As the 2024 NASCAR season winds down, teams are already setting the stage for 2025, and Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) is making bold moves to prepare for the future. One of the most significant developments is the announcement that Ty Gibbs, the 2022 Xfinity Series champion and current driver of JGR’s No. 54 Cup car, will take ownership of the No. 54 Xfinity team. This marks a historic shift in the team’s legacy, as ownership transitions to the third generation of the Gibbs family.
The announcement also revealed that 19-year-old rising star Taylor Gray has been signed as the driver of the No. 54 Toyota GR Supra for the 2025 season. Gray, an up-and-coming talent, is poised to make his mark in the Xfinity Series with JGR, a team that has a long track record of nurturing championship-caliber drivers.
For Ty Gibbs, grandson of NFL Hall of Fame coach and JGR founder Joe Gibbs, this new role represents a major milestone. Ty expressed his excitement about taking on this responsibility in a recent Instagram post, even before JGR officially confirmed the news. His message highlighted the significance of the moment, both for him as the new owner and for Gray as the new driver.
“First year as 54 owner☝️First year as 54 driver✅… Excited for @taylorgray17_,” Gibbs shared on his Instagram story, congratulating Gray ahead of his full-time Xfinity debut.
Gray, who has shown promise in his limited Xfinity outings this season, is eager to seize this championship opportunity. He expressed gratitude for the chance to work with the JGR team and praised crew chief Tyler Allen for helping him build early momentum ahead of the 2025 season.
“I am very thankful for this opportunity. I feel like I have learned a lot in the races I have run this year and we can build on that next season. Being able to work with Tyler [Allen] and these guys for a few races has been a great head start on next season and getting that chemistry going, so I’m really excited about what we can do running together full-time,” Gray said.
The move is significant not only for Gibbs and Gray but also for the future of JGR and Toyota. With veteran drivers like Denny Hamlin inching toward retirement, Gray is seen as a potential cornerstone for the team’s future. His performance in the 2025 season, under the management of Ty Gibbs, will be closely watched as both the young driver and the young team owner aim to leave their mark on the Xfinity Series.
This transition signals JGR’s ongoing commitment to developing young talent and maintaining its competitive edge in NASCAR. As Taylor Gray steps into the No. 54 car, and Ty Gibbs takes the reins as team owner, the 2025 season is shaping up to be a defining year for the future of Joe Gibbs Racing.
