Gibbs Powers to Xfinity Win at Brickyard

(Photo: Logan Skidan | The Podium Finish)

SPEEDWAY, Ind. — Through six NASCAR Xfinity Series starts this season, Ty Gibbs’ best finish was third. On his seventh try, he finally got it done.

The 20-year-old rising star for Joe Gibbs Racing got by AJ Allmendinger on a restart with 16 laps to go to win Saturday’s Pennzoil 150 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course.

Gibbs scored his 12th career victory and got his first NASCAR win since he won the 2022 Xfinity championship at Phoenix Raceway.

“Definitely felt like it was about time,” Gibbs said after the race. “It’s really cool to get one here at the Brickyard. I grew up racing go-karts in New Castle right down the street, so really special to me. Thank you to He Gets Us – all glory to Jesus Christ. Awesome car, great car. Thank you to Jason Ratcliff (crew chief). Jason did such a great job. This is so special to me.

“I raced go-karts right down the street with a bunch of kids – some of them are in INDYCAR now – we’re all adjusting to this level, so really special. We got the Brickyard, let’s go!”

Gibbs’ 28 laps led paced the entire field, but it came as an early thunderstorm shook up strategies. Just eight laps in, NASCAR called a red flag for lightning and a heavy shower soaked the racetrack during the stoppage.

But as the race got ready to resume, the racing surface had already begun to dry. NASCAR, however, mandated that all cars at least roll back off pit road with wet-weather tires on. AJ Allmendinger, who ran second at the time, exited the pits with wets but led a group that included Sam Mayer almost immediately back onto pit road to take drys.

When the race went green, it took just a few laps for the rest of the field to pit for slicks. That gave Allmendinger the lead once Gibbs made his stop and the cycle was completed.

(Photo: Wayne Riegle | The Podium Finish)

“The spray wasn’t bad, and it was easier to see, especially being out front,” Gibbs said. “We just made a good call keeping it on rain [tires]. I think we should’ve come in two laps earlier [for the dry tires].”

Allmendinger traded the lead off to Mayer under yellow on Lap 29 but got it back a few laps later under green flag conditions.

But on a restart with 16 laps to go, Gibbs got the lead back and kept it. He blasted by Allmendinger and pulled away, hoping the race would stay green and it did.

Mayer finished second for his fourth top-five in a row. He won two weeks ago at Road America for his first Xfinity victory. Allmendinger finished third.

Parker Kligerman rebounded to finish seventh after falling a lap down in Stage 2. He stayed out long on wet tires in Stage 1 to earn points but had to make a second pit stop after a valve stem got knocked loose, resulting in a flat tire. He got his lap back during the Lap 45 caution.

(Photo: Wayne Riegle | The Podium Finish)

Stage 1 Results

1. AJ Allmendinger
2. Sam Mayer
3. Daniel Hemric
4. Parker Kligerman
5. Justin Allgaier
6. Ty Gibbs
7. Parker Retzlaff
8. Chandler Smith
9. Josh Berry
10. Cole Custer

Stage 2 Results

1. AJ Allmendinger
2. Ty Gibbs
3. Sam Mayer
4. Sheldon Creed
5. Riley Herbst
6. Austin Hill
7. Chandler Smith
8. John Hunter Nemechek
9. Daniel Hemric
10. Jeremy Clements

Pennzoil 150 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway Result

Points Standings