Ty Gibbs had positive Cup Series season despite early playoff exit

Gibbs entered Saturday's race six points above the cut line, but a speeding penalty mired him back in the pack. Gibbs wasn't able to recover, grinding out a 15th-place finish that left him 11 points short of advancing. 

Gibbs started off the 2024 season strong, ranking as high as second in Cup Series points after the sixth race of the season at the Circuit of the Americas. 

Despite a summer slump, Gibbs was still able to earn a spot in the playoffs, but finishes of 17th at Atlanta and 22nd at Watkins Glen put him on the bubble for Saturday's race. 

All in all, it was Gibbs' inexperience that likely contributed to the speeding penalty that ended his season. 

As Gibbs searches for his first career Cup Series win over the final seven races of the season, he can take solace in the fact that in just his second season, he showed promise that most Cup Series drivers rarely show in Year 2, if ever. 

Gibbs will likely be considered a dark horse title contender when Daytona rolls around in February, especially if he's able to break into victory lane over the next seven weeks. 

Regardless of his postseason fortunes or how the last seven races of 2024 go, Gibbs has established himself as a weekly Cup Series contender, and as a driver that could potentially carry the banner for Joe Gibbs Racing in the long-term.