Ty Gibbs' prolonged slump continues at Phoenix

There's not a driver in NASCAR at the moment on a worse run than Ty Gibbs. 

Due to circumstances mostly out of his own control, Gibbs has an average finish of 26.8 in four races into the 2025 season, and sits 36th in the points standings following Phoenix. 

But Gibbs' string of bad luck doesn't only date back to Daytona. Over the last nine NASCAR Cup Series races — going back to the Charlotte Roval in October of 2024 — Gibbs hasn't finished better than 16th. 

It's been a streak marred by mechanical failures, a lack of speed and a young driver that's had everything thrown at him. 

After a white-hot start to 2024, Gibbs limped into the Cup Series playoffs and was knocked out of the postseason after the Round of 16. 

On Sunday, Gibbs was fighting just to stay on the lead lap in the race's early going. He did, however, manage to climb to 13th by Lap 305 — until a brake rotor issue that also took Bubba Wallace out of the race bit Gibbs, sending him into the wall and relegating him to a 25th-place finish. 

While Gibbs was running decent late, his average running position was a paltry 23.1. The No. 54 team is clearly down a cylinder, and a good run at Las Vegas is needed in order to keep the wheels on early in the season.