JGR NEWS

Incoming Broadcast Partner Inks two-race deal with Sheldon Creed and Ty Gibbs

 

HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. (September 4th, 2024) - Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) announced today that incoming broadcast partner of the NASCAR Xfinity Series, The CW, will be partnering with drivers Sheldon Creed and Ty Gibbs to promote their upcoming slate of NASCAR Xfinity Series races in 2024.

 

The deal will kick off with a primary scheme on Sheldon Creed’s No. 18 Toyota GR Supra at the Focused Health 250 in Atlanta this upcoming Saturday, September 7th at 3:00 PM ET. Ty Gibbs will represent The CW the following weekend as his No. 54 Toyota Camry XSE will represent The CW colors on Sunday, September 15th at 3:00 PM ET in the Go Bowling at the Glen at Watkins Glen International. 

 

“We’re honored to help usher in a new era of the Xfinity Series with The CW,” said Steve de Souza, Executive Vice President of Xfinity Series and Development for JGR. “We’re looking forward to assisting our great fanbase in making the transition to our new partners at The CW. There’s no shortage of compelling storylines and great racing in our series and we’re all looking forward to the enthusiastic and dedicated coverage that our new partners will bring to every race.”

 

It was announced earlier this year that The CW has secured the exclusive broadcasting rights of all NASCAR Xfinity Series races, practices, and qualifying sessions beginning in 2025 and extending through the 2031 race season. The deal marks the first time in Xfinity Series history that every race will be available on free, over-the-air broadcast television with additional content available through The CW’s digital platforms.

 

In addition to the seven-year deal, The CW has also secured the rights to the final eight races of the 2024 NASCAR Xfinity Series season. Beginning with the Food City 300 at Bristol Motor Speedway on September 20th at 7:30 PM ET, race fans can tune in to The CW to follow the road to the Xfinity Series playoffs. The CW will remain the home of Xfinity Series racing for the remainder of the season, all the way through the crowning of the 2024 champion in Phoenix later this year.

Atlanta native will compete fulltime in the NASCAR Xfinity Series

HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. (September 3, 2024) – Joe Gibbs Racing announced today that the team has signed Brandon Jones to a multi-year agreement to drive in the NASCAR Xfinity Series beginning in 2025. Jones is no stranger to Joe Gibbs Racing or Toyota Racing after being a part of the team from 2018-2022.

 

Jones enjoyed a successful five-year run with Joe Gibbs Racing and Toyota that included Xfinity Series wins at Darlington Raceway, Kansas Speedway, Martinsville Speedway, and Phoenix Raceway. He qualified for the playoffs all five years he was with JGR’s Xfinity Series program and finished a career-best sixth in the overall standings in 2020 on the strength of a three-win season.

 

”We’re thrilled to have Brandon return to Joe Gibbs Racing next season,” said Joe Gibbs, owner of Joe Gibbs Racing. ”He has a proven history of success with us and is someone that we know will be in the championship hunt each year. His veteran leadership will also be a tremendous asset to our program.”

 

The Atlanta native has won while driving a Toyota in multiple series. Jones scored three ARCA Menards Series wins and an ARCA Menards Series East victory driving for JGR. He also earned his first NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series win driving a Toyota Tundra at Pocono Raceway in 2020.

 

“I’m beyond excited to be returning to Joe Gibbs Racing and rejoining the Toyota Racing family,” said Jones. “My time with JGR was some of the most rewarding of my career, and I’m eager to build on that success as we chase more wins and a championship together. I’m ready to hit the ground running and make the most of this incredible opportunity.

“For now, my focus remains on finishing this year strong for my team, crew, manufacturer and Menards,” added Jones. “We will push hard to win our way into the Playoffs and finish the year on a high note.”

Jones is joining the winningest team in Xfinity Series history. Joe Gibbs Racing owns 213 wins, including nine this year. Since the team’s inception, 23 different drivers have taken JGR to victory lane in the Xfinity Series. Jones is one of 14 drivers who claimed their first career victory in the series driving for JGR. The organization has earned four Xfinity Series driver championships and six owner’s championships.

 

“It is great to have Brandon back in our Xinfity Series program,” said Steve de Souza, Executive Vice President of Xfinity Series and Development for JGR. “He showed great progress across each season he was with us previously showing the ability to run up front and lead laps consistently each week. We look forward to getting him back to that level of consistency and winning races for us next year.”

Huntersville, North Carolina, August 20, 2024 — REAGAN, a movie starring Dennis Quaid as the 40th President of the United States which opens worldwide on August 30, will be the primary sponsor of Ty Gibbs No. 54 Toyota Camry XSE in the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway.

 

It’s fitting as Ronald Reagan came to Daytona International Speedway in July of 1984 when Richard Petty won his 200th and final NASCAR Cup Series race. Gibbs is hoping to have the same success with the REAGAN film on his car.

 

“Ty Gibbs is the next NASCAR superstar,” Quaid said. “The Coke Zero 400 is a global stage and I’m thrilled the fans will get a glimpse of REAGAN during the race. These fans are my kind of people and I know they’ll be inspired by the remarkable story in this film.”

 

From dusty small-town roots, to the glitter of Hollywood, and then on to commanding the world stage, REAGAN is a cinematic journey of overcoming the odds. Told through the voice of Viktor Petrovich, a former KGB agent whose life becomes inextricably linked with Ronald Reagan's when Reagan first caught the Soviets’ attention as an actor in Hollywood, this film offers a perspective as unique as it is captivating. 

