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After Joe Gibbs Racing driver Christopher Bell won last Sunday's rain-shortened Coca-Cola 600, team owner Joe Gibbs revealed how NASCAR is unique compared to other competitive sports. According to the 83-year-old former NFL coach and NASCAR team owner, the difference lies in the relationship between the teams and their sponsors.
The Joe Gibbs Racing boss explained that every time a driver in his team wins, he gets the opportunity to personally call the sponsors, who he referred to as "partners", and thank them for their trust in his team. This, Gibbs believes, is how NASCAR stands out.
"Every time I’m in that winner’s circle, I think about all the CEOs I got a chance to call," Gibbs said during a post-race media availability, via the Speedway Digest. "Right there it was J.R. at Rheem, it was Don at Stanley Black & Decker. You get a chance to call them... Norm at Interstate Batteries... Our sport is totally different in that you’ve got to have partners that are sponsors, and that’s really what they are. They’re partners."
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"It gives you a chance to call them and say thanks. It’s just a huge deal. I just appreciate a night like tonight and we’re going to enjoy it," he added.
Coach Gibbs applauded Christopher Bell and his crew chief, Adam Stevens, for their effort in winning what was supposed to be a 400-mile event.
"I just appreciate Adam and Christopher and the whole team," Joe Gibbs said. "I think what Adam was maybe mentioning there when I came in, in pro sports, man, it’s hard, and the hardest thing is to stay up there."
Bell started the race third and led a race-high 90 laps en route to his second victory of the season, eighth of his Cup career, and first at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Bell's teammates at JGR were among the top 12 drivers in the grid, with both Denny Hamlin and Ty Gibbs making top 10 finishes.
Joe Gibbs was surprised at NASCAR's decision
Joe Gibbs was not ready for NASCAR's decision to cut the race short by 151 laps. The Coca-Cola 600 was expected to continue after the track was dried. However, NASCAR announced that track-drying efforts would stop at 11:30 p.m. ET and dropped plans of resuming the race at 1 a.m.
Gibbs, along with many others on the number 20 team, were not expecting this. In an interview, he said,
“I think, too, for me, I was in the motor home, and I was told that they’re going to call the drivers in 15 minutes, so I got my jacket on, I was going out the door."
"But you’re never quite sure, too. I’d be willing to bet on the part of the track there was either weeping and a lot of things — that was a heavy rain, and I’d be willing to bet they reached the conclusion they weren’t going to be able to get it dry," Gibbs added, as reported by Motorsports wire.
For Christopher Bell, the win was something that his team could build on to regain their momentum.
"It feels so good ... Just to have a great race to go off of, a race that we led laps and were able to pass cars (in)," Bell said. "Hopefully, this is something we can build on and get back to being more consistent." (via ESPN)
Christopher Bell now eyes the Enjoy Illinois 300 at the World Wide Technology Raceway on June 3. The race will air live on FS1 and updates on the same will be available on SiriusXM NASCAR radio and MRN.
