Kevin Harvick's Happy Hour presented by NASCAR on FOX - Victory Lap: Ty Gibbs Interview After Winning at Iowa

Episode Date: August 13, 2026

On this episode of Kevin Harvick’s Happy Hour, Mamba Smith talks with NASCAR Cup Series driver Ty Gibbs as he breaks down his win at Iowa Speedway. Specifically, Gibbs discusses his close battle with teammate Christopher Bell, his current championship aspirations, and a look ahead to the rest of season. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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won the race and I beat the horse. You did. A jerk move, but people love it. Well, I mean, at least you did it with his corn, so the horse was able to eat out, you know, eating the pasture, no big deal. Well, one thing part of your process that you do do, is you're on the bike a lot.

He got something I really love to do with my dad and, you know, it was a lot of fun. What's going on? NASCAR Nation, Mamba Smith in the hot seat here at the Kevin Harvick, Happy Hour our podcast and welcome to the Victory Lab. We got our most recent winner, Ty Gibbs, my guy. What's up, Driver? What's up? How's it going, Driver? I mean, not as good as you, but hang on. I didn't know what I was going to wear this week for this interview. And my guy, Chris,

at Vintage Cream out in Iowa, he gave me the shirt this weekend and then it was perfect. Check this out. What's it called? Vintage Cream. Oh, okay. Yeah, that's his, the shirt is sick, though, right? Yeah, I like this shirt. I was telling you, I was telling Ty off, off camera that, like, when I was a kid, my parents used to get me a lot of Joe Gibbs racing stuff. I have a hat that matches this, this shirt, actually.

I have to break it out. So let's talk about the win, man. Let's talk about it. Number two in your Cup Series career. What was different about this one compared to Bristol? because I think at Bristol, that's a place that you typically run really well at. You really love that track. So what was different about these two wins?

Yeah, well, Bristol we always run pretty good. And Iowa, last two years, honestly, like, we've sucked. And so to change your program around, it's been big. And it was a fun race for us, too. And at least I got one on concrete, one on asphalt, I guess. What about this year? What do you think the biggest difference has been? It just seems like your whole team has gelled.

really well. The chemistry, you guys, I was, you know, I interviewed you between practice and qualifying. It just looks like everyone's loose and having a good time. Yeah, you know, we all believe in each other this year and, you know, we have a lot of great people around us too. So, you know, I think the biggest team, honestly, is like, you know, the whole team atmosphere, obviously, like a lot different than last year. And I think it shows and, you know, we're running really well because of it. When you, you talked about in your interview with Marty Snyder, I think you, you thanked your teammates, you know, Chase, Christopher, and Dan. and just the work that you guys all put in together.

What does that work look like? Are you guys in the SIM together? Is it just like a one day, you know, meeting and then you kind of go off with your own teams or how's that dynamic work? Yeah, well, we all, you know, obviously, I think we're a really strong team atmosphere in this maybe just because coach was, you know, and is a football coach, and that's kind of how he had it. But, yeah, you know, we've all just been developing the program and, you know, everybody's

input so much every guy's all the guys in the whole team, you know, organization. build better cars and work on things that are better. And so that's what, you know, I bank them for. And obviously, they would do the same for me and all the other teammates as well. So, yeah, I mean, obviously, you know, if it's just a one car show, like, it wouldn't be as much success as a four-car show. And those guys are super helpful. And, yeah, we're just all on every week and every, you know, every week going after it.

We was watching you get out of the car here. I was waiting for the cell phone slam. I didn't get the cell phone slam on the roof this week. But the burnout was elite, my boy. Yeah, I appreciate. Yeah, I thought I was to get all biked up in the grass, maybe flip the thing. But ended up going pretty good, put on a good show for the fans. Got to remind everybody, still kind of the best of the burnout.

So just keep going. Hopefully do a couple more this year. Yeah, Kevin always talks about you got to burn the back tires out. And you definitely, you definitely did that. Was it when you did you have, do you have a plan? One of the race that I beat the horse. What was that? I said we won the race.

and I beat the horse. You beat. A jerk move, but, you know, people love it, I guess. Well, I mean, at least you did it with this corn, so the horse was able to eat, you know, eating the pasture, no big deal. When you think about your success, you know, in the O'Reilly series and now in the Cup series, what is the difference about that success? You know what I mean?

Like, it was, I felt like it came very quickly in the O'Reilly series. And, you know, in the Cup series, it's taken a little bit more time. But now you're kind of rolling. Yeah, for sure, you know, it's taking a lot more time. And obviously, like, you know, I think, you know, if we started with the team we have now, like it would be a whole different story. And I easily could have been, you know, the same result of the first year. But, yeah, you know, it's, affinity was a lot of fun.

