Early Richmond DNF for Gibbs after career-best weekend at Michigan

RICHMOND, VA. — After top-10s in the NASCAR Cup and Xfinity races at Michigan and a 14th-place start for Sunday’s Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond, Ty Gibbs’ race ended after 180 laps Sunday.

Gibbs pitted on Lap 180 after his car showed smoke. A fire was discovered internally in the car, prompting the car to go behind the wall. The team diagnosed the issue to be terminal, which put him out of the race and into his first last-place finish.

Before falling out of his fourth career NASCAR Cup Series start, Gibbs finished 15th in Stage One and battled closely with Toyota teammate Kyle Busch.

Gibbs will return to the NASCAR Xfinity Series car on August 20 at Watkins Glen International (3 p.m. ET; TV: USA; Radio: SiriusXM Ch. 90, MRN).

It is unclear if Kurt Busch will return to the No. 45 Toyota at Watkins Glen International as he continues to recover from a brain injury suffered at Pocono. Should Busch be unable to return, Gibbs will likely fill in again.