The motor racing world is abuzz with the surprise move by NASCAR legend, Joe Gibbs. Known for his cool demeanor that guided his team to three Super Bowl victories and five Cup Series Championships, Gibbs has taken the internet by storm with an unexpected twist in a new ad campaign for Interstate Batteries and his racing empire, Joe Gibbs Racing.
Social media is ablaze with this unprecedented development, intriguing not just seasoned fans but also casual observers. It’s not uncommon for racing companies and battery manufacturers to collaborate on commercials, but this one stands out. The source of this frenzy? The unforeseen emergence of ‘Coach Rizz’.
In an Instagram video that has been making waves, Joe Gibbs Racing introduced us to an entirely new avatar of the revered coach. Embracing the language of Gen Z and internet slang with gusto, Gibbs, the man who has coached sporting icons, was seen fluently using the new-age lingo.
Taking his ‘besties’ on a tour of the Joe Gibbs Racing trophy room, he showed off his team’s victories with a casual “serving major flex”. He then moved to a “no-rizz zone”, a term that is yet to be defined in NASCAR parlance. He further described the floor vibes as “low-key iconic” and, most memorably, declared that “losing gives me the ick”. Peppered throughout the video were numerous instances of the word “Slay”.
This unexpected style from Gibbs, now fondly referred to as “Coach Rizz”, has been met with amusement and surprise. Parker Klingerman, known for his sense of humor, called the video “low key hilarious”, while Derrel Edwards of JGR commented, “Coach got the swag”. The general consensus from fans was that they “Didn’t know Joe was chill like that”.
While this is the 33rd year of collaboration between Interstate Batteries and JGR, this new commercial has taken the partnership to a whole new level. With the changing dynamics of NASCAR sponsorships, other brands like M&M’s and FedEx have moved on, but Interstate has remained loyal. And it seems their latest ad has become a major hit, possibly due to Coach Gibbs’ commitment to NASCAR’s expansion vision.
The influence of TikTok star Rizzler is evident in this campaign. The social media sensation, who boasts 1.5 million followers and was seen at the Daytona 500 earlier this month, seems to have impacted not just the drivers but also the garage. Fans have been quick to coin the term “Joe Gibbs Rizzing” in his honor.
The emergence of Coach Rizz has also inspired other players in the NASCAR community to up their social media game. Brad Keselowski and Consumer Cellular recently delivered a hilarious commercial, with Keselowski determined to cut costs on everything from his race suit to office gear.
This innovative approach to sponsorship deals has fans eagerly anticipating more appearances from Coach Gibbs. Although racing is his primary passion, it appears that Gibbs is equally talented in entertaining his fans with his newly discovered acting skills.
