NASCAR insiders react to Joe Gibbs Racing changing course on controversial policy: 'There are consequences'

It remains to be seen the ramifications of Joe Gibbs Racing lifting the restrictions that prohibited its NASCAR Cup Series drivers from participating in dirt racing.

That, we’ll know once the new season begins this coming February and beyond. But for now, it’s fun to think about the idea of dirt racing wheelmen Christopher Bell and Chase Briscoe returning back to their roots from time to time. But strictly on the topic of Joe Gibbs loosening his strict policy against extracurricular racing, Jordan Bianchi of The Athletic sees both sides of it.

NASCAR insider opines on Joe Gibbs Racing lifting strict policy

On one hand, Gibbs has to look out in the best interest of his assets — in this case, Bell, Briscoe and his grandson Ty Gibbs, who has shown a desire to get on the dirt track.

“I’m gonna speak out of both sides of my mouth here,” Bianchi said “The Teardown” podcast. “My belief on it is if I’m a team owner, I kind of lean with Joe Gibbs a little bit. Like I want to protect my assets, I’m paying these guys a lot of money, they’re immensely talented. I don’t want to lose them. Because if they’re not in my racecar, my team’s going to be worse for it. I’m probably gonna win less races, maybe won’t win championships etc.”

At the same time, Bianchi said that certain skillsets in NASCAR come from dirt. And as long as drivers are smart about it, he’s in favor of seeing NASCAR’s best on dirt.

“That said, when I have a Christopher Bell come to me or a Kyle Larson and say, ‘Listen, when I go do this, I feel like I make better.’ … With NASCAR shifting to wet weather tires on ovals and New Hampshire is a perfect example of that, that’s a skillset you can learn in dirt,” Bianchi said. “So, if I have a Christopher Bell or a Tyler Reddick or Kyle Larson or whoever, come to me and say, ‘Hey listen, this is something I feel like I need to do. Yes, I’m gonna be smart about it. Yes, I need permission, I’m gonna pick and choose a little bit and not gonna do anything risky.’

“I think you have to be receptive to that. And I think it’s a good way to really lift your guys’ spirits up too. So, I’m in favor of it, as weird as that may sound.”

Joe Gibbs Racing not going carte blanche with new policy

Gibbs previously allowed Bell to race Sprint Cars and Midgets until 2022 when Stewart-Haas Racing engineer DJ Vanderley suffered a spinal injury in a Micro Sprint event. Gibbs, who put his foot down then, made it clear that if any of his drivers want to race outside of NASCAR, they have to bring the idea forward to senior leadership, team president Dave Alpern said on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio this past week.

Bianchi added “there are consequences” to drivers potentially suffering injuries in dirt races.

“You have to accept that though,” Bianchi said. “If you want to do that, that’s fine. But there’s two sides to that though. If you want to go do that and think it’s gonna make you better, fine. But if you do get hurt, there are consequences. You don’t get to just do this carte blanche.

“You have to accept what potentially could happen if you do this and it goes sideways. It could mean you get hurt. It could mean you’re out of the racecar for a period of time and then the waiver question comes in.”