 

Quaid brings to life a story that transcends the boundaries of a traditional biopic, offering a profound exploration of the enduring impact of the power of one man who overcame the odds, sustained by the love of a woman who supported him in his journey. 

 

“It’s great to have REAGAN on our car for Daytona,” Gibbs said.” Hopefully we can put the car in victory lane much like when President Reagan was at Daytona 40 years ago.”

 

The Coke Zero 400 starts at 7:30 pm EDT on Saturday, August 24, and will be broadcast on NBC, SiriusXM Channel 90 and MRN.  

• Ten children from Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital in Chicago selected as NASCAR driver Christopher Bell’s honorary junior crew members

• Junior crew members' art will be featured on Bell’s No. 20 car for the Chicago Street Race on July 7

• This year, CRAFTSMAN will donate $100,000 to the Ace Hardware Foundation in support of CMN Hospitals

• Ace Hardware will offer 20% off on over 90 CRAFTSMAN products with 10% of the purchase price to be donated to local CMN Hospitals†
   

CHICAGO, IL., (July 2, 2024) – Stanley Black & Decker’s (NYSE: SWK) iconic CRAFTSMAN® brand is once again teaming up with the Ace Hardware Foundation and NASCAR driver Christopher Bell of Joe Gibbs Racing to support the 18th Annual Racing for a Miracle program, dedicated to supporting Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals (CMN Hospitals).

 

“Racing for a Miracle has always been about making a positive impact on the lives of children and their families,” said Tony Merritt, Vice President of Sponsorships for Stanley Black & Decker. “We are proud to continue our tradition of supporting Racing for a Miracle and the incredible children joining us as honorary junior crew members. They each exemplify the spirit of resilience and determination we aim to support through our partnership with CMN Hospitals.”

 

Over the past 18 years, Stanley Black & Decker and its brands have contributed more than $1.8M to the Racing for a Miracle program, in partnership with the Ace Hardware Foundation, to fund essential treatments and healthcare services at CMN Hospitals across the U.S. and Canada.

 

This year, CRAFTSMAN will donate $100,000 to the Ace Hardware Foundation in support of CMN Hospitals during a celebratory tailgate event at Ace Hardware’s Corporate Headquarters outside of Chicago on July 2. The tailgate event will also feature appearances by CRAFTSMAN® brand ambassador, HGTV host and auto-enthusiast Cristy Lee, and Ace Hardware’s resident home expert and TV personality Lou Manfredini.

 

Honorary Junior Crew Members to Unveil Bell’s Car

This year’s Racing for a Miracle program shines a spotlight on ten children from Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital in Chicago, who will serve as honorary junior crew members for this year’s race alongside Christopher Bell’s No. 20 CRAFTSMAN Toyota Camry XSE. During the July 2 tailgate event at Ace Hardware’s headquarters, junior crew members will help Bell unveil his car's paint scheme for the upcoming Chicago Street Race (July 7), adorned with unique artwork created by the young crew.

 

“The CRAFTSMAN Racing for a Miracle paint scheme is one I look forward to every year, it’s always such a fun, creative design and I can’t wait to see what the kids came up with,” said Bell. “It’s fun to watch the kids unveil the car and see their artwork come to life. We almost got them a win last year in Chicago, hopefully we can pull it off this year. CRAFTSMAN and Ace Hardware have raised a lot of money over the years for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and I’m proud to be a part of the program.”

Indiana native will drive the No. 19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota Camry XSE

 

HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. (June 25, 2024) – Joe Gibbs Racing announced today that the team has signed Chase Briscoe to a multi-year contract to drive the No. 19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota Camry XSE in the NASCAR Cup Series beginning in 2025. Bass Pro Shops, North America’s premier outdoor and conservation company, will continue its role as the majority primary sponsor of the No. 19 Camry next season.

 

Briscoe, who is in his fourth full-time season in the NASCAR Cup Series, is currently ranked 16th in the points standings after a runner-up finish in Sunday’s race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. He scored his first career victory at Phoenix Raceway in March 2022. That same season, Briscoe advanced to the Round of 8 in the NASCAR Playoffs and finished the season a career-best ninth in the final standings. In his Cup Series career, he has posted 12 top-five finishes, 27 top-10s and two pole awards. The Mitchell, Indiana native was also the 2021 Sunoco Rookie of the Year.

 

Briscoe began his career racing on dirt tracks in Indiana before transitioning to stock cars in 2015. His resume includes 11 NASCAR Xfinity Series victories, including a series-leading nine wins in 2020, and a pair of NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series victories. Briscoe claimed Rookie of the Year honors in both series. He is also the 2016 ARCA Menards Series champion.

 

“I’m excited for this opportunity with Joe Gibbs Racing and Bass Pro Shops,” Briscoe said. “From a competition standpoint, JGR is the place to be if you want to go win races week in and week out and to race for the championship every year. I am blessed that Johnny Morris and Bass Pro are on board to help us carry on the legacy of the 19 car. For me personally, being an avid outdoorsman, there’s a lot of pride in now being a part of the Bass Pro brand and I’m extremely grateful for this partnership. Getting to meet Johnny, I feel like I share a lot of the same values as him and Coach, and I’m ready to get to work and prove that they have made a great choice putting me in this car.”

