Ty Gibbs, at just 23 years old, finally secured his first NASCAR Cup Series victory at the Food City 500 held in Bristol, Tennessee, on April 12. After 130 starts without a win, Gibbs showcased his skill and strategy by holding off strong competitors Ryan Blaney and Kyle Larson. In a pivotal moment, Gibbs' crew chief, Tyler Allen, made the decision to keep him out on older tires while other contenders pitted with less than 20 laps to go. This strategic choice allowed Gibbs to maintain his lead, even as the race entered overtime due to a late caution caused by Riley Herbst's spin. Gibbs successfully defended his position from Larson and Blaney, ultimately crossing the finish line first. Meanwhile, Todd Gilliland of Front Row Motorsports achieved a season-best sixth-place finish thanks to timely pit strategy. In contrast, William Byron had a challenging race, finishing 30th after struggling with car performance throughout the weekend. Shane van Gisbergen also faced difficulties, finishing 34th after a crash, which left him on the brink of missing the Chase cutoff.