Some fans might be shocked to learn that Ty Gibbs—the grandson of Joe Gibbs, a NASCAR team owner so devout it’s surprising he isn’t name-dropped in the Book of Revelation—can unleash a string of profanity that could make a seasoned Navy chief blush.
And to be fair, young Ty still looks like he should be in a middle school study hall, not trading paint at 190 mph. He’s got that baby-faced “class treasurer” look, the kind of kid who probably still gets carded for buying energy drinks. Yet Sunday at Watkins Glen, Gibbs treated the NASCAR world to a live, unfiltered broadcast of his frustration, and in doing so, may have accidentally shined a spotlight on some growing tension between driver and team.
Running mired in the field and getting passed—again— Gibbs keyed up and made the team channel sound like a Tarantino outtake.
“I don’t have the rear tires to do shit,” he snapped. “We’re fucked right now, so we got to do something.”
It was the kind of radio moment that makes TV producers lean in and audio engineers hover over the censor button like they’re defusing a bomb.
Chris Gabehart in his role as a consultant to the team and a man who’s clearly earned his stripes (and patience) over the years, responded like the calm uncle who’s been around enough family arguments to know when to keep the tone low.
“I’m sure you got a real good understanding of that from inside the car,” Gabehart replied, dripping in subtle sarcasm. “So, you know… you can call the strategy if you want, or we can keep rolling.”
The exchange had the feel of an awkward Thanksgiving dinner where someone just dropped a political bomb at the table. Nobody’s yelling, but everyone knows there’s a frost in the air.
Perhaps trying to thaw things out—or maybe just swinging for the fences—Gibbs suggested a long-shot, Hail Mary strategy. The idea: pit out of sequence, hope for a caution, then stay out with fresher tires when the field comes in. In the NASCAR playbook, it’s the motorsports equivalent of betting the rent money on a roulette spin.
The team agreed, perhaps because it was worth a try, or perhaps because, at that point, they were running out of better options. Gibbs hit pit road, got his tires, and waited for fate—and the yellow flag—to intervene.
It never did. The caution never came. The gamble fizzled out like a Fourth of July sparkler in the rain.
When the checkered flag fell, Gibbs crossed the line in 33rd place. On paper, that sounds dismal, but there’s a small silver lining: he was still on the lead lap. Which is a bit like saying your parachute didn’t open, but you still landed on the designated drop zone.
Watkins Glen has been the stage for plenty of memorable radio rants over the years, but Gibbs’ Sunday outburst might just go into the highlight reel—not because it was the most creative string of swear words ever heard, but because it revealed something more telling. Under the polished sponsor-friendly exterior, the kid’s got fire. Now, the question is whether that fire will fuel future wins… or more uncomfortable conversations on the team channel.
Greg was a writer for DriveTribe supporting Amazon's The Grand Tour and has been published in major publications across the country including the Los Angeles Times, the Cleveland Plain Dealer and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He was also a contributor to Chicken Soup for the NASCAR Soul, published in 2010, and the Christmas edition in 2016. He wrote as the NASCAR, Formula 1, Auto Reviews and National Veterans Affairs Examiner for Examiner.com and has appeared on Fox News. He holds a BS degree in communications, and a Masters degree in psychology. He is currently the weekend Motorsports Editor for Autoweek and a regular contributor to Forbes.
- Kyle Larson vs. Ryan Blaney is NASCAR’s Bromance With Bodywork - September 7, 2025
- From Vegas High to Gateway Low: Josh Berry’s Playoff Freefall - September 7, 2025
- Two Teammates, Two Very Different Nights at Darlington - August 31, 2025