 

Bass Pro will be featured prominently on the No. 19 Camry throughout the 2025 campaign, starting with the season-opening DAYTONA 500 on Sunday, February 16, 2025. Bass Pro’s presence in motorsports continues a strong partnership that has helped raise broad awareness for significant conservation initiatives and the great outdoors.

 

“We have been honored to stand beside Martin Truex Jr. for the last 21 years and together with our friends at Joe Gibbs Racing over the last seven years,” said Johnny Morris, noted conservationist and founder of Bass Pro Shops. “We are proud to represent sportsmen and women across North America as we extend this relationship with Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota and Chase Briscoe.”

 

Briscoe will be paired with crew chief James Small. Small has guided Martin Truex Jr. to eight victories since taking over crew chief responsibilities in 2020. He led the No. 19 team to a runner-up finish in the 2021 Championship 4 as well as the 2023 regular season championship.

 

“We are extremely excited about the future of our 19 team with Chase (Briscoe) behind the wheel and the partnership with Johnny, J.P. and everyone at Bass Pro Shops,” said Joe Gibbs, owner of Joe Gibbs Racing. “I talk about it often, but one of the great things about our sport is the relationships you have the opportunity to build around your teams and certainly we are just so thankful to have that with everyone at Bass Pro Shops. We obviously do a lot of research before selecting our drivers and through the process everything kept pointing us back to Chase. With James’ (Small) leadership, Chase behind the wheel, and the support from Bass Pro, and of course Toyota, we couldn’t be more excited about the future of our 19 team.”

HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. (May 20, 2024) – Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) announced today that Novant Health will extend their agreement to provide sports medicine services to the team’s pit crews, as well as the Joe Gibbs Human Performance Institute (JGHPI), starting with the 2024 season.

 

As a part of this multi-year agreement, Novant Health will provide expert care to the race team, including support from a team of Athletic Trainers, Team Physicians and Physical Therapists. Novant Health has worked with JGR since the 2018 season.

JGR pit crews are in training for 11 months out of the year and perform across 37 race weekends each season. Working out of the race shop in Huntersville, NC, Novant Health provides daily support to the pit crew members to help ensure they maintain their performance levels despite their demanding schedule.

 

"Novant Health is committed to creating a remarkable future for the communities we serve throughout the Carolinas, and few athletic endeavors have shaped the culture of this area quite like motorsports have. It is a pleasure to partner with Joe Gibbs Racing to provide care and support to the athletes on the track - and on Pit Road - as they share their talents and their work with legions of fans across the country,” said Bryan Edwards, MD, SVP, Clinical Strategy Novant Health Enterprises and System Physician Executive, Novant Health Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Institute. “Novant Health’s team of dedicated athletic trainers, physicians, and physical therapists will ensure that the Joe Gibbs Racing team is equipped with tools and care to reach their peak performance. We are committed to keeping them in optimal health as athletes and as community leaders."

​

​“As a part of our enduring effort to better understand the fundamentals of human movement for performance optimization and injury risk stratification at JGHPI, we are excited to partner with Novant Health to co-develop leading-edge MR imaging and machine learning techniques for the creation of multi-level, personalized musculoskeletal models for individual athletes,” said Matt Osborn, Laboratory Director at JGHPI.

HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. (March 8, 2024) – Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) announced today that NASCAR Hall of Fame driver Bobby Labonte will reunite with his former team in a new consulting role providing support in a number of capacities.

 

Labonte won 21 races over his 11-year career with JGR, including four wins on his way to capturing the 2000 NASCAR Cup Series Championship.

 

“Bobby is a big part of our history and success here at JGR,” said Joe Gibbs, owner of Joe Gibbs Racing. “We are excited to have him in this new role consulting across several areas of our operations. He will be a tremendous asset to our partners in sharing his knowledge and passion for racing as well as educating our guests and fans through appearances and on social media.”

 

In this new role, Labonte will serve as a brand ambassador for JGR, attending races to - participate in at-track sponsor activities and engage sponsor guests. The Hall of Fame driver will also provide regular content to JGR social channels and support JGR’s business operations and sales outreach.

 

“Joe Gibbs Racing played such a pivotal role in my career and it has always felt like home to me,” said Labonte. “I am thrilled to be involved with the organization again and look forward to being an asset to their partners and fans.”

Almirola to drive Go Bowling Toyota GR Supra in two NASCAR Xfinity Series races

 

HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. (March 5, 2024) – Joe Gibbs Racing announced today that Go Bowling will be featured as the primary sponsor for Aric Almirola in NASCAR Xfinity Series races this season at Phoenix Raceway (March 9) and Watkins Glen International (September 14).

 

Go Bowling is the destination for bowling consumers and enthusiasts seeking news and information about one of America’s favorite pastimes and the nation’s number one participatory sport. Consumers visit GoBowling.com every day to find bowling centers in their communities, learn new tips and techniques to improve their game, and to access bowling promotions available at more than 1,700+ family-friendly bowling centers across the country.

 

“We’re happy to continue our partnership with Aric as he returns to his roots driving for Joe Gibbs Racing,” said John Harbuck, President of Strike Ten Entertainment. “Aric’s core values align with ours as does Coach Gibbs and his entire organization.  We’re looking forward to an exciting NASCAR season having Aric represent our Go Bowling brand and the entire bowling community.”

