JGR NEWS

Saia To Be Primary Sponsor for Seven Races During 2025 NASCAR Cup Series Season

Huntersville, North Carolina, January 23, 2025 — Saia Inc. (NASDAQ: SAIA) is excited to announce that Saia LTL Freight has partnered with Joe Gibbs Racing for a multi-year sponsorship of Ty Gibbs and the No. 54 Toyota Camry XSE in the NASCAR Cup Series.

 

Saia offers customers a wide range of less-than-truckload (LTL) services including service to Canada and Mexico. In addition, they offer expedited and logistics services through their subsidiary, LinkEx. Currently, they operate 214 terminals across the United States and employ more than 15,000 people.

 

“We are thrilled about our partnership with Joe Gibbs Racing, Ty Gibbs, and the entire No. 54 team. Like Saia, they are an organization synonymous with success,” said Saia Executive Vice President and Chief Customer Officer Ray Ramu. “This is a tremendous opportunity for Saia that will allow us to engage with our employees, customers, and the community in a new and exciting way. We are looking forward to a winning season ahead.”

 

JGR has competed in NASCAR since 1992, capturing 425 combined wins over that span across the Cup and Xfinity Series. No team has more combined wins 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 championships. The organization also has captured four Daytona 500 titles, considered to be NASCAR’s premier event each season.

 

“We are excited to have Saia join our family at Joe Gibbs Racing,” said Coach Joe Gibbs. “They have an impressive operation, establishing themselves as a leader in the transportation and logistics industry. We know they deliver, and we certainly plan on delivering success with them both on and off the track.”

 

Ty Gibbs might only be 22 years old, but he has already amassed a number of impressive accomplishments. He is the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series Rookie of the Year, the 2022 NASCAR Xfinity Series champion on the strength of seven wins and 23 top-10 finishes and the 2021 ARCA Menards Series Champion. He also won the 2021 Xfinity Series Rookie of the Year title.

 

In 2024, he made the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs and finished 15th in the final point standings. He scored career highs in top five finishes (eight), top-10s (12), laps led (417) and scored two poles.

 

“Really excited to have Saia as a partner on our No. 54 Toyota Camry,” Ty Gibbs said. “They are a great company, and I hope we can put them in victory lane during this season. All of their employees have already been so supportive.”

 

The first race for Saia as primary sponsor will be February 23rd at Atlanta Motor Speedway. The other races will be at Talladega Superspeedway (April 27), Texas Motor Speedway (May 4), the NASCAR All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway (May 18), Sonoma Raceway (July 13), Indianapolis Motor Speedway (July 27), and Las Vegas Motor Speedway (October 12).

Denny Hamlin will drive King’s Hawaiian colors in four races this season

 

HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. (January 22, 2025) – Joe Gibbs Racing announced today that the organization has signed a multi-year agreement with King’s Hawaiian. As part of the partnership, Denny Hamlin will drive the No. 11 King’s Hawaiian Toyota Camry XSE in four NASCAR Cup Series races this season.

 

2025 marks the 75th anniversary of King’s Hawaiian. While the company has grown since Robert Taira founded his first bakery in Hilo, HI in 1950, King’s Hawaiian has remained a family-owned business dedicated to making irresistible food that brings people together, sparking good times and inspiring joy in every bite. Today, they are best known for their best-selling Original Hawaiian Sweet Rolls, Slider Buns, and Hamburger Buns, as well as the newest addition to the snacking game, irresistibly sweet and salty Pretzel Bites!

 

“We are thrilled to have King’s Hawaiian join our family at Joe Gibbs Racing,” said Joe Gibbs, owner and founder of Joe Gibbs Racing. “Their dinner rolls and other products have really become a part of the daily lives of so many families over the past 75 years and we look forward to helping them celebrate such a significant anniversary this season both on and off the track.”

 

King’s Hawaiian is scheduled to be the primary sponsor of Hamlin’s No. 11 Toyota for races at Atlanta Motor Speedway (June 28), Daytona International Speedway (August 23), Bristol Motor Speedway (September 13), and Martinsville Speedway (October 26). In addition to its four-race primary sponsorship, King’s Hawaiian will also be featured as a full-season associate partner with Hamlin and the No. 11 team.

