Gibbs wins first race in Saturday doubleheader at Kansas Speedway

Ty Gibbs (54) came around turn 4 ahead of Austin Cindric (22). (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)

by Brian Turrel

Ty Gibbs won the Kansas Lottery 300 race at Kansas Speedway on Saturday. The 19-year-old driver fought his way back to the front of the field after suffering an early penalty for speeding into pit lane, overtaking Austin Cindric for the lead with 10 laps remaining in the race.

The victory was Gibbs’s fourth of the Xfinity Series 2021 season, despite having entered only 17 of the 31 races. His primary circuit is the ARCA series, where he leads in the 2021 standings. He sits ahead of Josh Berry to win the Xfinity Series rookie of the year award.

Cindric led for 151 laps and won stage 2 of the race. He remains in first place in the Xfinity Series playoffs, tied on points with third-place finisher A.J. Allmendinger but nudging in front based on top 5 finishes.

Gibbs had only a short break between his victory lane celebration and jumping back into the car for Saturday evening’s ARCA race, where he came in second, and celebrated an ARCA series championship. 

Nick Sanchez, driving a Chevrolet, came from behind to beat Gibbs in the ARCA Reese’s 150 race.

Just 19, Ty Gibbs got a Monster Energy shower, not champagne, in victory lane. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)

 

Ty Gibbs got a hug from his mother Heather Gibbs after the race. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)

 

Race radio, awesome shades, autographed flag, ready to roll. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)

 

The pit crew on Loris Hezernan’s No. 61 Toyota swapped out tires on a pit stop. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)

 

As evening settled in, the speedway prepared to run the ARCA Reese’s 150. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)

 

Ty Gibbs spun his wheels in celebration after winning the Kansas Lottery 300 race at Kansas Speedway. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)

 

The pack came around turn 4 on a restart. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)

 

Justin Allgaier (7) raced side-by-side with Harrison Burton (20) as they entered the front straight. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)

 

Kyle Weatherman (47), Noah Gragson (9), and Daniel Hemric (18) raced three-wide through turn 4. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)

 

Harrison Burton (20) gave a push to Daniel Hemric (18) on a restart. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)

 

Ty Gibbs crossed the finish line to take the victory in the Kansas Lottery 300. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)

 

Ty Gibbs crossed the finish line at the end of the Kansas Lottery 300. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)

 

Noah Gragson led the field on a restart in his beat-up Camaro in the Xfinity race. Gragson led 9 laps, but was taken out in an accident late in the race. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)