 

Almirola’s relationship with Go Bowling dates back to 2013 when the company also became the entitlement sponsor of the annual NASCAR Cup Series event at Pocono Raceway. Since then, he has driven multiple races in the Go Bowling colors and participated in multiple Go Bowling events over the years. Last year, Almirola teamed up with professional bowler Kyle Troup to win the Go Bowling PBA / NASCAR Invitational.

 

“I’m excited to have Go Bowling on the car for these two races,” said Almirola. “It has been a great partnership and I look forward to having great success with the Go Bowling team both on and off the racetrack this year.”

 

Go Bowling has installed a pair of professionally certified bowling lanes inside “The Barn” at Phoenix Raceway where the PBA All-Star Weekend competitions will be staged.  On Friday, Almirola will join Kyle Troup to defend their championship at the Go Bowling PBA / NASCAR Invitational event at Phoenix Raceway. The event is scheduled to be broadcast on Sunday, March 17, at 1 p.m. ET on FOX. The event, which will wrap up PBA All-Star Weekend, will feature four doubles teams featuring NASCAR Drivers Chase Briscoe, AJ Allmendinger and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. in pairings with PBA and PWBA Pros Darren Tang, Daria Pajak and Lindsay Boomershine in a bracket-style tournament.

Ty Gibbs and Aric Almirola Will Feature He Gets Us as Primary Sponsor in Multiple Races

 

HUNTERSVILLE, NC (February 26, 2024) – Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) announced a partnership renewal with He Gets Us, which will serve as the primary sponsor of six races in the NASCAR Cup Series with Ty Gibbs and 10 total races in the NASCAR Xfinity Series with Aric Almirola and Gibbs.

 

The Cup races with the No. 54 Toyota Camry XSE with Gibbs will take place at Las Vegas Motor Speedway (March 3), Darlington (S.C.) Raceway (May 12), Sonoma Raceway (June 9), Richmond Raceway (August 11), Atlanta Motor Speedway (September 8) and Bristol Motor Speedway (September 21).

 

The two sponsored Xfinity races for Gibbs are at Circuit of the Americas (March 23) and at the Chicago Street Course (July 6).

 

NASCAR veteran Almirola will have He Gets Us as his primary sponsor for eight Xfinity Series races, including this Saturday’s race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
 

“I’m looking forward to bringing awareness to He Gets Us and how the movement talks about simple concepts and lessons from Jesus like loving your neighbor,” Almirola said. “From the first time I learned about He Gets Us, I was very interested and excited about how sports could serve as a conversation starter.”

 

The 2024 NASCAR season will be the third year of partnership between JGR, Ty Gibbs, and He Gets Us.

 

“Great to have He Gets Us back on the No. 54 Toyota,” Gibbs said. “They have an important message to share and hopefully we can put them in victory lane.”

 

To engage and learn more, visit HeGetsUs.com.

HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. (February 13, 2024) – Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) announced today that 14-year-old promising prospect Max Reaves signed a multi-year developmental contract with the team.

 

Reaves will begin a development program immediately that will include access to the resources available from Toyota, including training in the Toyota Performance Center (TPC) in Mooresville, NC. In addition, Reaves will receive assistance with his 2024 schedule, access to learn from JGR’s current driver and crew chief lineup, public relations and social media training, and technical support with his upcoming race season.

 

"We are excited to have Max join our development program at Joe Gibbs Racing,” said Joe Gibbs, owner of Joe Gibbs Racing. “We have always taken a lot of pride in our program and place a great deal of emphasis on developing talent. Max has already established himself as a winning driver and we look forward to supporting him as he continues to advance his career.

 

“It has been great getting to know their entire family,” continued Gibbs. “Their love for the sport has impressed me and it is clear that they are all in when it comes to supporting not only Max, but his younger brother Roo as well, who is already making a name for himself too.”

 

Reaves, also known as “Mad Max,” has been winning since the very beginning of his career. His racing journey began at eight years old running quarter midgets in the North Carolina Quarter Midget Association (NCQMA). Mad Max won in his very first quarter midget start with his grandfather as his crew chief. From that moment on, his whole family was all in on racing. The young talent loves the challenges that racing brings as every race is different.

 

Reaves has raced quarter midgets, dirt wing outlaws, go-karts, bandeleros, 600 micro sprints, legend cars, and pro late models across the southeastern United States in his limited experience but shows tremendous talent and potential for growth up the NASCAR ranks.

 

“I’m really excited. I’ve really enjoyed meeting everyone at Joe Gibbs Racing and I’m happy to have them helping me,” said Reaves. “Racing has really become something our entire family loves. I enjoy every part of it and especially working with my younger brother, Roo. I’m just thankful for this opportunity.”

‘Team Interstate’ Adds Crown Jewel Races to its 2024 Schedule as it Continues with Sponsorships Across JGR’s Entire NASCAR Cup Series Lineup

 

HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. (Feb. 7 2024) – Interstate Batteries, one of the most tenured team sponsors in NASCAR history, begins its 33rd season as the founding sponsor of Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) when the NASCAR Cup Series kicks off its points-paying season with the Feb. 18 Daytona 500 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway. The brand’s iconic green livery will not only continue to have a major presence across all four of JGR’s NASCAR Cup Series entries in 2024, but will now see its schedule add two “Crown Jewel” races in NASCAR’s top series.

