Why did Joe Gibbs switch to Toyota? Everything you need to know

Joe Gibbs Racing is a premier NASCAR organization and Toyota's flagship team in both the Cup and Xfinity Series. However, before switching to its current alliance with the Japanese manufacturer in 2008, JGR enjoyed a successful partnership with General Motors, fielding Chevrolets and Pontiacs.

Coach Gibbs entered NASCAR in 1992 in partnership with Chevrolet, fielding Dale Jarrett in the #18 entry. During its early years, Gibbs relied on current rivals Hendrick Motorsports for equipment and engines. The team switched to Pontiac in 1997, winning two championships with Bobby Labonte and Tony Stewart, before switching back to Chevrolet in 2003, with Stewart adding another title in 2005.

Five years later, Gibbs decided to switch alliances with NASCAR's newest manufacturer, Toyota, in 2008. Gibbs outlined that the Japanese manufacturer offered resources and options that would have been out of reach if they had stayed with General Motors. Furthermore, JGR felt overshadowed by long-standing GM partners, Hendrick Motorsports and Richard Childress Racing.

Toyota initially entered NASCAR through the Truck Series, with Todd Bodine winning the title with Germain Racing in 2006. Inspired by the success, the manufacturer moved to the Busch and Cup Series in 2007, partnering with relatively new teams Michael Waltrip Racing, Team Red Bull, and Bill Davis Racing at the premier level.

JGR Toyota Camry 2008 (Source: Getty)

Despite having an unimpressive debut season in the Cup Series, Joe Gibbs Racing joined forces with Toyota, along with its affiliate Hall of Fame Racing. Kyle Busch clinched the first Cup Series victory for Toyota at Atlanta Motor Speedway, in his fourth start with the team.

Since then, JGR and Toyota have become a dominant force in NASCAR, with Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin winning most races for the manufacturer. Since joining forces with Toyota, JGR has won 351 races in the Xfinity and Cup Series (as of April 2024) and two titles in the Cup Series with Busch.

During its early tenure with General Motors, the Huntersville, North Carolina-based team won three championships and 70 NASCAR races.

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Joe Gibbs Racing president elaborates on Toyota switch

Dave Alpern, Joe Gibbs Racing president, explained the rationale behind the team's switch from Chevrolet to Toyota, emphasizing the manufacturer's focus on quality over quantity in NASCAR.

Alpern added that Toyota representatives integrated themselves within the team, highlighting how their values and culture aligned seamlessly with those of Joe Gibbs Racing.

"We had won three championships with General Motors. Things were going well. Toyota came into the sport and was new, and we met with them and we really liked their focused approach to racing. They were going to have a smaller group, they were really focused more on quality than quantity," he said on JGR's Youtube channel.

"They were really embedding their people in the race team. We really liked that idea and there was a lot about their culture that we were aligned with. Made that really difficult decision in 2008,” he added.

Joe Gibbs Racing also relies on Toyota Racing Development for its engines, having shut down its in-house engine program in 2012.