Joe Gibbs Racing Has a New Minority Owner and Fans are Skeptical

What’s Happening?

Adam Stern reports that Joe Gibbs has sold a minority stake in his race team to new Washington Commanders owner, Josh Harris. Gibbs will also receive a minority stake in the Philadelphia 76ers and the New Jersey Devils. Stern reports that Harris’ company, Harris Blitzer Sports Entertainment, will help primarily in marketing, sales, and funding.

• Joe Gibbs is one of NASCAR’s most successful team owners, and he is also arguably the greatest head coach in the history of the Washington Commanders franchise. Gibbs won three Super Bowls with the Commanders during his coaching career before retiring in 1992 to run a NASCAR team.
• Harris is one of the more recent big-name investors into NASCAR. Michael Jordan, Fenway Sports Group, and Pitbull are amongst the most recent groups and individuals to invest heavily into some sort of a NASCAR team. Fenway still holds naming rights to RFK Racing (Roush-Fenway Keselowski Racing).
• Some fans are skeptical of this move. Some are concerned it will effect how Joe Gibbs Racing will run.

The Main Characters

Joe Gibbs Racing made it official later with this press release.

Adam Stern adds some more context to the situation, stating that Gibbs wanted to keep the team within the family.

In the Stands

Tom Sears says that Alex Kerner is wrong for assuming there will be a downfall of JGR.

It could be, you never know.

Connor Allen is not excited about Harris coming into NASCAR.

This may be an overgeneralization, but it’s all about intention at the end of the day.

Zachary says that with NASCAR’s current state of marketing, this is a good thing.

From the Pressbox

Bob Pockrass responds to someone who thinks this could negatively effect Joe Gibbs Racing.

There is always some understandable skepticism when new owners come into the sport. Time will tell how everything plays out over the course of time.