Tony Gibson (auto racing)
Encyclopedia
Tony Gibson is an American
auto racing crew chief for the #39 Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet Impala
driven by Ryan Newman
by in NASCAR
's Sprint Cup Series. Gibson worked as car chief on Alan Kulwicki
’s title team of 1992 and was also the car chief on Jeff Gordon
’s title teams of 1998 and 2001. With Dale Earnhardt Incorporated, Gibson, was the crew chief for racers such as Steve Park
, Michael Waltrip
, and Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
, United States. He, along with his father, built and maintained cars with his brother Mark as the driver. The Gibson family found success at short tracks around central Florida
and even won a 1978 track championship at New Smyrna Speedway
. While attending Daytona Beach Community College, Gibson continued to race with his family but after graduating with a Tool and Dye making
degree, he moved to North Carolina
to pursue a NASCAR
career.
on Kulwicki’s team in 1986. Kulwicki’s underdog team achieved a surprising Sprint Cup championship win in 1992 with Gibson as car chief.
After Kulwicki's death in 1993, until 1997, Gibson worked for former champion Bill Elliott
helping him win the 1994 Southern 500
at Darlington
. Hendrick Motorsports
hired Gibson to head the #24 car with driver Jeff Gordon. Serving as car chief for Gordon the combination recorded 29 victories, winning a Sprint Cup title in 1998 and in 2001.
Gibson moved to Dale Earnhardt Inc. in 2002 where he worked various roles. As a crew chief he worked with Steve Park and later Michael Waltrip. In 2005, he moved to the car chief position for Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and later worked as his crew chief for 12 races in 2007.. Gibson moved over to Dale Earnhardt Inc.’s #8 Chevrolet, in 2008, driven part time by Mark Martin
and rookie Aric Almirola
. His first full season as a Sprint Cup crew chief saw him help earn 4 top-five and 12 top-10 finishes.
A new race team, Stewart-Haas Racing, created by Tony Stewart
hired Gibson to lead the #39 of Ryan Newman. A decision to pit for just 2 tires led to his first victory with Newman on April 10, 2010 in the Subway Fresh Fit 600 at Phoenix
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
auto racing crew chief for the #39 Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet Impala
Chevrolet Impala
The Chevrolet Impala is a full-size automobile built by the Chevrolet division of General Motors introduced for the 1958 model year. Deriving its name from the southern African antelope, Chevrolet's most expensive passenger model through 1965 had become the best-selling automobile in the United...
driven by Ryan Newman
Ryan Newman
Ryan Joseph Newman is a driver in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. He drives the #39 United States Army/Tornados/Haas Automation Chevrolet Impala for Stewart Haas Racing under crew chief Tony Gibson. Newman graduated from Purdue University in 2001 with a B.S. in vehicle structure engineering...
by in NASCAR
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
's Sprint Cup Series. Gibson worked as car chief on Alan Kulwicki
Alan Kulwicki
Alan Dennis Kulwicki , nicknamed "Special K" and the "Polish Prince", was an American NASCAR Winston Cup Series racecar driver. He started racing at local short tracks in Wisconsin before moving up to regional stock car touring series...
’s title team of 1992 and was also the car chief on Jeff Gordon
Jeff Gordon
Jeffery Michael "Jeff" Gordon is a professional NASCAR driver. He is the driver of the #24 Drive to End Hunger/DuPont/Pepsi Chevrolet Impala. He is a four-time Sprint Cup Series champion and a three-time Daytona 500 winner. He is third on the all-time wins list, with 85 career wins, and has the...
’s title teams of 1998 and 2001. With Dale Earnhardt Incorporated, Gibson, was the crew chief for racers such as Steve Park
Steve Park
Steve Park may refer to:*Steve Park , American Comedian*Steve Park , American NASCAR driver*Stephen Park, British artist and performer*Stephen Park , British wildlife painter...
, Michael Waltrip
Michael Waltrip
Michael Curtis Waltrip is a semi-former professional race car driver, co-owner of Michael Waltrip Racing, and a published author. He is the younger brother of three-time NASCAR champion and racing commentator Darrell Waltrip. Waltrip is a two-time winner of the Daytona 500; having won the race in...
, and Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
Early life
Gibson was born in Daytona Beach, FloridaDaytona Beach, Florida
Daytona Beach is a city in Volusia County, Florida, USA. According to 2008 U.S. Census Bureau estimates, the city has a population of 64,211. Daytona Beach is a principal city of the Deltona – Daytona Beach – Ormond Beach, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area, which the census bureau estimated had...
