Photo: Meg Oliphant/Getty
Coy Gibbs, who previously raced forNASCARand coached for theNFL, has died. He was 49.
The father of fellow NASCAR driverTy Gibbsdied Saturday in his sleep, his company Joe Gibbs Racing announced, just hours after his 20-year-old sonwon the 2022 Xfinity Series championshipat Phoenix Raceway that evening.
Shortly before Ty won Saturday’s championship, in which he led a race-high 125 laps, Coy said in his final press conference that he’s “definitely proud” of his son. The conference came a week after Ty came under fire forcausing his teammate Brandon Jones to spin out, bumping him from the finale, according to the Associated Press.
“Watching it today, 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 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,” Coy added.
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David Wilson, president of Toyota Racing Development USA, shared: “Racing is a family and the relationships within the entire garage go so much deeper than on-track competition.
“Today, we lost a dear part of our family. The loss of Coy Gibbs is devastating to everyone at Toyota and TRD,” Wilson added. “Our deepest condolences and prayers are with Joe, Pat, Heather, Ty, Case, Jett and Elle and the entire Gibbs family and Joe Gibbs Racing family.”
Born in Fayetteville, Arkansas, Coy played college football as a linebacker for Stanford, before racing with NASCAR from 2000 to 2003, when he was named runner-up for Rookie of the Year.
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He later worked under his father Joe as an assistant coach for the Washington Redskins (now theCommanders) from 2004 to 2007. At the time of his death, he served as vice chairman and COO of his father’s Joe Gibbs Racing.
source: people.com
