Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) co-owner Heather Gibbs has expressed concerns about NASCAR’s inconsistent officiating during recent races. In an interview on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, she highlighted the 2025 Daytona 500 incident where drivers Denny Hamlin and Ty Gibbs were involved in crashes, and the caution flag was not promptly deployed. Heather Gibbs stated, “We would love for obviously the officiating to be consistent… You’re like, ‘Throw the flag! Don’t have it green.'”
This isn’t the first time JGR has faced challenges with NASCAR’s officiating. In November 2024, during the Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway, driver Christopher Bell was penalized for a safety violation after executing a wall-riding move on the final lap. This penalty cost him a spot in the Championship 4. Team owner Joe Gibbs expressed his frustration, mentioning that NASCAR denied their appeal against the decision, stating, “They said it’s over.”
Additionally, after the 2025 season-opening Daytona 500, NASCAR imposed significant penalties on JGR’s No. 19 team for alleged modifications to the car’s spoiler. The penalties included a $100,000 fine, a deduction of 100 owner points and 10 playoff points, and a four-race suspension for crew chief James Small.
These incidents underscore the ongoing concerns within JGR regarding NASCAR’s officiating consistency and the challenges teams face in navigating the sport’s regulatory environment.
