Chase Briscoe of Joe Gibbs Racing is set to compete in the upcoming NASCAR Cup Series race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, determined to fulfill his deepest ambition at his home track. As he pursues his goal, Briscoe’s Indianapolis Motor Speedway aspirations—and the 20th anniversary of Tony Stewart’s own historic Brickyard 400 win—form the emotional core of his journey this weekend.
Reflecting on Tony Stewart’s Legacy and 20th Anniversary
The significance of this year’s Brickyard 400 is not lost on Briscoe, who is keenly aware of the milestone marked by Tony Stewart’s iconic victory two decades ago. Stewart’s triumph has inspired generations of Indiana racers, and Briscoe, coming off a string of strong performances, is eager to deliver a similar moment for himself and his supporters.
“It would definitely be really, really special. I actually texted Tony (Stewart) this week about that. We went to the new museum, and they had that 2005 car over there and I took a picture of it, and I sent it to him and said hopefully another Hoosier can win 20 years later. So yeah, it would be super, super special. I mean, it would be nothing like it for me just from a personal standpoint than to win this race so yeah, we’ve had a lot of really good momentum these last couple weeks and hopefully you know we just the one spot better this weekend. I definitely will be giving it everything I’ve got for sure.”
—Chase Briscoe, Driver, Joe Gibbs Racing
Visualizing Victory at Indianapolis Motor Speedway
For Briscoe, racing at Indianapolis Motor Speedway is more than just a professional goal; it’s a childhood dream steeped in local pride. After simulating laps and watching Stewart’s race online, Briscoe often finds himself imagining what it would feel like to win at the famed Indiana circuit.
“Honestly, I had just got done with Indy sim, so I was just driving home and running the laps through my head. I’ve never really thought about winning a race before but it was just you know kind of like imagining what it would be like to win here and to do it in the Brickyard 400 and I’d watched Tony’s (Stewart) race the night before like you just randomly on YouTube and you’re just watching his celebration and everything. I just kind of put myself in that moment. As an Indiana guy is just different like I don’t know how to explain it but yeah, just thought about it, I mean, it was a quick 20 second thought but yeah, I just got goosebumps as I was driving down the road thinking about it. I’ve never thought about winning a race before, so hopefully we can do it. Like I keep saying, it would just be so special to me to win here and do it in the Brickyard 400. I think some of the reason – I’ve probably thought about it a little bit more. Last year, was the only Brickyard 400 I’ve actually ran, but I knew going into it that my shots of winning it just probably wasn’t very high because of the equipment and everything, where now, I feel like I have a real, legitimate shot. It just kind of put things into perspective a little bit more.”
—Chase Briscoe, Driver, Joe Gibbs Racing
Recalling a Critical Win on the Xfinity Road Course
Reflecting on his breakthrough at Indianapolis Motor Speedway during the 2020 Xfinity Series race, Briscoe recalls the intensity of the final laps and the determination that propelled him to victory. Facing the pressure of the chase and knowing what was at stake, he found a new gear and seized the win when it mattered most.
“I think, when you go back to that 2020 race, it was a super intense battle. I think it was with four or five to go, when I made the mistake it might have been the pressure of the moment – just trying too hard. Then once I lost the lead, you can kind of go back and watch the race – you just see a different style of driving, I felt like those last three or four laps, and I felt like I had determined that there was no way I could live with myself if I threw it away like that, and was obviously able to get back and win the race, but I don’t know. Definitely, outside of that, that was the only time I’ve ever felt like I could win the race here. Other times, I haven’t been in position to do it. It is just different this time around, coming here in a JGR (Joe Gibbs Racing) car – like I know I’m going to be in the mix on Sunday. It’s just a matter of doing everything on my end, hopefully, I can do that to the best of my ability.”
—Chase Briscoe, Driver, Joe Gibbs Racing
The Impact of Teammate Denny Hamlin and Team Dynamics
Joe Gibbs Racing’s recent re-signing of Denny Hamlin underscores the veteran driver’s influence on the organization and its younger drivers like Briscoe. Hamlin’s leadership and experience are seen as invaluable assets, shaping the team’s culture and competitive edge.
