The team's unparalleled success in 2008 included 19 victories in 35 races, with four different drivers -- Kyle Busch, Tony Stewart, Denny Hamlin and Joe Logano -- behind the wheel of two cars setting the record for most wins by a car owner.
"What's ironic is you look back over the years and you say, we've always worked this hard, and we've always tried to put the best pieces and the best product on the racetrack and why, all of a sudden this year does everything happen," Steve deSouza, vice president of JGR's Nationwide Series operations and driver development program said.
"There's difficulty getting to the top, but it's most difficult to stay at the top. How do you continue to motivate people who have had a phenomenal year that has set all sorts of records?"
JGR began stressing the importance of not growing complacent long before last week's season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway, helping everyone involved with the team's No. 20 Toyota and Busch's No. 18 entry remain focused.
Busch tied Sam Ard for most series victories in a season, with nine of his 10 wins coming for JGR. Stewart won five races, Hamlin captured four and Logano one, helping the No. 20 car take the owner points championship.
The message during the quest was simple.
"Nobody can grow lax, we have to stay humble about this because it could be taken away from us in a second," deSouza said during Champions' Week media day at Disney World. "We have to continue on the path that we started, which is making sure everybody does their job 100 perfect correctly."
Gibbs' unmatched success also raised the question of whether one team winning so often is good for the developmental series, especially with JGR's three Sprint Cup Series drivers dominating the competition.
"In any sport, you're going to have teams that have runs of success. It goes in cycles," said David Reutimann, who was seventh in the point standings, one spot behind Busch. "You can't penalize someone for being the best."
Brad Keselowski, third behind Clint Bowyer and Carl Edwards for the driver point championship, won two races and was the highest-finishing series-only regular in his first full year of competition.
He likes the idea of competing against more-experienced Sprint Cup drivers and has no problem with one team dominating the series.
"I think what's not good for the sport is to try to regulate someone who dominates," Keselowski said.
"What's good for the sport is fair play. I think there was fair play in the series and they just outperformed us. We're going to work hard to try not to let that happen next year. ... It's really not their fault. It's our job to go make a run for them next year. And legitimately, I think we have a shot at that."
That the type of attitude that's bound to keep deSouza and others at JGR on their toes.
"In every sport there's a dynasty that goes on for a while. But every one of them, including ours, is cyclical. Prior to this year, there have been other teams ... that have won everything. The challenge, and the reason you stay in the hunt, is you want to be that No. 1 guy," deSouza said.
"By the same token, success is fleeting. As fast as you get there, and as hard as you work and have worked, it starts to get away from you and you can't put your finger on the reason for that, either."
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