Coy Gibbs, co-owner of NASCAR’s Joe Gibbs Racing, dies at 49

Coy Gibbs, co-owner of Joe Gibbs Racing and son of team patriarch Joe Gibbs, as well as the father of NASCAR driver Ty Gibbs, died at the age of 49, according to the racing organisation.

"It is with great sadness that Joe Gibbs Racing confirms that Coy Gibbs (co-owner) departed to be with the Lord in his sleep last night," the team stated on Twitter Sunday afternoon. "The family thanks all the thoughts and prayers and requests for privacy at this time."

Joe Gibbs' other son, J.D. Gibbs, died in 2019. According to NASCAR, he died at the age of 49 after a protracted fight with a degenerative neurological condition.

Coy Gibbs died unexpectedly only hours after his 20-year-old son, Ty Gibbs, won the NASCAR Xfinity Series championship race.

Following a contentious week, Coy Gibbs addressed to the media about his son's campaign on Saturday.

"Watching it today, sure, just to see his dedication," he said, according to NASCAR.

"I believe he has abilities and is driven." It certainly made me proud. I think that made both my wife and me pleased simply because he pounded down and performed his job. "If he wants to do this for a job, he'll figure it out," he continued.

Coy Gibbs joined his father's team after ending his collegiate football career at Stanford University, according to NASCAR. According to NASCAR, Coy and J.D. Gibbs both worked in the front office of Joe Gibbs Racing, and Coy Gibbs also competed for the organisation.

The death of Coy Gibbs shook the NASCAR world on the eve of the season's last race. Before the marathon, he observed a moment of quiet in his remembrance.

Ty Gibbs was scheduled to drive the No. 23 vehicle in Sunday's NASCAR Cup Series Championship race at Phoenix Raceway in Avondale, Arizona, but was substituted by Daniel Hemric mere hours before the race, with his 23XI Racing team claiming "a family situation" as the reason.

Denny Hamlin, a prominent driver for Joe Gibbs Racing, wrote, "Today we will do what we don't want to do, but we will unify as a family and compete for the name on our breast."

"We are grieved by the untimely death of Coy Gibbs," NASCAR chairman and CEO Jim France said in a statement. I express my my sympathies to Joe, Pat, Heather, the Gibbs family, and everyone at Joe Gibbs Racing on the loss of Coy, a genuine friend and racer, on behalf of the France family and all of NASCAR.