Just, you know, obviously, like, not even close on the skill and the town level. But, yeah, this wins still mean a lot to me too. So it's cool to be able to go win it in the A class. So good deal. When you talk about winning, winning in the A class, that jump. Can you kind of, I always like talking to the guys. guys that have made it and talking about how difficult it is. Can you kind of shed some light on how difficult that is? Because I feel like a lot of people expect you guys to make the jump and then

win immediately just like you did in the O'Reilly series. Yeah, I mean, I just look at like whenever the cup guys like me or any other guys go back to Xfinity and we like lead the whole race or are the fastest the whole time, like that just really shows it. And, you know, the cars are so different. And, you know, almost the cup guys like Ross and Kyle and all the JGR Cup guys that go down around the Xfinity car like they almost smashed them the whole time so um i think that's the biggest thing and um yeah i think uh kiles talked about it you know when he was um talking about uh that you know going back and smash next finity guys like it's truth like um it's just a big jump from the garage and i think it's good for those kids to see it like you know if you win two cup rate or

exfitting races like you don't need to go cup race yet like you got a you know we need to be solid it be ready to go and uh that's just how it is how much work has it been to be good in the cup series and be a winner what are you doing kind of your week to week what's that look like for you and what's your uh your kind of your process weekend and week out yeah well i can't tell you my whole program because i've got some good stuff going for me you can't like get everything away but you know i love racing and everything i do so much fun and you know i dedicated my whole life to the sport and you know sacrifice to everything and um i really love it and just them all in so uh you know for me it's not about like chasing chicks or whatever like

we're going to go win races and we're going to go do all the work and do that, you know, as well, but not as much as winter. Hey, man, when you got the trophies, the chicks just kind of end up showing up. You know, they don't run get it and they got chicks. I'm like, let's just focus on racing and then we can do that after. Like it's on race. I love the mentality. I'm with you.

I'm with you. Let's go win some races and not do all. Let's do everything but racing. Like, I don't understand that. But yeah, that's a different thing. Stay locked in. Hodges for sure there. yeah yeah yeah so i don't know well one thing part of your process that you do do uh you do do is

you're on the bike a lot yeah the bike the bike that seems like something that you really enjoy what is that where did that come from like uh i keep hearing that you're doing more and more on the bike yeah you know uh for me i grew up racing uh bikes but for mainly mountain bikes and road bikes and um yeah that's something i i really love to do with my dad and uh you know you were it was a lot fun and so my trainer now is justin brayton and johnny amara and uh they're really well known in the motorcross world and you know i kind of wanted to get back into the into the bike stuff like i've a lot of unfinished business so maybe if i win the title this year i'll just go race bikes full time to back over i bi mountain bike series but we'll see i really enjoy it and

maybe want to go win a national title at least on a mountain bike in my career that'd be that'd be okay i didn't i was not expecting that because i remember as a kid you raised the the mountain bikes into the downhill but i've been seeing you on the road bike a lot so i didn't know that that was really kind of still you know passion yeah i got to get a little smaller got to lose a little weight to be good on the bike so uh that's the plan people already think i'm small so just wait but um yeah when you're when you're on the bike do you have a group is there a big group that you go with is it like guys from the shop is your teammates or how what's what's going on with the road bike sitch not really mainly just me and my trainer and um we do some workouts on that stuff so

uh it's not like uh like a like a group rider or anything anything. Yeah. But that's not, not too crazy. How long are the rides usually? Are they pretty long? Are you guys doing short stuff? Well, the mount bike stuff is like within two hours and kind of like a quick motto. And then the road bike stuff obviously is like going to be like some of the stuff we do is like a lot longer like three and a half hours. But like I'll tell you a day like today like today like puts race like an hour active recovery is like super important to keep the body moving and the blood flow going. So yeah, it's kind of all different every day. I heard that you're going to go run Richmond this weekend.

and then you're coming back and doing a 75-mile bike ride on Sunday in Davidson. Yeah, it's a race on Sunday. So not really like kind of a race. It's kind of like a little charity deal. But yeah, it would be fun to go back. Last year I did it and I wanted to do it again this year. It's pretty fun. And I'm excited to go out there, go ride with all my buddies.

And it'll be good time. You don't think you're going to be, you know, too gassed after wrestling a race car around all night on Saturday night to wake up early. I guess you're only, how old are you now? What are you in your young 20? So I guess it's not a big deal for you. I mean, yeah, 23, you know,

getting a little older kind of feel at some times. But, you know, I've been pretty good shape, I feel like. And so got to hydrate good, eat some carbs this week and we'll be, we'll be down. I love it. I love it, man.

