Ty Gibbs gets his hands dirty in his first Chili Bowl start

Toyota driver Ty Gibbs doesn't have as much off-road racing experience as a few of the other big NASCAR names (like Kyle Larson and Christopher Bell) who’re competing within the Chili Bowl Nationals this week. But the challenge energized him.

“It was fun,” he told Motorsport.com. “Every time I get in the car, I feel like I'm learning a lot. I'm having a great time. I wish I could do more… I would love to do more.”

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The 22-year-old will soon begin his third full-time season on the NASCAR Cup level, but being in Tulsa is a welcome break from the hustle and bustle of a typical NASCAR race weekend.

“I grew up with my father [Coy] I go to Supercross races and stuff like that,” Gibbs said. “I miss it. I wish I could come back. But it gives me such an atmosphere… it's great fun and I love it.”

Ty Gibbs along with his dirty Toyota midget

Photo: Toyota Racing

He kept coming back to the word “fun” – but that doesn't mean Gibbs hasn't encountered any difficulties since arriving in Oklahoma. Learning to race off-road on the track while attempting to earn a spot within the primary event isn’t any easy feat.

“It's just different,” Gibbs said. “The hardest thing is that you don't have many laps. I feel like I'm halfway through the race and I'll figure out things to do and learn, but then I have about three laps to go and I'm out. guy about 9th.”

To put it in NASCAR terms, Gibbs said his situation was like “coming to the Coke 600 to your first start on asphalt. It's just different, but I actually adore it. I like the challenge of improving at things. I like the grind and labor.”

His only regret was that he couldn't have “figured it all out sooner” as he made progress behind the wheel of his midget Toyota.

“I'm having a great time. I didn't really have any expectations of where I wanted to be. And if I could put it all together, I'd be doing a lot better than I am now – but that's just part of learning.”

Ty Gibbs, Joe Gibbs Racing, Monster Energy Toyota Camry

Photo: Nigel Kinrade / NKP / Motorsport Images

And as coach Joe Gibbs opens the door for his drivers to run such races, the JGR team owner's grandson hopes that is just the start of his Chili Bowl adventure.

“I would like this to be the first of many bowls of chili,” Gibbs concluded. But first, he's aiming for the primary event on Saturday. He may have to fight his way through the alphabet soup of warmth races prone to happen this weekend at G-Main.

Gibbs then turns his attention back to the quickly approaching NASCAR Cup season. The former Xfinity Series champion and Toyota Racing driver has yet to win a Cup race in 87 starts, but he has 12 top-five finishes and a second-place finish at Darlington. Last 12 months he led for over 400 laps and reached the play-offs for the primary time, ending the season in fifteenth place within the championship standings. Much like his 2025 Chili Bowl appearance, Gibbs is looking forward to continuing to push.