NASCAR Cup Series hosts some of the most challenging races in the motorsports world, and rookies often have a hard time making an impact in their debut season. One such race is the GEICO 500 at the Talladega Superspeedway, and two rookies, Ty Gibbs and Noah Gragson, are set to race for the first time at the Dega as full-time Cup Series drivers.
Going into one of the fastest tracks on the circuit, Ty Gibbs, the 20-year-old grandson of Joe Gibbs, will be at the front of the pack as he has qualified 3rd for the race. However, it will not be easy for him, as is evident from the word of warning issued to the younger drivers by Gibbs’s former teammate at 23XI Racing, Bubba Wallace.
Bubba Wallace has a few words for the rookies
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Wallace, who won the rain-shortened race at Talladega in 2021, knows all too well how difficult it can be for rookies to earn the respect of their fellow drivers in NASCAR. In an interview with For The Win, Wallace spoke about the challenges of racing at Talladega and the importance of earning respect.
Wallace stated, “The biggest thing is it starts with respect. So it’s hard for the rookies that come in to have the respect of the guys that have been around for a while just because we know how this race is gonna play out and we know one wrong move can take you out of it.
“For many superspeedway races just starting out in my Cup career, I was getting left hanging high and dry. And I thought I was making every right move, but apparently, I wasn’t.”
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Wallace’s words of advice to Ty Gibbs and others highlight the importance of respect in NASCAR. Gibbs may have the pedigree and the talent, but he will need to earn the respect of his fellow drivers if he wants to succeed in the Cup Series. Keeping Wallace’s words close, Gibbs will need to be cautious and calculated as he takes on one of the most challenging tracks in the world.
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The rivalry between the rookies
Ty Gibbs’s 2022 Xfinity championship win was mired in controversy after he caused a wreck that took out his teammate Brandon Jones in Martinsville. Gibbs faced intense scrutiny and was booed by the crowd even after securing the title in Phoenix.
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Gibbs’s championship win was impressive, with seven victories in the 2022 season, including the finale at Phoenix Raceway. However, his controversial actions leading up to the championship have left many questioning his sportsmanship and respect for his fellow drivers.
Gibbs faced Justin Allgaier, Josh Berry, and Noah Gragson in the Championship 4, with Gibbs being the lone non-JR Motorsports driver. While he won the pole and the first two stages, he faced stiff competition from Allgaier and Gragson, with Berry eventually falling out after hitting the wall. Gibbs’s actions on the track, particularly the incident with teammate Brandon Jones, led to a feud with Gragson, who called him a “douchebag” in a post-race interview.
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Looking ahead, both Gibbs and Gragson will likely continue their rivalry in the NASCAR Cup Series. Gibbs drives the #54 Toyota for JGR, while Gragson drives the #42 Chevy for Legacy Motor Club. It remains to be seen is Ty Gibbs’s reputation follows him or impacts his Cup Series career and his relationships with other drivers.