- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Darlington Today
By the People, for the People
Ty Gibbs Earns First NASCAR Cup Series Win at Bristol
The 23-year-old driver holds off former champions Ryan Blaney and Kyle Busch in a thrilling finish.
Apr. 13, 2026 at 1:06am
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
Ty Gibbs' first NASCAR Cup Series win at Bristol showcases the young driver's talent and the unbridled energy of stock car racing.Darlington TodayTy Gibbs, the 23-year-old driver for Joe Gibbs Racing, captured his first career NASCAR Cup Series victory by winning the race at Bristol Motor Speedway. Gibbs held off former champions Ryan Blaney and Kyle Busch in a dramatic finish that showcased his driving talent and the strength of the JGR organization.
Why it matters
Gibbs' win is significant as he continues to establish himself as a rising star in the NASCAR Cup Series. The victory comes after a period of scrutiny and distractions, proving Gibbs' ability to stay focused and deliver when it counts. This win also highlights the strength of the Gibbs family's racing operation and their ability to groom young talent.
The details
In the closing laps, Gibbs was able to hold off charges from Blaney and Busch, two of the sport's most accomplished drivers, by expertly managing his older tires and positioning his car on the high line. The victory comes after Gibbs has shown promise at Bristol in the past, but was unable to seal the deal until this breakthrough performance.
- Gibbs won his first career NASCAR Cup Series race on April 13, 2026 at Bristol Motor Speedway.
- The victory comes in Gibbs' second full season in the Cup Series.
The players
Ty Gibbs
The 23-year-old driver for Joe Gibbs Racing, who captured his first career NASCAR Cup Series victory at Bristol Motor Speedway.
Ryan Blaney
The 2022 NASCAR Cup Series champion, who finished second to Gibbs at Bristol.
Kyle Busch
The two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion, who finished third behind Gibbs and Blaney at Bristol.
Joe Gibbs
The owner of Joe Gibbs Racing, which fields cars for Ty Gibbs and other top NASCAR drivers.
Tyler Gibbs
Ty Gibbs' crew chief, who has worked closely with the young driver to help him develop and succeed in the Cup Series.
What they’re saying
“It's super cool. Those are the most bad-ass guys there ever was. Kurt having his first win, me having my first win, it's super cool.”
— Ty Gibbs, NASCAR Cup Series Driver
“To be able to do it finally is awesome. I obviously think we knew it was going to come soon. We've been running so strong. For it to happen at Bristol is super cool. It's an honor.”
— Ty Gibbs, NASCAR Cup Series Driver
What’s next
Gibbs will look to build on his first Cup Series win as he continues his rookie season, with the next race scheduled for April 27th at Darlington Raceway.
The takeaway
Ty Gibbs' breakthrough victory at Bristol showcases the young driver's talent and the strength of the Gibbs family racing operation. Despite facing distractions and scrutiny, Gibbs has remained focused on his craft and is now establishing himself as a rising star in the NASCAR Cup Series.