, United States. He, along with his father, built and maintained cars with his brother Mark as the driver. The Gibson family found success at short tracks around central Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
and even won a 1978 track championship at New Smyrna Speedway
New Smyrna Speedway
New Smyrna Speedway is an asphalt track that is 0.48 of a mile in length, located near New Smyrna Beach, Florida, that races Florida Association of Stock Car Automobile Racing stock cars every Saturday night. It also has a smaller track, known as "Little New Smyrna Speedway" in the infield...
. While attending Daytona Beach Community College, Gibson continued to race with his family but after graduating with a Tool and Dye making
Tool and die maker
Tool and die makers are workers in the manufacturing industry who make jigs, fixtures, dies, molds, machine tools, cutting tools , gauges, and other tools used in manufacturing processes...
degree, he moved to North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
to pursue a NASCAR
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
career.
Racing career
Gibson started in the 1980s hanging car bodies for various NASCAR Nationwide Series and Sprint Cup Series teams. While working as a body hanger he was befriended by Alan Kulwicki, a driver and owner in the Sprint Cup Series, who was working in a nearby shop space. This led to Gibson becoming a mechanicMechanic
A mechanic is a craftsman or technician who uses tools to build or repair machinery.Many mechanics are specialized in a particular field such as auto mechanics, bicycle mechanics, motorcycle mechanics, boiler mechanics, general mechanics, industrial maintenance mechanics , air conditioning and...
on Kulwicki’s team in 1986. Kulwicki’s underdog team achieved a surprising Sprint Cup championship win in 1992 with Gibson as car chief.
After Kulwicki's death in 1993, until 1997, Gibson worked for former champion Bill Elliott
Bill Elliott
William Clyde "Bill" Elliott , also known as Awesome Bill from Dawsonville or Million Dollar Bill, is a part-time driver and former champion of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Elliott was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America on August 15, 2007. He won the 1988 NASCAR Winston Cup...
helping him win the 1994 Southern 500
Southern 500
The Showtime Southern 500 is the annual spring NASCAR Sprint Cup race held at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, South Carolina, USA, and is the second such event at Darlington to bear the name. It began in 1957 as a race in the Convertible Division, known as the Rebel 300. In 1966, the race was...
at Darlington
Darlington Raceway
Darlington Raceway is a race track built for NASCAR racing located near Darlington, South Carolina. It is nicknamed the "Lady in Black" and "The Track Too Tough to Tame" by many NASCAR fans and drivers and advertised as "A NASCAR Tradition"...
. Hendrick Motorsports
Hendrick Motorsports
Hendrick Motorsports , originally named All Star Racing, is a current American auto racing team created in 1984 by Rick Hendrick. The team currently competes in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with Chevrolet Impalas...
hired Gibson to head the #24 car with driver Jeff Gordon. Serving as car chief for Gordon the combination recorded 29 victories, winning a Sprint Cup title in 1998 and in 2001.
Gibson moved to Dale Earnhardt Inc. in 2002 where he worked various roles. As a crew chief he worked with Steve Park and later Michael Waltrip. In 2005, he moved to the car chief position for Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and later worked as his crew chief for 12 races in 2007.. Gibson moved over to Dale Earnhardt Inc.’s #8 Chevrolet, in 2008, driven part time by Mark Martin
Mark Martin
Mark Martin may refer to:* Mark Martin , American racecar driver* Mark Martin , American cartoonist* Mark Martin , American judge* Mark Martin , British murderer...
and rookie Aric Almirola
Aric Almirola
Aric A. Almirola is a Cuban-American stock car driver in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. He currently drives the #88 Unilever/Grand Touring Vodka Chevrolet Impala for JR Motorsports. Almirola attended the University of Central Florida working on a degree in mechanical engineering before leaving to...
. His first full season as a Sprint Cup crew chief saw him help earn 4 top-five and 12 top-10 finishes.
A new race team, Stewart-Haas Racing, created by Tony Stewart
Tony Stewart
Anthony Wayne "Tony" Stewart is an American auto racing driver and owner. Throughout his racing career, Stewart has won titles in Indy cars and stock cars as well as midget, sprint and USAC Silver Crown cars, giving him the recognition of "one of the finest racers of his generation."Stewart...
hired Gibson to lead the #39 of Ryan Newman. A decision to pit for just 2 tires led to his first victory with Newman on April 10, 2010 in the Subway Fresh Fit 600 at Phoenix
Phoenix International Raceway
Phoenix International Raceway, also known as PIR, is a one-mile, low-banked tri-oval race track located in Avondale, Arizona. The track opened in 1964 and currently hosts two NASCAR race weekends annually. PIR has also hosted the Indycar Series, CART, USAC and the Rolex Sports Car Series...
.