J.D. Gibbs has picked up the ball -- figuratively -- after his father left
NASCAR to head back to the NFL. Credit: AutostockWith father back in NFL, J.D.
Gibbs at helm of family racing teamBy Mike Harris, The Associated Press
September 9, 2004
10:45 AM EDT (14:45 GMT)
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Building a NASCAR team was his father's dream, but J.D. Gibbs is now the man
leading Joe Gibbs Racing into the future.

While the elder Gibbs is preparing the Washington Redskins for Sunday's opener
at home against Tampa Bay -- his first game as an NFL coach in 12 years -- J.D.
is overseeing preparations by the race team for Saturday night's crucial race at
Richmond.
Tony Stewart has locked up a spot in the Chase for the Nextel Cup, while Bobby
Labonte still has work to do this weekend at Richmond. Credit: Autostock
Tony Stewart already has locked up a spot in NASCAR's new 10-race championship
playoff, but Bobby Labonte needs to make up two places to get into the top 10.
Only the top 10 drivers after Saturday's race will be eligible to compete for
the championship.

The race team has hardly missed a beat since J.D.'s dad made the surprising
decision to return to the sport where he already has three Super Bowl titles and
a niche in the Hall of Fame.

"Obviously, there was a lot of concern when he did leave, even though he wasn't
doing a lot of the day-to-day operations," said J.D., who already was the team's
president. "What he did a really good job at was keeping in contact with the
sponsors."

Now, keeping the sponsors happy -- and just about everything else -- is the
35-year-old J.D.'s responsibility.

That is something of a surprise to the younger Gibbs, who simply followed his
father into the sport when Joe decided to retire from coaching and started
organizing his NASCAR team in 1991.

"My brother and I grew up with stick and ball sports and went to some races,"
J.D. said. "When we started the team, I figured I'd do it for a couple of years
and then I'd go coach. We had 15 employees and one car when we started."
ALSO
• Team Page: Joe Gibbs Racing

Now, his father and younger brother Coy have gone back to coaching and J.D. is
running the racing business, which has grown to more than 200 people and will
add a third Nextel Cup team in 2005.

"We just happened to get in right when the sport was taking off and TV was
really starting to really appreciate it, and the fan base really started to
grow," he said.

While his father was actively involved with JGR, the team won 40 races and two
Cup championships -- Labonte in 2000 and Stewart in 2002. J.D. chalks up much of
that success to his father's organizational skills -- the same talent that
brought Joe so much success in football.

"I think it was kind of neat to watch the way my dad handled issues," J.D. said.
"He was just a good leader, putting teams together. That's all it is, just like
football. Most of the guys have all the equipment and the cars. It's the people
and how you put them together that's the biggest thing. You want to make sure
that people want to come to work. That's his philosophy."

J.D. has inherited his father's people skills -- and he's enjoying running the
race team far more than he would ever have thought.

"What I truly enjoy is you're always doing something different day in and day
out," he said. "Sometimes, you're working with corporate partners and sponsors,
sometimes you're going to hospitality, sometimes you're working on personnel in
the shop or working on budget issues. It's kind of nice to always have something
different to do."

Stewart says the team is in good hands.
Despite his new committment to the NFL, Joe Gibbs has been to several races this
season. Credit: Autostock
"J.D. is in his seventh year as president of Joe Gibbs Racing and I think he's a
little nervous about his new role," Stewart said. "But I think he underestimates
his ability as the team leader.

"J.D. is a really smart guy -- a lot smarter than he lets people know. He's been
with Joe Gibbs Racing since the day it opened its doors and he's been through
every situation that can happen with the race team."

Even though he has had to totally immerse himself in football again this summer,
Joe has made it to several races and had weekly telephone conversations with his
eldest son.

"We still have a close connection," J.D. said. "We have a suite up there at
FedEx Field and we can bring people up there to entertain. What we found out is
when you're able to share the NFL and NASCAR and combine those two things, it
really makes a nice package.

"As dad says, 'If you don't like one of them, you're probably on life support.'
He's still a big part of this team."



kylepettyrocks@yahoogroups.com
brothersgibbforever@yahoogroups.com
Cheyanne and Travis are getting BIGGER!!!


























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