Coy Gibbs, son of Joe Gibbs and co-owner of race team, dies at 49

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WBTV) - Coy Gibbs, the son of NASCAR owner and Super Bowl-winning head coach Joe Gibbs, passed away overnight, Joe Gibbs Racing confirmed on Sunday.

The younger Gibbs was just 49 years old and was part owner of his father’s race team. He died in his sleep.

Coy Gibbs’ son, Ty, won the NASCAR Xfinity Series championship on Saturday at Phoenix Raceway. Ty was scheduled to race in the Cup Series finale, but pulled out of the event. Daniel Hemric raced in his place.

In a tweet, the team said that the family ‘appreciates all the thoughts and prayers and asks for privacy at this time.’

Joe Gibbs’ eldest son, J.D., passed away in 2019 of a degenerative neurological disease, also at the age of 49.

“Well, it’s taking a lot out of Joe’s heart,” Larry Taylor, a fan of the sport, said. “He was very, very close to them.”

Christopher Bell, driver of the No. 20 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing, was in the Championship 4 for Sunday’s Cup Series championship race.

“We are heartbroken by the tragic loss of Coy Gibbs,” NASCAR Chairman and CEO Jim France said in a statement. “On behalf of the France family and all of NASCAR, I extend my deepest condolences to Joe, Pat, Heather, the Gibbs family and everyone at Joe Gibbs Racing on the loss of Coy, a true friend and racer.”

“Today we will do what we don’t want to do, but we will unite as a family and race for the name on our chest,” driver Denny Hamlin said in a tweet.

“Words can’t describe this day,” Kyle Busch posted. “Today was already going to be tough enough but it’s even more gut-wrenching now. Heartbroken.”

Members of the NASCAR on NBC broadcast team, including Dale Earnhardt Jr., also shared their condolences prior to the green flag on Sunday.

“Racing is a family and the relationships within the entire garage go so much deeper than on-track competition. Today, we lost a dear part of our family. The loss of Coy Gibbs is devastating to everyone at Toyota and TRD. Our deepest condolences and prayers are with Joe, Pat, Heather, Ty, Case, Jett and Elle and the entire Gibbs family and Joe Gibbs Racing family,” David Wilson, president of Toyota Racing Development, said in a statement.

A moment of silence was held in honor of Gibbs prior to the start of Sunday’s championship race.

According to the AP, Gibbs played linebacker at Stanford from 1991-94 and served as an offensive quality control assistant during his father’s second stint as the Washington NFL coach.

He also had a short racing career, including two years in the then-NASCAR Busch Series and three in NASCAR’s Trucks Series.

Related: Jimmie Johnson returns to NASCAR as part-owner, driver

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