 

Interstate Batteries will have 11 primary sponsorships in the NASCAR Cup Series in 2024, a similar number of schemes to last year’s expanded presence amongst all four JGR Toyota Camry XSEs. Along with another appearance in the Daytona 500, Interstate’s colors will have co-primary sponsorships at the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway in May, and the Cup Series season finale at Phoenix Raceway.

 

Christopher Bell, driver of the No. 20 Toyota Camry for JGR, kicks off the Team Interstate effort as a co-primary sponsor in the Daytona 500 on Feb. 18 as the Championship 4 driver from 2023 looks to bring home his first Harley J. Earl trophy. Interstate Batteries returned to the Daytona 500 last year for the first time since 2007, riding along with then-rookie Ty Gibbs.

 

The Daytona 500 will always hold a special place in the respective histories of Interstate Batteries and JGR, as they won their first race together 31 years ago, in the 1993 Daytona 500, with driver Dale Jarrett.

 

Bell and Gibbs will run the majority of Interstate Batteries’ races, with veteran Denny Hamlin in Interstate colors for two races and Martin Truex Jr., carrying a primary Interstate Batteries sponsorship for one race. Hamlin, a winner of 51 NASCAR Cup Series races, will drive the No. 11 Interstate Batteries Toyota Camry XSE in the March 26 race at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, as well as the NASCAR Cup Series first-ever race at Iowa Speedway in Newton on June 16. Truex, the 2017 NASCAR Cup Series champion, will again pilot the No. 19 Interstate Batteries Toyota Camry July 23 at Pocono (Pa.) Raceway.

 

“From the very beginning, our partnership with Joe (Gibbs) and everyone at Joe Gibbs Racing has made us feel like we are a part of their family,” said Norm Miller, Chairman Emeritus, Interstate Batteries. “We are very excited to not only return for our 33rd season together, but to add yet another ‘Crown Jewel’ event to our schedule with the NASCAR Championship Weekend as we return to the Daytona 500 for the second year in a row. Our Daytona 500 win back in 1993 with Dale Jarrett will be a day I’ll never forget and we are hoping, now 31 years later, Christopher and the entire 20 team get us back to victory lane in NASCAR’s biggest race.”

 

After racing at Daytona, Bell returns to Interstate Batteries colors March 3 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, where he finished in the runner-up spot in October in a thrilling playoff-race finish with Kyle Larson. The six-time Cup Series race winner will next be in his Interstate Batteries livery back in Daytona for the annual summer night race on Aug. 24. Bell, who has appeared in the Championship 4 the past two seasons, will hope to make it back for a third year in a row when Interstate Batteries is co-primary sponsor for the season finale at Phoenix.

 

Gibbs kicks off his slate of Interstate Batteries races with an April 14 visit to the backyard of Interstate’s Dallas headquarters, Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, and as co-primary in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte on May 26, June 30 at Nashville (Tenn.) Superspeedway, and the Oct. 13 return to the Charlotte Roval.

 

“We saw a lot of excitement among the Interstate system last season when the partnership expanded to all four JGR drivers and teams,” said Lain Hancock, President & CEO, Interstate Batteries. “We are thrilled to be able to add the NASCAR Championship Weekend in Phoenix to go along with our other marquee races, the Daytona 500 and Coca-Cola 600, as we look forward to another successful year for Team Interstate.”

 

Interstate Batteries helped launch JGR in 1992. In the 32 years that have followed, JGR has scored 200 Cup Series victories – a number that includes four Daytona 500s – and five Cup Series championships. All of JGR’s firsts – win (Jarrett, 1992 Daytona 500), pole (Bobby Labonte, April 21, 1995, at Martinsville Speedway in Virginia) and championship (Labonte, 2000 Cup Series title) have come with Interstate Batteries as the primary sponsor. When all of JGR’s successes are added up across each NASCAR series in which it competes, its race victories total more than doubles to 413 (200 in the Cup Series, 193 in the Xfinity Series and 20 in the ARCA Menards Series) with 12 total championships (five in Cup, six in Xfinity and one in ARCA).

 

“We wouldn’t be where we are as a race team without the support from our founding partner Interstate Batteries for the past 32 race seasons,” said Joe Gibbs, owner of Joe Gibbs Racing. “To think we are entering our 33rd racing season together speaks to how special our partnership has been and the relationships we’ve built with everyone at Interstate Batteries. I’ll be forever grateful to Norm and Tommy Miller, who gave us a chance when we didn’t have a building, cars or even employees. We are blessed to continue to work with great people like Lain (Hancock) and his entire team. There are few partnerships that have stood the test of time like Joe Gibbs Racing and Interstate Batteries have.”

 

Gibbs, along with three of the drivers who have raced for JGR since its inception in 1992, have been inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame. Jarrett was ushered into the Hall in 2014 while Gibbs, Labonte and Tony Stewart were enshrined together as part of the Class of 2020.

Successful partnership that started in 2023 back on track for eight races this season

 

HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. (Jan. 31, 2024) – Joe Gibbs Racing announced today that Mavis Tires & Brakes will be featured as the primary sponsor for Denny Hamlin’s No. 11 Toyota Camry XSE for eight races in 2024. 

