“Ty Gibbs said, ‘Come on, Grandpa’,”: Kenny Wallace reveals how Joe Gibbs took a page out of ‘Rick Hendrick playbook’ on NASCAR drivers running dirt

Kenny Wallace recently shed light on the shift in legendary team owner Joe Gibbs’ stance on allowing JGR drivers to race on dirt tracks following Christopher Bell’s thrilling Tulsa Shootout finale win. Two years ago, Gibbs banned their drivers from competing outside NASCAR to keep them injury-free for their full-time commitments in NASCAR.

After beating Kyle Larson to win the 2025 Tulsa Shootout main event on his return to dirt racing, Bell thanked his boss, Gibbs, in victory lane for permitting him to race again in dirt racing.

Giving the context behind it and revealing the main reason behind Gibb’s decision referencing Rick Hendrick’s approach, here’s what former NASCAR driver Kenny Wallace, in his characteristic animated style, said:

“Joe Gibbs said, ‘I don't want my NASCAR drivers running dirt because you're going to hurt yourself. And it's going to destroy my, those cup cars are $20 million a year, and all these employees’. I can see Joe Gibbs's point, but you know what happens?”

“I called Joe Gibbs. I said, what made coach Gibbs change his mind? They said, Ty Gibbs said, ‘come on, grandpa’. So, I guess Coach Gibbs said, ‘I'm tired of y'all beating my ass, and all right, go run your dirt cars.’ So there that was the big deal: Coach Joe Gibbs takes a page right out of Rick Hendrick's playbook.”

Hendrick Motorsports’ Kyle Larson is the only HMS driver who’s been heavily involved in dirt racing and has excelled while balancing it with his full-time duties in the Cup Series.

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Joe Gibbs Racing’s president once explains the decision to lift the dirt racing ban for their drivers

All four JGR drivers, Kyle Busch, Christopher Bell, Ty Gibbs, and Chase Briscoe, participated in the 2025 Tulsa Shootout, and now they will compete in the Super Bowl of midget racing, the Chili Bowl Nationals.

Last year in December, JGR president discussed the decision to lift the dirt racing ban amid Bell, Gibbs, and Briscoe’s interest.

Speaking to SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, JGR president said:

“I think they just wore him (coach Gibbs) out a little bit, but to be honest with you, I think, and look, Christopher was great about it, and I know many of his fans were disappointed about that, and look, I think there were a few injuries. We have almost 500 employees, and it's not just the employees; it's the staff and the people that are counting on their guys, and we felt like we have a responsibility to protect these guys, for this is their primary job.”

Nine-time NASCAR Cup winner Bell took his Golden Driller trophy tally to five with a Tulsa win.