Coy Gibbs, Joe Gibbs Racing executive, dead at 49 hours after son wins Xfinity Series championship
Joe Gibbs Racing said Coy Gibbs died 'in his sleep'
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Coy Gibbs, the vice chairman of NASCAR’s Joe Gibbs Racing, has died, the race team announced Sunday afternoon hours before the Cup Series’ championship race was set to begin. He was 49.
Gibbs’ son, Ty, won the NASCAR Xfinity Series championship on Saturday night. He was set to race for Kurt Busch in the Cup Series finale but was removed due to a family emergency. Hours later, the team revealed Coy Gibbs died.
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{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Ty Gibbs, driver of the No. 54 Monster Energy Toyota, poses with his father, Coy Gibbs, and his mother, Heather Gibbs, after winning the NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship at Phoenix Raceway on Nov. 5, 2022, in Avondale, Arizona. (Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
"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 race team tweeted.
After Ty Gibbs won at Phoenix, Coy Gibbs talked to reporters about the win. He was the vice chairman at Joe Gibbs Racing.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Ty Gibbs, driver of the No. 54 Monster Energy Toyota, poses with his father, Coy Gibbs, and his mother, Heather Gibbs, after winning the NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship at Phoenix Raceway on Nov. 5, 2022, in Avondale, Arizona. (Meg Oliphant/Getty Images)
"When you start this day, you just want to get it over with, you just want to get past it," he said. "I think he's just doubled down and did his job after making a huge mistake last week. It was fun to watch."
Coy Gibbs is the son of Joe Gibbs, the former NFL coach who started Joe Gibbs Racing in 1991. Coy Gibbs also served as an assistant coach for the Washington NFL team from 2004 to 2007 under his father. He played linebacker at Stanford from 1991 to 1994.
Ty Gibbs, driver of the No. 54 Monster Energy Toyota, celebrates after winning the NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship at Phoenix Raceway on Nov. 5, 2022, in Avondale, Arizona. (Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
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{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}He ran in the Truck Series in 2001 and in the Xfinity Series in 2003. He finished with 21 top-10 finishes in the Truck Series and two top 10s in the Xfinity Series.