 

Mavis, based in Millwood, N.Y., is the largest independent tire and service provider in the United States with more than 850 service centers in 22 states. Mavis recently acquired TBC Corporation’s NTB Service Centers and Tire Kingdom Service Centers, which yields more than 2,000 service centers under the brand umbrella in total.

 

“We are thrilled to team up with Joe Gibbs Racing and Denny Hamlin again this year for what promises to be an exciting 2024 racing season,” said David Sorbaro, Mavis co-CEO. “This union with NASCAR continues to be a perfect fit.”

 

“Mavis was founded on value, excellent customer service and family,” said Stephen Sorbaro, Mavis co-CEO. “This partnership continues to complement our dedication to the automotive industry and our connection to communities and neighborhoods around the country. We look forward to another great season with our customers and the Mavis family cheering on No. 11 for a win.”

 

Last season, Mavis joined Hamlin’s No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing team for eight races, including the Chesterfield, Va. native’s 50th career NASCAR Cup Series victory at Pocono Raceway in July. That agreement and the extension were brokered by JGR partner agency, C10 Media, which owns ANC the leading sports and entertainment display technology and multimedia advertising firm.

 

The Mavis Toyota Camry XSE will make its 2024 debut at Phoenix Raceway on March 10. Hamlin will also race the Mavis colors at Bristol Motor Speedway (March 17), Richmond Raceway (March 31), Dover Motor Speedway (April 28), Charlotte Motor Speedway (May 26), Pocono Raceway (July 14), Atlanta Motor Speedway (September 8), and Homestead-Miami Speedway (October 27).

 

“Our partnership with Mavis has been great for both sides,” said Hamlin. “Last season, we had a ton of success in the Mavis colors. It is always exciting to bring new partners into the sport and to be able to deliver on their investment. I’m looking forward to what we can do together this year.”

Winningest team in Xfinity Series history to field four full-time entries

 

HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. (December 13, 2023) – Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) announced today their driver and crew chief lineup for the 2024 NASCAR Xfinity Series season. The team will field four Toyota GR Supras – two with full-time drivers and two with a rotating schedule of part-time drivers.

 

The lineup will be headlined by Sheldon Creed driving the No. 18 GR Supra and Chandler Smith piloting the No. 81 GR Supra. Aric Almirola and John Hunter Nemechek will split driving duties of the team’s No. 20 entry while the No. 19 GR Supra will be driven by Ryan Truex, William Sawalich, Joe Graf Jr., and Taylor Gray.

 

Creed, the 2020 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series champion, joins JGR with 70 career starts in the Xfinity Series. Over the past two seasons, the Alpine, California native has earned 11 top-five finishes and 29 top-10s, including seven runner-up results. Prior to his move to the Xfinity Series, Creed spent three seasons in the Truck Series where he won eight times, highlighted by his championship-winning performance at Phoenix Raceway in 2020. He also won the 2018 ARCA Menards Series championship on the strength of four wins and 16 top-five finishes.

 

Smith transitions to JGR after a strong rookie season where he won his first career Xfinity Series race at Richmond Raceway in April and tallied eight top-five finishes and 11 top-10s. He is no stranger to the Toyota family as Smith raced Toyotas prior to 2023 and claimed five Truck Series victories driving Toyota Tundras.

 

The majority of the No. 20 team’s schedule will feature a pair of drivers making returns to JGR. Nemechek is back for 10 Xfinity Series races after a stellar 2023 season where he led all drivers in wins (seven), top-five finishes (17), and laps led (1,083) on the way to advancing to the Championship 4. Almirola took a much different journey back to JGR. The Tampa, Florida native last drove for the team in November 2007. In 2006 and 2007, he made his Xfinity Series debut with JGR and started 27 races overall. For the past 12 seasons, Almirola has competed full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series. His resume includes three Cup Series wins and four Xfinity Series victories.

 

For the third consecutive season, Truex will compete for JGR. The younger brother of JGR Cup Series veteran Martin Truex Jr. scored his long-awaited first career victory last season at Dover Motor Speedway driving JGR’s No. 19 GR Supra. Ryan Truex owns 189 career starts across NASCAR’s top three series. His time with JGR’s Xfinity Series team has been exceptional, including his six-race campaign last season where he posted three top-three finishes.

 

Graf will be behind the wheel for JGR again in 2024. Last year, he competed in six races for the team and posted a pair of top-10 finishes. Graf is a familiar face in the Xfinity Series, having made 126 career starts over the past five seasons.

 

Gray will make his Xfinity Series debut in 2024 when he hits the track in the No. 19 Toyota GR Supra. Gray is coming off his rookie NASCAR Truck Series season with TRICON Garage where he earned three top-five finishes and six top-10s. He also ran one ARCA Menards Series race for JGR last season at Talladega Superspeedway. In 2022, Gray claimed three ARCA Menards Series victories and three combined ARCA East and West wins.

 

Following his 18th birthday on October 3, Sawalich will make his Xfinity Series debut at Homestead-Miami Speedway on October 26 in addition to starts at Martinsville Speedway (November 2) and Phoenix Raceway (November 9) to complete the season. Sawalich will also still compete in the ARCA Menards Series in the No. 18 Toyota Camry for JGR. Last season, the Eden Prairie, Minnesota native won the ARCA Menards Series East championship on the strength of four wins. He also won a pair of ARCA Menards Series races – Berlin Raceway and Toledo Speedway – and the ARCA Menards Series West season finale at Phoenix Raceway to complete a breakout season for the young driver.

