Chase Briscoe adapts to Joe Gibbs Racing transition after Martin Truex Jr.’s retirement opened up the No. 19 seat, resulting in a pivotal career move for Briscoe following Stewart-Haas Racing‘s announced closure at the end of 2024. While this shift appeared straightforward, Briscoe has openly stated that adjusting to the new organization and its vehicles has proven to be a greater challenge than he first anticipated.
After Martin Truex Jr. revealed he would be stepping away from full-time NASCAR Cup Series competition, Stewart-Haas Racing drivers, including Briscoe, faced decisions about their futures due to the team‘s shutdown announcement. Joe Gibbs Racing selected Briscoe to fill the vacancy in their No. 19 car, expecting his experience with the Next Gen cars to serve him well.
Briscoe initially believed the switch would be relatively smooth, primarily because the cars’ technical specifications are closely regulated. However, differences soon became clear once he began integrating with Joe Gibbs Racing. Asked about making the move from Stewart-Haas Racing to Joe Gibbs Racing during an appearance on Today, Briscoe was candid:
“I would say the transition has been truthfully harder than I thought it would be,”
—Chase Briscoe, Driver.
He explained that his early belief in mechanical similarities between the Stewart-Haas and Joe Gibbs cars did not hold up in actual practice, noting setup and subtle elements made a meaningful difference. Briscoe remarked,
“I just thought the cars would drive more similar, truthfully, just with the Next Gen car and how all the cars are the exact same, but just from a setup standpoint,”
—Chase Briscoe, Driver.
Discussing his learning curve, Briscoe acknowledged additional factors influencing performance that he hadn’t accounted for at the outset, such as bodywork downforce and engine characteristics.
“Even the engines and the car’s bodies have a downforce. They definitely drive way different than I anticipated. So that’s been definitely, I would say, a little bit more of a learning curve than I expected.”
—Chase Briscoe, Driver.
Though settling into the environment has taken longer than hoped, Briscoe said the effort has provided new insight into Joe Gibbs Racing’s reputation as a championship-caliber organization. The thorough approach of the JGR team has made a strong impression, with Briscoe reflecting, “Definitely been eye-opening.” —Chase Briscoe, Driver.
Measuring Up Against Established Joe Gibbs Racing Drivers
Teammates Christopher Bell and Denny Hamlin have already celebrated race wins this season, with Bell collecting four victories (including the All-Star Race) and Hamlin tallying two. Both are high in the NASCAR Cup Series standings, ranking third and seventh, respectively. Meanwhile, Briscoe sits twelfth after a dozen starts, continuing to adapt behind the wheel of the No. 19 ford/”>Ford for Stewart-Haas Racing. Ty Gibbs, now in his third full-time Cup season with JGR, is yet to claim his first win and currently sits twenty-sixth.
Briscoe remains focused on improvement, mindful of his teammates’ successes as a source of motivation.
“I want to win, especially when your teammates have been winning. It’s like, well, if they’re winning, we can win too,”
—Chase Briscoe, Driver.
It’s just frustrating when your teammates are winning, but it is still very, very new, and there are a lot of things that are different that I’m trying to get acclimated to.
Despite the adjustment period, Briscoe has displayed promising speed at various tracks. His season began strongly with a fourth-place finish at the Daytona 500, followed by top-five performances at Homestead, Bristol, and Kansas. Briscoe and the No. 19 team continue refining their approach during both practice and race conditions, expressing confidence that their efforts will eventually yield victories as he becomes more comfortable in his new environment.
Briscoe’s move to Joe Gibbs Racing in the wake of Martin Truex Jr.’s retirement underscores the challenges drivers face when switching organizations, even when racing vehicles with similar technical specs. His ongoing adaptation reflects the intense, competitive nature of NASCAR’s top teams and highlights how process-driven teams like Joe Gibbs Racing can rapidly reveal areas for personal and professional growth. As Briscoe continues to learn, his dedication suggests that further progress—and perhaps that first win at JGR—may be on the horizon.
