Gibbs ready to take it to the next level as NASCAR Chase approaches

Currently fourth in the NASCAR Cup Series point standings and having officially earned his spot in the Chase, it has been an excellent season for 23-year-old Ty Gibbs and the No. 54 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota team. With nine top-five finishes, 14 top-10 scores and his first Cup race win amassed thus far in 2026, Gibbs is looking ahead eagerly to the final four regular season races remaining before the 10-race Chase fires off at Darlington Raceway on Sept. 6.

“I just want to beat everybody and win them all, honestly,” said Gibbs. “It’s like we have been doing the last couple of weeks, we just haven’t won. We’ve been so close at so many different places. I’m just looking forward to the rest of the year and I’m really looking forward to the playoffs.”

Gibbs is getting ready for this final phase of the season by going off-road.

“Dude, I’m racing and riding my bike,” said Gibbs. “I’ve got my gravel, road and mountain bike going on. I’ve been training on that a lot with Justin Bryaton and Johnny O’Mara. Johnny O’ has me on a good program with him. I’ve been training a lot. I just got back from Colorado for a week. I was just out there riding Leadville. I climbed the Columbine climb, and it was so sick! It was like a dream come true to me. I’ve just been getting into all that and getting myself better physically and mentally and just keep getting ready for the rest of the season.”

Gibbs explained how his relationship with former world class supercross racers Brayton and O’Mara works to his advantage

“I grew up around Justin Brayton and Johnny, as well. Justin rode for my dad for a long time in supercross. I just grew up around them," he said. "I wanted to take my program to the next level and got Justin helping me out and Johnny guiding our path on the program. Johnny has a huge mountain bike background. He’s one of the core guys and one of the best American guys to ever do it on the world tour. Those guys have really been helping me out. They keep me locked in to my program. It’s been so much fun.”

Does any of his training program and the physical fitness work performed during the week actually find its way over to the Cup car on any give race weekend?

“Yeah, I think it does,” nodded Gibbs. “I think it really helps. Mountain biking is an endurance sport and I believe our sport is an endurance sport, so I think it helps. Mainly, I just do it for fun because I just really have a passion for bikes. Bikes have taught me a lot in my life. I wouldn’t be where I’m at without the bikes.”

This Sunday’s Iowa Corn 350 at 0.875-mile Iowa Speedway also ticks the fun boxes for Gibbs.

“I’m really looking forward to it,” enthused Gibbs. “The last two years we kind of struggled there, so I’m really looking to turn it around and turn our whole deal around this year here. I think Iowa is a fun track. I’m definitely feeling good from being so strong this year and just kind of looking to keep capitalizing.

Gibbs and the No. 54 Toyota have consistency on their side, which he knows will serve him well in the Chase. Brett Farmer/Getty Images

"We’ve got 16 more races to go, so just looking to keep capitalizing on that and just keep getting better. I’ve had a lot of fun, for sure. Everything has been great this year. My team has been so great. Tyler Allen, my crew chief, and all the boys that have been helpibg me out, have been so good and they all work together so well. I wouldn’t be where I am now without them. The team has been doing a great job. We all look forward to helping each other get better and making the cars better. Everybody is just full effort right now and I think it’s really showing. We all really want to win a lot.”

That doesn't mean he or the No. 54 team have put much thought into the approaching Chase, though.

“Not really, honestly,” Gibbs said. “We’ll just take it week by week and just treat it like we do now. We’ll just try and get good points and win races and that takes care of all of that stuff. I feel like I’m right there. The competition is super stout, but we’re running really good. I’ve been doing a good job and my team has been doing a good job. I don’t see why we can’t win. I feel like we’re one of the best in the sport right now.

"It’s always been there, it’s just taken a second to get the team right and get the right people around me to make that better. We have. I’ve always known it, but it was just kid of a really bumpy path until now, but that’s how it goes. I’ve definitely experienced a lot. I’ve kind of grown up learning the hard way. It’s been a lot of fun. I really appreciate it and really respect my sport and I’ll just keep working hard.”

At the Brickyard 400, Gibbs became the fourth Cup racer to earn a spot in the 2026 Chase and weighed in on his chances in the postseason title fight.

“I think we can win it, man,” declared Gibbs. “I think we can get the title this year, so that’s our plan. We’re going to keep working hard and go try to get the title and bring another championship trophy back to Monster Energy.

“I think it’s going to take consistency, which we have. We’re also going to have to win a couple of races, which I know we can, too. We have it. We’ve just got to put it together and make it happen.”