 

“Over the last couple of months, we’ve been working diligently to put together our 2024 Xfinity program which will include the addition of a fourth team,” said Steve DeSouza, EVP NASCAR Xfinity Series/Development at JGR. “Our 2024 roster has a great balance of experience, youth, wisdom, and talent. We believe the veteran drivers will continually benchmark our program, compliment, and challenge each other, as well as assist our younger drivers to further develop their skill set. We are also excited about our crew chiefs and the teams they have assembled. We take a lot of pride in not only our program’s on-track success, but also in the opportunity to develop and promote our team members.”

 

JGR is adding three first-time crew chiefs to work with Jeff Meendering who returns for his sixth season atop the pit box. Tyler Allen, Seth Chavka, and Sam McAulay all join the Xfinity Series programs after previously serving in engineering roles with JGR’s Cup Series program.

 

Tyler Allen will lead the No. 20 team with Almirola and Nemechek. Allen has spent the past nine seasons working in various engineering roles within JGR. After being with JGR Xfinity Series team in 2015 and 2016 and winning 19 races, Allen worked as an engineer under crew chief Adam Stevens for the past seven years – first with Kyle Busch from 2017-2020, and most recently working as the lead race engineer for Christopher Bell for the past three seasons. He won the 2019 Cup Series championship with Busch and collected 25 Cup Series victories over those seven years.

 

Seth Chavka will oversee the No. 19 team after serving as a JGR lead race engineer since 2019 for Erik Jones, Kyle Busch, and Ty Gibbs. Before moving to JGR, Chavka worked at Richard Childress Racing where he went to Cup Series victory lane twice with Austin Dillon in addition to four Xfinity Series wins with Elliott Sadler.

 

Sam McAulay will be paired with Creed and the No. 18 team. Before this opportunity, McAulay was the lead race engineer for Denny Hamlin’s No. 11 Cup Series team for the past eight years. His resume includes 25 victories with Hamlin, including three Daytona 500 series. In 2022, he led Hamlin to a Coca-Cola 600 while serving as interim crew chief. McAulay is familiar with JGR’s Xfinity Series program as he worked as an engineer on the No. 20 Xfinity Series car from 2013-2015.

 

Crew Chief Jeff Meendering will be team up Smith for the 2024 season. Meendering is the veteran of the group as his resume includes more than 250 starts as a crew chief across NASCAR’s top two series. He has guided teams to eight Xfinity Series wins, including six at JGR. Last season, Meendering led Sammy Smith to a win at Phoenix Raceway, sixth in the final standings and Rookie of the Year honors.

 

In addition to four Xfinity Series cars, JGR will continue to field a Toyota Camry in the ARCA Menards Series, led by Crew Chief Matt Ross. Sawalich will also defend his 2023 ARCA Menards Series East championship. The 17-year-old does not meet the age requirements of certain tracks, so the remaining six races of the ARCA schedule will be filled by CRAFTSMAN Truck Series regular Tanner Gray.

 

Tanner Gray has 15 ARCA races under his belt from 2019-2021 where he earned three top-five finishes, nine top-10s, and one pole award. He will also compete full time in Truck Series for TRICON Garage in 2024. His ARCA schedule will include starts at Daytona International Speedway (February 17), Talladega Superspeedway (April 20), Kansas Speedway (May 4 and September 27), Charlotte Motor Speedway (May 24), and Michigan International Speedway (August 16).

Huntersville, N.C. – June 20, 2023 – Today Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) announced it has received a significant investment from Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment (HBSE) and Arctos Partners. The minority investment aims to support Coach Gibbs’ vision for the growth of JGR as a family company and as a continued leader in NASCAR. Through the investment, Joe Gibbs will also become a limited partner in Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment pending approval by the NBA and the NHL.

 

“Josh Harris, David Blitzer and their entire team have a vision that has delivered winning franchises in basketball, hockey, soccer and youth sports. Their teams are among the most successful in their leagues in growing audience and sponsorship and their commitment to the communities they work in are unparalleled.  I am excited to join the HBSE family and to have their support in growing Joe Gibbs Racing,” said Joe Gibbs.

 

“In recent years I’ve been fortunate enough to get to know Coach Gibbs and am proud to count him as a trusted friend and advisor,” said HBSE’s Co-Founder Josh Harris. “Joe is a winner. First in football and then with Joe Gibbs Racing, he has led organizations that build winning cultures based on strong values and a deep commitment to family and faith. This investment and partnership aims to support his vision and allow Joe Gibbs Racing to continue its track record of excellence long into the future.”

 

On Coach Gibbs’ joining HBSE as a limited partner, Co-Founder David Blitzer said, “We welcome Coach Gibbs and JGR to the HBSE family. At HBSE, our definition of winning extends beyond the playing surface to positively impact the communities we serve. Coach Gibbs and his team epitomize that and we’re excited to support him and his team as they continue to grow.”

 

“We’re thrilled to be entering this relationship with Joe Gibbs Racing alongside HBSE,” said Chad Hutchinson, Partner at Arctos Partners. “Coach Gibbs has created one of the most successful organizations in NASCAR, and we are excited about the opportunities to support JGR’s growth as they continue to be a leader on the track."