 

"As two family-owned businesses with a shared commitment to excellence and a long-standing tradition of continuous innovation and entrepreneurship, we are thrilled to announce this partnership with Joe Gibbs Racing and Denny Hamlin,” said Raouf Moussa, chief marketing officer for King’s Hawaiian. “This collaboration represents a perfect alignment of values and a unique opportunity to engage with the passionate NASCAR community to showcase our irresistible products and aloha spirit to millions of fans across the country."

 

Hamlin will be competing in his 20th full-time season in the NASCAR Cup Series. Entering 2025, Hamlin is tied for 12th on the all-time wins list with 54 victories, including three wins last year. 2025 is a year of change for the 44-year-old Virginia native as he will be working with crew chief Chris Gayle after Joe Gibbs Racing announced that Hamlin’s previous crew chief Chris Gabehart has been promoted to the team’s competition director role.

 

The King’s Hawaiian slate of races lines up well with Hamlin’s on-track success. He owns victories at all four tracks, including five at Martinsville, four at Bristol, three at Daytona, and one at Atlanta.

 

“We’re very excited to welcome King’s Hawaiian to our team,” said Hamlin. “It’s certainly a product we are very familiar with in our household and a great brand that has made a strong commitment to our sport. I’m looking forward to all the exciting things that we can do on and off the track to elevate their program to the next level.”

Jason Ratcliff Returns to Pit Box as Crew Chief of No. 54 Xfinity Series Team

 

HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. (December 2, 2024) – Joe Gibbs Racing announced that Tyler Allen will be the crew chief for Ty Gibbs and the No. 54 team in the NASCAR Cup Series beginning in 2025. This year, Allen served as the crew chief of JGR’s No. 20 NASCAR Xfinity Series team for eight of the team’s nine wins on the way to a runner-up finish in the owner’s championship.

 

Prior to his rookie season as a crew chief in 2024, Allen spent seven years as a race engineer working under Adam Stevens. During their time together, the Bellevue, Washington native was a part of Kyle Busch’s 2019 Cup Series championship team and five Championship 4 appearances (2017-2019 with Busch and 2022-2023 with Christopher Bell). Allen’s 2024 season included eight victories working with multiple drivers, 16 top-five finishes and 22 top-10s. In one Xfinity Series race working with Ty Gibbs, the duo won the pole award at Charlotte Motor Speedway before leading 27 laps on the way to a ninth-place finish.

 

“It's an honor to be named crew chief for Ty Gibbs and the 54 Team as we head into the 2025 season,” said Allen. “This opportunity has been a dream of mine since starting here at JGR 10 years ago, and I'm thankful for the support and guidance I've received from my mentors, teammates, and everyone along the way. Ty has shown a lot of speed and potential the last two years, and I look forward to building on that experience to get the 54 car in victory lane.”

 

Allen will oversee the No. 54 team for Gibbs’ third season in the Cup Series. Gibbs showed marked improvement from year one to year two as he claimed eight top-five finishes, 12 top-10s, two pole awards, 417 laps led and a playoff berth in his sophomore campaign.

 

On November 22, JGR announced that Chris Gabehart has been promoted to competition director while Chris Gayle will transition to the crew chief role for Denny Hamlin and the No. 11 team.

 

Allen was previously announced as the crew chief for Taylor Gray and JGR’s No. 54 Xfinity Series team in 2025. With Allen’s move to the Cup Series, veteran crew chief Jason Ratcliff will return to the top of the pit box to work with the young driver. Ratcliff stepped down from the box following the 2023 season and spent 2024 in a new position as JGR’s Team/Driver Coordinator for the organization’s Xfinity and ARCA Menard Series program.

 

“I’m thrilled to join Taylor and the 54 team for the 2025 season,” said Ratcliff. “After a year away from the track, I’m eager to return to the pit box every weekend. Taylor has the talent and determination to excel in NASCAR, and it's our mission to help him achieve that success.”

 

Over the course of his 24-year crew chief career, Ratcliff has worked with 28 different drivers, tallied 72 total wins across the sport’s top two series, and won the 2009 Xfinity Series Championship. Ratcliff has served as crew chief for 253 Cup Series starts and 548 Xfinity Series starts, earning 15 Cup Series wins and the most wins for a crew chief in Xfinity Series history at 57. Throughout his 801 starts, Ratcliff boasts 239 top-five finishes, 406 top-10s, and 49 poles.

