HOME / NEWS / SPORTS

How did Coy Gibbs die? Joe Gibbs Racing co-owner, 49, dies hours after son Ty becomes Xfinity champion

Coy Gibbs had a brief racing career that included three seasons in the Trucks Series and two years in the then-NASCAR Busch Series

PHOENIX, ARIZONA: Coy Randall Gibbs, co-owner of Joe Gibbs Racing and son of NFL and NASCAR Hall of Famer, died unexpectedly at the age of 49 early on Sunday morning, November 6 just a night after his son Xfinity champ celebrated the Xfinity Series championship on Saturday, November 5. The team made this announcement in a statement that was made public just before the NASCAR season finale started. 

"It is with great sorrow that Joe Gibbs Racing confirms that Coy Gibbs (co-owner) went to be with the Lord in his sleep last night. The family appreciates all the thoughts and prayers and asks for privacy at this time," reads the statement. With this, two sons of Joe Gibbs have died. Forty nine-year-old JD Gibbs passed away in 2019 from a deteriorating neurological condition. Coy took over from his older brother as vice chairman of the family-owned NASCAR enterprise. 

READ MORE

Antonio Dennard: Ex-NFL cornerback, 32, shot dead outside Pennsylvania bar

What is the history of Super Bowl? NFL game returns to Los Angeles where it all started 55 years ago

NASCAR chairman and CEO Jim France stated, "We are heartbroken by the tragic loss of Coy Gibbs. On behalf of the France Family and all of NASCAR, I extend my deepest condolences to Joe, Pat, Heather, the Gibbs family and everyone at Joe Gibbs Racing on the loss of Coy, a true friend and racer." Team Pense wrote, "Sending our deepest condolences." JTG Daugherty Racing wrote, "Saying many prayers for the Joe Gibbs Racing family." Numerous fans also shared heartfelt tribute messages on Twitter. One user wrote, "One positive, because of Ty winning last night there will be a ton of great photos of his final hours that will serve as good memories for the family." M&M's tweeted, "Everyone at Mars is devastated to hear of the passing of Coy Gibbs. Our thoughts are with Coach, the Gibbs family and the entire JGR organization during this difficult time."

New York Post reported that before the start of the Cup championship race on Sunday at Phoenix Raceway, where Christopher Bell of JGR Racing was vying for the title, NASCAR observed a moment of silence for Coy. Two hours prior to the start of the race, JGR picked up all four of its crew chiefs and transported them to a meeting in the motorhome lot in golf carts.

JGR driver Denny Hamlin shared a tweet, "Today we will do what we don’t want to do, but we will unite as a family and race for the name on our chest."

Ty Gibbs was supposed to operate the No 23 for 23XI Racing, however, Daniel Hemric took his position due to what 23XI referred to as "a family emergency." Coy Gibbs had just wrapped up a difficult week with his 20-year-old son, who on Saturday won the Xfinity title and is soon anticipated to be appointed Kyle Busch's successor at JGR.

In addition to working as an offensive quality control assistant in the NFL during his father's second tenure as Washington coach, Coy was a linebacker at Stanford from 1991 to 1994. Before assisting his father with the establishment of Joe Gibbs Racing Motocross in 2007, Coy had a brief racing career that included three seasons in the Trucks Series and two years in the then-NASCAR Busch Series. Coy, his wife Heather, and their four children lived in Cornelius, North Carolina. He was born in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

Claire B Lang tweeted along with some photos and wrote, "Heart breaking news about loss of Coy Gibbs last night in his sleep. Seeing @JoeGibbsRacing drivers crying on grid pre race is hard. The #NASCAR family pulls together in times like this. So hard to understand such a tragedy ..thinking of Joe Gibbs and Ty Gibbs at this time." In another photo tweet, she wrote, "So sad this photo taken last night #NASCAR . Coy in interview told me fatherhood comes first above everything. He meant it. He was so proud of his son...and will guide him now from above."