UPDATE #3: Sunday, November 6th at 3:15 PM ET —
Joe Gibbs Racing has confirmed that the family emergency that caused Ty Gibbs to miss Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race, was the death of his father Coy Gibbs.
Gibbs, aged 49, was the son of Joe Gibbs Racing team owner Joe Gibbs, and he was also the team’s Vice Chairman and COO. Gibbs leaves behind his wife Heather and their four children Ty, Case, Jett and Elle.
More on the life and career of Coy Gibbs, here:
Coy Gibbs, Father of Ty Gibbs and JGR Vice Chairman and COO, Dies Aged 49
UPDATE #2: Sunday, November 6th at 2:10 PM ET —
Daniel Hemric will officially be the driver of the No. 23 car for 23XI Racing in Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race as Ty Gibbs sits out due to a family emergency.
23XI Racing released the following statement:
“Due to a family emergency, Ty Gibbs will not be racing in the No. 23 Monster Energy Toyota Camry TRD today at Phoenix Raceway. In his place, Daniel Hemric will be competing in the No. 23 car today.”
Hemric, who moved to Kaulig Racing for the 2022 NASCAR Xfinity Series season, drove for Joe Gibbs Racing in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and won the 2021 NASCAR Xfinity Series championship with the organization.
Hemric has made eight NASCAR Cup Series starts this season with Kaulig Racing and has one top-10 finish in NASCAR Cup Series competition.
This story will be updated as further information becomes available.
UPDATE #1: Sunday, November 6th at 1:40 PM ET —
Steve Lauletta, the President of 23XI Racing, spoke to a group of media at Phoenix Raceway at the team’s hauler. Lauletta has stated that Daniel Hemric will take over for Ty Gibbs in the No. 23 23XI Racing entry in Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race, so long as Hemric is able to fit in the seat that was swapped into the car.
Steve Lauletta (@slauletta) said that if @DanielHemric fits in the car, he’ll be driving it today. No official confirmation yet. pic.twitter.com/b44mmS8BjW
— SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Ch. 90) (@SiriusXMNASCAR) November 6, 2022
ORIGINAL STORY: Sunday, November 6th at 1:05 PM ET —
An unexpected development has occurred at Phoenix Raceway, as Ty Gibbs, the winner of the 2022 NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship who was set to run the NASCAR Cup Series season finale, will apparently no longer race.
While no official announcement has come from Joe Gibbs Racing or 23XI Racing, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio reports that Gibbs will miss the race due to an unspecified family emergency.
NEWS: Ty Gibbs will miss today's #NASCAR Cup Series race @PhoenixRaceway due to an unspecified family emergency.
Stick with @SiriusXMNASCAR for the latest. pic.twitter.com/QVSGGBaNYP
— SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Ch. 90) (@SiriusXMNASCAR) November 6, 2022
While it is unknown what the family emergency is, best wishes are with Gibbs and his family.
Jeff Gluck of The Athletic reports that the 23XI Racing team has swapped the seat in the No. 23 Toyota Camry to accommodate another driver, who has not been announced yet.
Seat swap has taken place in the 23XI Racing garage. Ty Gibbs will not race today. We are awaiting further information. pic.twitter.com/uJpvgt669b
— Jeff Gluck (@jeff_gluck) November 6, 2022
Gibbs, who has made 15 starts during the NASCAR Cup Series season in relief of the injured Kurt Busch, achieved the biggest accolade of his young racing career Saturday at Phoenix Raceway as he held off Noah Gragson for the win and championship in the NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship Race.
Gibbs has recorded 11 victories in 51-career NASCAR Xfinity Series starts and he has one top-10 finish through his first 15-career NASCAR Cup Series starts.