 

“We take a lot of pride in our Xfinity Series program and the depth of talent that we have been able to maintain,” said Joe Gibbs, owner and founder of Joe Gibbs Racing. “Tyler Allen was successful at the Cup level with us while working under Adam Stevens and was impressive last season in the Xfinity Series leading that 20 team to eight wins while working with a number of different drivers. We have an exciting young and talented team on the 54 car.

 

“It is also exciting to have Jason Ratcliff back on the pit box in the Xfinity Series to work with Taylor Gray next season,” added Gibbs. “He has contributed so much to our organization over his career.”

Chris Gabehart Named Competition Director; Chris Gayle to Crew Chief No. 11 Team

 

HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. (November 22, 2024) – Joe Gibbs Racing announced a pair of changes in advance of the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season. Chris Gabehart, who has served as the crew chief of the No. 11 team for the past six seasons, will become the organization’s competition director while Chris Gayle, who has been the crew chief for the No. 54 team for the past two seasons, will assume the crew chief role for Denny Hamlin.

 

Both Gabehart and Gayle have been mainstays at Joe Gibbs Racing for a number of years. This season, both led their teams to the Cup Series Playoffs and top-15 finishes in the overall point standings.

 

“We have a lot of pride in the depth of talent we have throughout our organization,” said Joe Gibbs, owner and founder of Joe Gibbs Racing. “Chris Gabehart will now be an asset across all four of our teams as competition director and we thought it was important to have him transition into his new role immediately. Chris Gayle will bring his own perspective to the 11 team while also maintaining the consistency and continuity they have developed with Denny (Hamlin) over the past several years. While we are still in the process of finalizing the new crew chief for the 54 team, we believe all these moves ultimately make our team stronger as we prepare for 2025.”

 

Gabehart joined Joe Gibbs Racing in 2012 as a race engineer. He transitioned to a crew chief position with the team’s NASCAR Xfinity Series program from 2016-2018. After three successful seasons where his teams earned nine victories with multiple drivers, Gabehart was promoted to be the crew chief of the No. 11 team in 2019. The Hamlin-Gabehart combination proved to be a threat immediately by winning the 2019 DAYTONA 500 on the way to three consecutive Championship 4 appearances. In six seasons together, Gabehart and Hamlin claimed 22 victories, including a pair of DAYTONA 500s and the 2021 Southern 500.

 

“I am very thankful for the opportunities that Joe Gibbs Racing has continued to provide me for my entire tenure here and cannot say enough about how much I have enjoyed and appreciated my time with Denny and the entire 11 team,” said Gabehart. “They have all taught me so much about not only how to race at the top of the NASCAR Cup Series, but also, how to lead a great group of talented professionals. In my next opportunity, I am as excited as I have ever been to work with all our talented drivers, crew chiefs, teams and partners to help focus all our efforts towards making 2025 one of the best seasons Joe Gibbs Racing has ever had.”

 

Gayle’s resume includes a pair of Cup Series victories, 37 Xfinity Series wins, and the 2022 Xfinity Series championship. He began his time with Joe Gibbs Racing as an engineer in 2003. In 2013, Gayle moved into a crew chief position with JGR’s Xfinity Series team. After an impressive four-year stint from 2013-2016 where his teams claimed 20 victories, Gayle spent 2017 as a crew chief for Furniture Row Racing. He rejoined JGR in 2018 in the Cup Series with Erik Jones. He led the young driver to his first career win in 2018 and followed that up with a Southern 500 victory in 2019. In 2021, the Little Rock, Arkansas native guided JGR’s No. 54 Xfinity Series team to a whopping 10 wins with four different drivers. The next year, Gayle led Ty Gibbs to seven victories and the series championship before the duo moved to the Cup Series together in 2023. In 2024, Gayle oversaw the No. 54 team’s growth in Gibbs’ second season as they earned eight top-five finishes, 12 top-10s, two pole awards, and 417 laps led.

 

“Denny is obviously a first-ballot Hall of Famer,” said Gayle. “I’m looking forward to working with him and the guys on the No. 11 team. He and Gabehart have established an incredible culture that is a very good barometer for our other drivers and teams to strive to match. I have all the confidence in the world we can hit the ground running and continue the success that this group is accustomed to in 2025.”

 

The No. 54 crew chief will be announced at a later date.

