Ty Gibbs won a controversial playoff race at Martinsville Speedway on Saturday, setting him up to challenge for the Xfinity Series championship next week at Phoenix Raceway.
And he did it at the expense of Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Brandon Jones. Gibbs wrecked Jones from behind on the white-flag lap to not only keep Jones from the win but also knock him out of the series' championship race.
The wreck occurred with Jones leading the final lap in the third overtime. Gibbs, behind him in second, spun Jones in Turn 1. He took the lead and won the race under caution.
What are your thoughts on Ty GIbbs' move on Brandon Jones?
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) October 29, 2022
Does he deserve the win? #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/B9vgL8ZZbG
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Had Gibbs not wrecked Jones, they likely would have finished second and first, respectively, allowing both to advance to the final round of the playoff. Jones instead finished eighth, allowing Justin Allgaier of JR Motorsports to take the fourth spot in the Championship 4.
Fans in attendance did not appreciate the move, booing Gibbs — a grandson of the team's namesake — as he did a victory spinout:
Ty Gibbs gets BOOED HARD.
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) October 29, 2022
The fans don't like his move to win. #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/fYSQRuJwEF
It's worth noting that Jones and Gibbs will not be teammates after the 2022 Xfinity Series season ends. Jones will join Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s JR Motorsports for 2023. Earnhardt also expressed disapproval with Gibbs as he provided analysis from the booth for NBC.
After the race, Jones expressed his disappointment and frustration with his teammate's move, saying, "I've never wrecked (Gibbs) or done anything for a win, so it just kind of shows where that level (of respect) is there."
"I'm excited to make my move to @JRMotorsports next year, be part of that organization. A little bit more respect probably given."@BrandonJonesRac on Ty Gibbs' move to win. #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/CuG4nmEIq3
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) October 29, 2022
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Gibbs said on the NBC broadcast that he did not spin Jones intentionally.
"I definitely didn't want to wreck him, but I wanted to get him out of the (low) groove," Gibbs said.
Earnhardt wasn't the only one who didn't appreciate Gibbs' move. Noah Gragson, also of JR Motorsports, expressed disapproval:
Noah Gragson on his thoughts of the Ty Gibbs-Brandon Jones finish: “But I guess … you’ve got to kind of deal with that when you’re driving that Ty Gibbs Racing car, I mean Joe Gibbs Racing car.” pic.twitter.com/Rh4F7HNNde
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) October 29, 2022
The question now is whether Jones will retaliate against Gibbs at Phoenix, however unlikely that may be. NASCAR could penalize Jones as a non-playoff participant manipulating the outcome of a championship race in that scenario.
It remains to be seen whether NASCAR will punish Gibbs for wrecking Jones.