BRISTOL, Tenn. — Ty Gibbs earned his first career NASCAR Cup Series victory in dramatic fashion Sunday, holding off Ryan Blaney by 0.055 seconds in a two-lap overtime shootout to win the Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway. It was the closest finish at Bristol since Rusty Wallace beat Ernie Irvan by a single foot in April 1991, and it came in Gibbs’ 131st career Cup start.
Gibbs restarted in the lead on Lap 486 after crew chief Tyler Allen elected to stay out on older tires rather than pit, a gamble that set up the final shootout. Kyle Larson and pole-sitter Blaney had combined to dominate the night’s proceedings — Blaney led a race-best 190 laps for his best career finish at Thunder Valley — but a ninth caution sent the race to overtime, and Gibbs held his line as Blaney slid sideways trying to complete the pass at the line. Larson finished third, just 0.229 seconds back. A gracious Blaney called it “pretty cool to win at this place,” referencing his own history at the track.
All-Pro Reels was trackside for the celebration as Gibbs collected his first trophy in NASCAR’s top series.
The Cup Series takes its second off-week of the season before heading to Kansas Speedway on April 19 for the AdventHealth 400.