You know, I know your grandfather has been such, is such a huge part of your life. And, you know, obviously we call him coach because of what he did with the commanders. Growing up in that environment and kind of around pro stick and ball sport a little bit,

how is some of those conversations that you've had with some of those players translated into your professional, into your professional career a little bit? Yeah, I mean, yeah, definitely been around some great people, you know, grew up mainly around the motocross world for me and then on the commander side too. So, yeah, a lot of fun living in DC. I was really young, though, so some of the stuff I don't remember.

But, yeah, just got to grow up around some of the baddest guy in the world, really always appreciate that. that and yeah learned a lot you know just was around really competitive people so mainly just you know go smash everybody and stand on their foot every week we just came off of a break so what was your what was your your week off break what did you do did you get out of the country did you anything fun no i was in colorado the whole time just doing a little uh altitude training for my my bike stuff and um yeah it was in it was a lot of fun got to go with my whole family went road went to road ludville uh which is like they have a big race their level 100's this

Saturday, so it's a 100-mile race, and it's, like, above 10 feet levels, like the highest city in the state side. So, um, got to go pre-run some of the course, uh, some of the other part burned down and some of the fires. So, but it's sick, like, it's kind of like a day 200 for mountain biking. And so, like to go run it was awesome and go check out, like, Columbine climb. It's like top was like 12,500 feet. So, uh, it was a gnarly day with the buddy named Cole Beach and, uh, we just rode pre-ran it. It was sick. That's dope. Let me ask you, does, Because I know you do so much on the bike, other than the physical part, is there a mental part of that,

that process that helps you in the car? You know what I mean? Like, is there something that, is there a lot more things you can pull from riding on the bike that actually helps you in your race car? Yeah, yeah, I think so. But personally, I just really like it. And that's kind of what I grew up doing in, like, my hobby.

But, yeah, I think it definitely helps. Like, you know, I personally don't think, like, you need to be big and huge and lift weight to drive a race car. Like, it doesn't make any sense. Like, it's an endurance sport. And so I relate a lot of it to cycling, but I just really like it. And that's something I want to do and be competitive as well. So maybe I don't race cars forever.

Maybe you go do that. So we'll see. Yeah. Looking at the rest of the year, though, we got a lot of work left to do over here on the Cup side in 2026. You have made your way up to second in the points. When you guys started the year, what was the goal when you made it into the chase? What was your goal?

Are you guys ahead of schedule, do you think? Or are you right on where you kind of, where you say? set out to be. I don't know. We don't really think too much of it, you know, like take a week by week and just, you know, try to go and hammer down every weekend and work them. So, yeah, we haven't really thought too much, but obviously, like, we're all in going for the title for sure. So see what happens. I think we got a good shot. I agree. I think you have a good shot as well. When you look at your process in this year and totality, what is a successful year? Like, what, at the end of it, you're like, you know what? We did X, and I'm proud of that.

Yeah, I mean, obviously, great winning races want to win some more. But for us, like, we want to win the championship. So I'd say, like, that's our goal for sure. So, yeah, we're just going to go hammer down and go all out. So as you do this and you're working with, you know, Tyler Allen is a young crew chief and you're a young driver. What's that relationship like? How have you guys been able to get that chemistry going so quickly

when it was pretty new last year? Yeah, obviously last year kind of threw out, you know, obviously like a complete cluster, but, you know, this year, like, really solid. And, uh, you know, we've worked really well together. We, you know, we've always known that, you know, we're going to, we're going to figure it out. And we did. And, um, obviously took a lot of up and downs, but, you know, looking pretty good now. So, uh, you know, I really appreciate Tyler and my two engineers and everybody on my team that's been, um, working their butt off. And so it's been a ton of fun. What's the one thing that, um, that Tyler brings to the table

that is different or unique or that you really appreciate that you, maybe you didn't have before. Yeah, I think for me, it's like, you know, I kind of enjoyed being around like a younger group of people, like, and I think something closer in my age. And I think that's really important. And we're a young team and, you know, we could do this for a long time. Do you think that, like you said, you're a young group. So you're putting it all together. Is it just a mindset that you guys are kind of the language is kind of the same? Like, what do you think about being a young group just kind of fits you better? Yeah, well, we all speak English. So it works out pretty well for us but um yeah we're looking pretty good we're all you know pretty young and you know my one of

my engineer as ev and i've been working in for like since the late model so we just all gel really well together and i think we just have it's just a great fit honestly that's cool i didn't know i didn't know that you had a guy that you've been with since the late model days yeah yeah so what when you think about that and and how long you've been with some of these guys it's been a little bit like how have you been able to keep these people around you know what what about the group like What makes it special? Yeah, man, I'm just a good kid and people just really appreciate them. We just work good together.