 

Joe Gibbs Racing was founded in 1992 by Pro Football Hall of Fame Coach Joe Gibbs. The team captured its first win at the 1993 Daytona 500, and since that time, JGR has totaled more combined wins across NASCAR’s top three national series than any other organization in the history of the sport. That win total now stands at 401, including 204 NASCAR Cup Series victories and 197 wins in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. Over that time, JGR has captured five NASCAR Cup Series Championships and six NASCAR Xfinity Series Owner Championships. Gibbs was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2020.

 

Ardea Partners LP served as the exclusive financial adviser to Joe Gibbs Racing, Inc.

 

About Joe Gibbs Racing

 

Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) is one of the premier organizations in NASCAR with four NASCAR Cup Series teams, three NASCAR Xfinity Series teams, an ARCA Series team, and a driver development program. JGR is based in Huntersville, N.C., and owned by 2020 NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee Joe Gibbs, who also earned his place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame and was named as one of the NFL’s top 10 coaches of all-time with a winning career that included three Super Bowl Championships as head coach of the Washington franchise. JGR has competed in NASCAR since 1992, capturing more than 400 wins over that span. No team has more combined wins across the sport’s three national series in the history of NASCAR. In addition, JGR has won five Cup Series championships along with four Xfinity Series driver championships and six Xfinity Series owner’s championship. The organization also has captured four Daytona 500 titles, considered to be NASCAR’s premier event each season.

 

About HBSE

 

Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment (HBSE) is a leading sports and entertainment company, with a focus on inspiring possibilities in people and enhancing the communities where we live, work, play and win.

 

Founded by Josh Harris and David Blitzer, HBSE’s global portfolio has grown to include premier sports franchises, brands, venues and investment platforms, centered around marquee assets including the Philadelphia 76ers, the New Jersey Devils and the Prudential Center.

 

About Arctos Partners

 

Arctos Partners is a private investment firm focused on transforming select markets by providing growth capital and liquidity solutions to industry-leading platforms and ownership groups. Founded in late 2019, Arctos first began investing in professional sports franchises and related assets across the global sports landscape. Arctos works with innovative and visionary ownership groups and leagues across North American professional sports and European soccer. With a team of nearly 40 investment and operational professionals and offices in Dallas, New York, and London, Arctos strives to unlock non-obvious opportunities long before others have noticed the market need or opportunity. In addition to the provision of liquidity solutions and growth capital by Arctos, Arctos’ partners are able to leverage the deep industry knowledge and operational expertise of Arctos’ executive team, data science platform and operating advisors to help drive additional value. Arctos is the first firm to be approved by and execute deals across multiple sports leagues, including the NBA, MLB, NHL, and MLS, and to date, has invested in more than 20 sports franchises and adjacent businesses.

HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. (May 25, 2023) - Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) announces today the hire of Michael Guttilla as Chief Operating Officer and the promotion of Toni Rogers to Chief People Officer from her previous role of Vice President of Human Resources.

 

Guttilla brings more than 35 years of experience as an engineering executive in the automotive industry.  The past 24 years were spent in several executive roles with Multimatic, where he led a global team responsible for the advanced research, design, analysis, testing, and validation of the company’s entire product portfolio. 

 

Reporting to JGR President Dave Alpern, Guttilla will oversee several aspects of JGR’s operations with an official start date of June 19, 2023.

 

“We’re excited to welcome Michael into our Joe Gibbs Racing family,” said Dave Alpern, president of Joe Gibbs Racing. “This was an exhaustive process that started toward the end of last season. We announced the hiring of our new Chief Commercial Officer, Eric Schaffer, just before the start of our season and Michael will be another key pillar in helping lead us into the future. To get a leader of Michael’s caliber will be a tremendous boost to our race team and the development of our people.”
 

Guttilla most recently served Multimatic as Vice President of Engineering and R&D. He previously spent seven years as Vice President of Global Sales & Marketing where he was responsible for technical sales, customer engineering interface, marketing and strategic business planning for the company’s product portfolio. He started with the company in 1999 focused on initiating and growing Multimatic’s Suspension Systems business.
 

“Like everyone involved in the automotive and motorsports industry, I’ve always admired Joe Gibbs Racing’s unparalleled success, humility and integrity,” said Guttilla. “JGR’s culture of putting people first, developing the best talent in the industry, and acting as one team in unison with their sponsors, partners, and community is even more impressive than all the resulting victories and championships, and why it is such an honor to now be a part of the Joe Gibbs Racing family. I am thankful to Coach (Gibbs), the Gibbs family, Dave (Alpern), and the leadership team for entrusting me with this opportunity to contribute to their winning heritage on and off the racetrack.”
 

Joining Guttilla and Schaffer on Alpern’s leadership team is longtime JGR CFO Tim Carmichael, and Toni Rogers, who has been promoted to Chief People Officer and will oversee the team’s newly re-envisioned human resources department. 
 

“The Gibbs family has always said you win with people,” added Alpern. “Toni has been a tremendous asset to our race team for more than a decade now and she will play a key role in prioritizing our people and our culture.” 
 

Rogers joined JGR’s NASCAR operations in 2013 after two years with the organization’s motocross team.
 

“The Gibbs family has always put a tremendous emphasis on taking care of our employees,” said Rogers. “I’m honored by the trust that Dave (Alpern) and the family have placed in me with this role.”