Elle.

NASCAR released a statement shortly before the race:

“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.”

— Jim France, NASCAR Chairman and CEO

Toyota later put out a statement:

“Racing is a family and the relationships within the entire garage go so much deeper than on-track competition. Today, we lost a dear part of our family. The loss of Coy Gibbs is devastating to everyone at Toyota and TRD. Our deepest condolences and prayers are with Joe, Pat, Heather, Ty, Case, Jett and Elle and the entire Gibbs family and Joe Gibbs Racing family.”

~ David Wilson, President, TRD U.S.A. (Toyota Racing Development)

Greg Engle