Hey, man, whatever you're doing, I wouldn't change too much about it because it's obviously working out pretty well. Thanks. I appreciate it. Yeah, man. So I want to talk about your mom a little bit. Ms. Heather is awesome. Every time I see at the racetrack, she is locked in to not only what the 54 is doing, but what the whole team is doing. And I don't know if there's anyone more competitive or wants to win.

and your mom. Yeah, her and my grandma, they're super gnarly, and they're just after it every week. And yeah, they just are really competitive people and, you know, want to win. So, yeah, she's winning on and off the racetrack right now and we'll be, you know, upcoming. So it's just been great.

And same with my whole family as well. And, you know, all my siblings and my cousins too. So they're just all after grip around a super competitive family. And, you know, obviously, you know, led by great parents. And it's been a lot of fun, you know, love my childhood and love what I get to do now. watching my, you know, watching my siblings and my cousins and my family members

have success. Super cool. What is your family all doing? I know you got a lot of family members kind of different parts, not only in the company, but outside of it. Kind of where is everybody at right now? Yeah, my two brothers played baseball. You know, one's going to high point on a ride

and the other ones at Charleston now. So he just came from University of Maryland and Swish and just, you know, getting his arm back in shape, you know, blew a little ligament out. than the pitching arm lefty pitcher, but he'll be pretty good. And then the other one's, he's a catcher too, so they're both pretty early. My sister's in law school too. So, yeah, got the lawyers ready to go.

And yeah, he's looking really good. So just looking really forward to it. I love it, man. Well, I'm going to let you go here in a minute. But as you think about this last little run, right, we got three races to go until the chase. What's the strategy? How are you going to attack? Are you going to attack this week any different than any other?

Is it just hammer down for the 54 and get all you can get? Yeah, just going to hammer down every week. Same kind of same program. So, yeah, just going to go and try to win. I would love to win Richmond, get it and extend the car. So it would be cool to get in the cup car. And, yeah, you know, everything's kind of the same for us every week. And we don't really, you know, approaching differently.

You know, don't really have to look at confidence or anything. We just go hammer down and just enjoy racing. What's the trickiest part about Richmond? I know that since, you know, since this generation of cars come, the line and kind of how you attack the track is a little different, but what's it for you? Trickiest part of Richmond is this part. Your right foot. The tire is off really fast, and I watch a lot of people do it. And I've done it a lot in my life.

So trying to do it this time. Got to be smooth. Got to be egg shells on your feet. It's going to do that. So you have one of the best averages at short track. This season you've really been good there so we got Richmond and New Hampshire I expect you to be right in the mix at both of them is there something that in your past Growing up in your racing career that just made you good at short tracks or is it just kind of come come kind of natural? I don't know

I think I mean they come kind of natural I I grew up on short tracks but you know I just think you know that's just we're running good on short tracks now So I don't know what about the what about the sprint car stuff? What about the dirt truck stuff? How's that been helping? Yeah, I think it's really helpful right now, kind of like, you know, kind of doing a different program, getting to get overruled a different team soon. But really looking forward to it, you know, I love the dirt stuff. I think it's so much fun on.

And I think it's, you know, pure racing. It's great. Is that? Did you do a whole lot of that when you were younger too or not so much? I feel like you didn't do it until recently. I raised Millbridge a little bit and box talks. And then I went to, you know, intermediates. And then I went to late model out for that.

So I didn't do a whole. lot. So I wish it had more. What what kind of brought that on recently? Because I felt like when you started doing it, like I guess it was a year or two ago. I was kind of surprised just because I felt like you would probably go back to late model on asphalt. But, you know, the dirt stuff looks like you're having a good time with that too. Yeah, having a good time with it. It's so much fun. Honestly, I just wanted to do something different and enjoyed racing and want to do more of it. So just think it was helpful. Stick with it. All right, man. Well, listen, bro, I appreciate you coming on with us. you've done a great job

just carrying this team and getting it to a position to where you guys can fight for this championship. I think there are good things on the way for the 54 group. I appreciate it. And kudos to you. You got a lot of questions thrown up. I don't know where you keep those in your head or on a notebook or what,

but that's a lot of stuff you got to keep track of that's awesome. Hey, Kev was... I did yesterday, honestly. Kev was giving me hell. He's like, well, you got to write it down. I said, nah, we're a trap up here. I know my guy. Yeah, well, congrats on that.

That's pretty insane. So, keep killing it. All right, bro. Well, I'll see you soon. Good luck this weekend. Yeah, cheers. Have a good one. Thank you. Hey, y'all. It's Kelly Clarkson with Wayfair. Ever order furniture online and wonder what if? Like, what if it doesn't hold up?

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