This is the moment proud father Coy Gibbs spoke of how impressed he was with his 20-year-old son Ty’s determination in winning the Nascar Xfinity Series, hours before his sudden death at the age of 49.
Coy, the vice-chairman of Nascar’s Joe Gibbs racing, died unexpectedly on Saturday night after attending Phoenix Raceway in Arizona to witness his son’s championship run alongside his wife, Heather.
Just hours later, on Sunday morning, Joe Gibbs Racing confirmed that the racer’s father had died in his sleep. A cause of death has not been confirmed.
Now footage has emerged of Coy’s final interview, speaking at a Saturday night press conference about his ‘pride’ in his son.
Ty had won the Xfinity Series championship, holding off Noah Gragson in Saturday’s 200-mile race to take the title in his rookie year. But his victory came in controversial circumstances after he wrecked teammate Brandon Jones out of the lead at Martinsville Speedway last week.
He was subsequently booed in Arizona but Coy was proud of the way his son overcame the heat on him.
‘I’m definitely proud of him, I’ve always got his back as a father, obviously it’s heartbreaking to go through tough stuff,’ Coy said on Saturday night.
Coy Gibbs is pictured at Saturday’s press conference, hours before his death aged 49
Coy (left) poses with his son Ty and wife Heather after Ty won the Nascar Xfinity Series Championship at Phoenix Raceway on Saturday. Coy died on Sunday morning
‘It’s actually more heartbreaking to watch him go through it. I don’t give a rip, I’m old and I don’t care. To see your kid hurting, he knows he screwed up and to go through all that as a parent it’s tough.
‘Watching it today was, just to see his determination and I think he’s got skills and he’s determined, it definitely made me proud.
‘My wife and I, we were both proud because he’s just hammered down and did his job and if he wants to do this for a living he’s got to learn how to do that.’
He added: ‘It’s been a tough week for sure. When you start this day, I was just like “I just want to get this day over with”, that’s my mindset because I want to move on and get past it. But I’ve been through this before, Ty hasn’t, so it was more watching him and seeing how he was going to react.
‘He’s just doubled down and done his job after making a huge mistake last week – so it was fun to watch that.’
A Joe Gibbs Racing statement on Sunday read: ‘It is with great sorrow that Joe Gibbs Racing confirms that Coy Gibbs 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.’
Coy Gibbs was the son of NFL Hall of Famer Joe Gibbs, who won three Super Bowl titles with Washington and went 154-94 in 16 seasons with the team.
He went on to lead a top NASCAR organization with the help of his two sons, but he has now lost both of them.
His other son, J.D. Gibbs, died just three years ago – also aged 49 – after fighting a neurological disease. He had run the team until his death in 2019.
He had undergone treatment for symptoms impacting areas of brain function in the years leading up to his death.
Nascar chairman and CEO Jim France also paid tribute to the co-owner. He said in a statement: ‘We are heartbroken by the tragic loss of Coy Gibbs.
‘On behalf of the France Family and all of NASCAR, I extend my deepest condolences to Joe, Pat, Heather, the Gibbs family and everyone at Joe Gibbs Racing on the loss of Coy, a true friend and racer.’
Nascar held a moment of silence before the Cup Series finale on Sunday following Gibbs’ death.
His son was replaced by driver Daniel Hemric just hours before the race was due to start.
Coy is pictured with wife Heather and children Elle, Jett, Ty and Case (L-R) last Christmas Eve
Coy, Ty and Joe Gibbs are pictured together after another victory shared together in 2020
Denny Hamlin, one of Joe Gibbs Racing’s most successful drivers paid tribute to the late racer, saying: ‘Today we will do what we don’t want to do, but we we will unite as a family and race for the name on our chest. @JoeGibbsRacing’.
Meanwhile Kyle Busch, who concluded his 15-year- tenure at Joe Gibbs Racing in the same race, said: ‘Words can’t describe this day. Today was already going to be tough enough but it’s even more gut wrenching now. Heartbroken.’
His wife Samantha also paid tribute to Gibbs and described the ‘utter disbelief’ that he was ‘no longer with us;.
‘Our hearts hurt so much for Coach [Joe Gibbs] and Pat having to lay another son to rest, Heather, Ty and the rest of the kids for such a sudden and devastating loss.’
Gibbs had played college as a linebacker at Stanford University in the early 90s before moving to NASCAR.
He made his debut at the Truck Series in 2000 where he shared the driving duties of the No.18 Chevrolet with his late brother, J.D Gibbs.
In 2004, he returned to being a coach at the NFL’s Washington Commanders until 2007. His father had been coach of the Washington Redskins as it was formerly known.
And he later founded the JGRMX team a year later before becoming vice chairman and COO of Joe Gibbs Racing in 2016.
J.D Gibbs (pictured) was the other son of Joe Gibbs. He died aged 49 in 2019 – after fighting a neurological disease
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