Gibbs may be headed back to NASCAR
January 8, 2008
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) -Joe Gibbs is apparently headed back to NASCAR following his resignation Tuesday as coach of the Washington Redskins.
Gibbs formed his NASCAR team in 1992 during his first retirement, but turned control of the three-car organization to son J.D. when he returned to the Redskins four years ago. He made sporadic appearances on race day, but spent most of his time in Washington with the football team.
Now he's free to be directly involved again in racing - his teams have won three championships since 2000 - but gave no clear indication what his role will be during a news conference in Virginia.
``We've got our family business there, it's real important to all of us,'' Gibbs said.
``We spent (16) years building it, and it's a huge part of our family. That will be a big part of my life and a big part of me.''
Lee White, senior vice president of Toyota Racing Development, said J.D. Gibbs called him Tuesday morning to inform him of the elder Gibbs' decision.
``We discussed how it was great that it was Joe's decision, and J.D. is very pleased and thrilled to think that he'll have Joe close at hand,'' White said. ``J.D. still runs the team. But as far as renewing sponsorships and extending drivers and wining and dining new sponsors, Joe is going to be available and be a help, not a hindrance, in those things.''
Joe Gibbs Racing ended its longtime affiliation with General Motors last season to join Toyota, which is entering its second season in NASCAR's elite Sprint Cup Series. The manufacturer struggled in its first season and has been counting on JGR to help shape its program.
``It can't help but put the team on a more solid foundation, leadership-wise, at a challenging time,'' White said. ``It's a family business and the more members of the family in the business, the better.''
J.D. Gibbs did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Gibbs' announcement surprised Kyle Busch, the newest driver at JGR, who was testing his new ride Tuesday at Daytona International Speedway.
``I knew he had one more year left (on his Redskins contract), so I figured he was going to keep digging,'' Busch said. ``I don't know what his decision process was about retiring, but I'm sure it'll be for the better of Joe Gibbs Racing.''
Busch said he's had few dealings with Gibbs, other than his contract negotiations last summer and an occasional phone call. But Gibbs was involved in the courting of Busch, and before that met with Dale Earnhardt Jr. in a failed attempt to sign NASCAR's most popular driver.
He also made a surprise visit to the track in Chicago last July to mediate a feud between drivers Tony Stewart and Denny Hamlin. He summoned both of his stars into a hauler, forcing them to miss valuable practice time, as he played peacemaker in an argument that stemmed from an on-track accident.
Busch said he hopes Gibbs will be hands-on with the team now.
``I think it would be pretty cool,'' Busch said. ``(Crew chief Steve) Addington told me early today that whenever you really need something or want something, you'd just go to Joe, and he's like, 'Fine, do whatever you need. We'll figure out a way to pay for it later.' That will pay dividends for us, just being able to go out there and get what we need when we need it.
``Having Joe playing a bigger role in the race team's always nice. J.D. does a great job with it, but it's not like having Joe Gibbs around to run this organization.''
Gibbs said part of his reason for retiring from football again was to spend more time with his family, which includes a young grandson who was diagnosed with leukemia last year at the age of 2. Taylor Gibbs, the youngest of J.D. Gibbs' four boys, completed his first phase of treatment last September. His current status was not immediately known.
``My family, as everybody knows, when I came here it was one set of circumstances,'' Gibbs said. ``It was a tough year for (wife) Pat, which means a lot to me. J.D. and (youngest son) Coy being back down there, and all the things we went through with Taylor.
``Almost all of them said the same thing `If you want to go, then keep going, we'll go with you.' It's just that I felt after sitting with my family, that's not something I should do.''
With NFL coaching days behind him, Gibbs joins JGR full time
ESPN.com
HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. -- Joe Gibbs was one of the most respected coaches in the NFL, but back at his race shop he gets no respect at all.
At least not on Tuesday night.
"Obviously, my dad on my right in case you forgot what he looked like," said J.D. Gibbs, the president of Joe Gibbs Racing, when introducing key people in the organization.
The room full of reporters covering the 2008 Sprint Cup media tour chuckled. That wasn't the end of the one-liners, though.
"We're still trying to figure out how big of a pay cut he's going to get," said J.D., referring to the more than $5 million a year his father got with Washington. "It's gonna be large."
Said the elder Gibbs, "Can I talk now?"
Replied J.D., "You're the owner."
Yes, Joe Gibbs remains the owner of JGR. His role will be what it was before he returned to the Redskins in 2004, to work with sponsors, help find the best talent and maintain moral.
And, if you listen to the jokesters on his team, stay out of the way.
Tony Stewart, who has caused Gibbs more stress than any quarterback, joked that they needed to change the locks in the garage and keep the Hall of Fame coach upstairs.
"Definitely keep him out of the accounting office," the two-time champion said.
Gibbs wasn't shy about returning the sarcasm.
"I tell them I am the only one that goes around the garage with my radio unplugged and the chord dragging the ground," said Gibbs, who stepped down at Washington two weeks ago. "Nobody listens to me."
Gibbs joked about how he'll get blamed for everything that happens with the race team and the Redskins. He joked about how he couldn't believe crew chief Greg Zipadelli has put up with Stewart for 10 years, longer than any combination in the garage.
Asked about Stewart's new look -- long hair and a constantly growing midsection -- he said, "I walked right by him in the hallway. I didn't recognize who he was."
Gibbs' ability to joke with those below him is one reason he is so good with people.
"He dishes it out, so he better be able to take it," J.D. said.
All kidding aside, Gibbs is excited to be back at the company he began in 1992 with Dale Jarrett as his driver. He's excited about the chance to mix with employees and negotiate with sponsors.
And most importantly he's excited about the chance to be back around his family, which was the main reason for starting the organization and his main reason for returning.
"I had a great time in Washington," Gibbs said. "It is the greatest place in the world to coach. It's gonna be fun for me to get back in the racing family. So many people are here that mean so much to you, so I'm thrilled to be back home."