Two-time ARCA Menards Series East champion will drive the No. 18 Starkey / SoundGear Toyota GR Supra fulltime

 

HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. (October 21, 2024) – Joe Gibbs Racing announced today that William Sawalich will drive the team’s No. 18 Starkey / SoundGear Toyota GR Supra fulltime in the NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2025. Sawalich, who won the 2023 and 2024 ARCA Menards Series East championships driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, will make his Xfinity Series debut this weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

 

The 18-year-old Minnesota native has achieved remarkable success over the past two seasons in the ARCA Menards Series. Over the past two seasons, Sawalich has racked up 18 victories in 39 starts across ARCA’s three platforms – national, east, and west. He recently claimed his first NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series pole award at Talladega Superspeedway, one day after his 18th birthday.

 

”I am honored to be driving the No. 18 fulltime in the Xfinity Series next year,” Sawalich said. ”It has been really cool to drive for Joe Gibbs Racing, and I feel like I have developed so much as a driver over the past two years. I still have a lot to learn, especially with moving to a new series, so I am looking forward to taking this next step in racing.”

 

The Toyota development driver’s No. 18 will be sponsored by Starkey featuring their SoundGear product line. SoundGear products provide both hearing protection and enhancement products ideal for hunting, competitive shooting, law enforcement, and motorsport teams, its fans, and much more. Engineered and manufactured by Starkey, SoundGear products provide 100% digital sound enhancement to deliver superior environmental awareness, while still protecting your hearing. Starkey is a global leader in hearing technology and premier provider in hearing health care headquartered in Eden Prairie, Minnesota.

 

Sawalich is joining the winningest team in Xfinity Series history. Joe Gibbs Racing owns 214 wins, including 10 this year. Since the team’s inception, 23 different drivers have taken JGR to victory lane in the Xfinity Series with14 of those drivers claiming their first career victory in the series driving for JGR. The organization has earned four Xfinity Series driver championships and six owner’s championships.

 

"We are thrilled to announce William's promotion to the next stage of his racing career with us," said Steve de Souza, Executive Vice President of Xfinity Series and Development at JGR. "His outstanding record of victories and development over the past two years shows he’s ready for the Xfinity Series. We’re confident he’ll remain a strong contender for wins as he takes on this new challenge in 2025."

New Mexico native will drive JGR’s No. 54 Toyota GR Supra fulltime

 

HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. (October 16, 2024) – Joe Gibbs Racing announced today that Taylor Gray will drive the team’s No. 54 Toyota GR Supra fulltime in the NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2025. Gray, who currently races in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series, has competed part-time for the JGR Xfinity Series team this season.

 

The 19-year-old New Mexico native has enjoyed success at every stage of his young career. This season, Gray has earned a pair of top-five finishes in the Xfinity Series, including an eye-opening third-place result in his debut at Richmond Raceway in March. In the Truck Series, he qualified for the playoffs in his first full season on the strength of seven top-five finishes and 11 top-10s so far. Gray also enjoyed success in the ARCA Menards Series with nine total victories across the series’ three platforms – national, east, and west.

 

”I am very thankful for this opportunity,” said Gray. ”I feel like I have learned a lot in the races I have ran this year and we can build on that next season. Being able to work with Tyler (Allen, crew chief) and these guys for a few races has been a great headstart on next season and getting that chemistry going, so I’m really excited about what we can do running together fulltime.”

 

Gray is joining the winningest team in Xfinity Series history. Joe Gibbs Racing owns 214 wins, including 10 this year. Since the team’s inception, 23 different drivers have taken JGR to victory lane in the Xfinity Series with14 of those drivers claiming their first career victory in the series driving for JGR. The organization has earned four Xfinity Series driver championships and six owner’s championships.

 

”We’re looking forward to adding Taylor to our lineup fulltime next year,” said Steve de Souza, Executive Vice President of Xfinity Series and Development for JGR. ”Taylor’s strong season in the Truck Series, along with his performance with us on the Xfinity side have been impressive. With Taylor in the Xfinity car every week in 2025, we expect that trend to continue and we’re look forward to him competing for wins and the championship.”

 

Gray will be paired with crew chief Tyler Allen. So far this season, Allen has led his team to seven victories and the regular season owner’s championship.

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.”

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."

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​“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.”

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.”

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.”