“I think if you look at the success at JGR (Joe Gibbs Racing), Denny (Hamlin) is a massive part of it. He’s got 59 career wins (58), and all 59 (58) have been at JGR. When you think about a guy of Denny’s caliber, he’s going to be a first ballot hall of famer, and for him to be able to still be at the top of his game, if not probably in the peak of his career right now, why would you not try to keep that going? I know for me; it has been really interesting and eye opening to be able to be teammates with Denny and kind of be inside the walls and see how he approaches every single week of the season. It does remind me a lot of (Kevin) Harvick, when I first got to SHR (Stewart-Haas Racing) – their way of going about their prepping for the weekend and intensity level, and I would say that Denny has way more stuff going on outside of the race track than Kevin has, and he’s still manages to put the time in and the effort in, week-in and week-out and that is why he’s as successful as he is. It has been a lot of fun for me to get to know Denny over the last five, six months and be teammates with him. I would say it makes us all strive to be better, whether its myself, Ty (Gibbs) or (Christopher) Bell. I’m glad that he will be there for the future too.”
—Chase Briscoe, Driver, Joe Gibbs Racing
Qualifying Position and Race Strategy at the Brickyard
Starting position remains a key factor for success at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Briscoe recognizes the advantage of beginning the race on the front row, but also emphasizes that anything can happen over the course of a long race.
“It definitely helps. Anytime you can start up front anywhere, it makes a difference, but this track is certainly very track position dependent, and I think, even outside of starting up front, the pit stall selection – knowing you are getting the second pit stall selection is a huge deal. I do feel confident that if we do qualify, we can still definitely qualify on the front row, but there is also that chance that you mess it up or do something where you are not starting on the front row, so yeah, it wouldn’t necessarily hurt my feelings if we rained out – just knowing that I would be in a great position to start Sunday’s race, but so many other things that can happen on Sunday, whether you start second or 38th – you can still get the win, it just makes your life a lot easier certainly, starting up front.”
—Chase Briscoe, Driver, Joe Gibbs Racing
Learning from Denny Hamlin’s Work Ethic
Briscoe notes that working alongside a teammate of Hamlin’s caliber has shifted his perspective on preparation and commitment. From sim work to race analytics, Hamlin’s dedication has impressed Briscoe and motivated him to adopt similar habits.
“Just truthfully, how hard he works. I mean, from the outside looking in, the fact that he has a ton of distractions with the 23XI stuff. He’s obviously got a lot going on at home with three kids – I can definitely relate to that – and he’s literally there more than probably anybody, as far as sim work goes. From a post stand point, week-in and week-out, he’s in the simulator when I feel like he’s got every reason to jump out of it. Especially, he’s been doing it for 20 years, nearly, I don’t know. I think I had the same misconception with (Kevin) Harvick – where I just figured he does it all of the time. He doesn’t need sim work, but Denny’s put in more sim hours than any of us at JGR (Joe Gibbs Racing). I think that is kind of the biggest thing I’ve been surprised by and even how analytical he is. Like every meeting we have, he’s always got data to back up whatever he’s talking about. Whenever we do our post-practice sessions, debriefs, he’s looking through every lap, graph and data. It is just very eye opening to how into the analytics and the data he is, and that is something that I’ve never really used in the past, and I’ve tried to start doing more this year because I’ve seen it makes a difference for him, so I would say that’s probably the biggest thing.”
—Chase Briscoe, Driver, Joe Gibbs Racing
Comparisons Between Pocono and Indianapolis
After a recent win at Pocono, Briscoe discussed whether success at that track translated into greater confidence for the Brickyard challenge. He remains cautious, explaining that while Pocono and Indianapolis are often compared, they require distinctly different approaches.
“Not a whole lot, truthfully. I mean, if you say, ‘pick a track most similar to Indianapolis,’ Pocono is the only one you could draw slight comparisons to. But it’s still so drastically different. Just because you’re good at Pocono, doesn’t mean here (Indianapolis) and vice versa. I don’t think that made a lot of difference for me. More so, it’s just I’m in a JGR car and they’re stuff is honestly good everywhere we go. I was proud to run one Brickyard 400 in the No. 14 car. For me, that was a dream come true for myself, but I’d much rather win the race. It was going to be an uphill battle at SHR (Stewart-Haas Racing) and it’s no secret our stuff was off and not where it needed to be. Now coming here and to one of the powerhouse organizations, I know I’m going to be in the mix just like everywhere else we go. So, feel like where a lot of the belief comes from.”
—Chase Briscoe, Driver, Joe Gibbs Racing
The Brickyard 400’s Importance Among NASCAR Majors
Among all the high-profile races on the NASCAR calendar, Briscoe sees the Brickyard 400 as one of the sport’s true crown jewels—a race every driver aspires to win, and for him, a priority above even the Daytona 500 due to his personal connection.
“Yeah, I think it’s a Crown Jewel. I think every race car driver dreams of racing at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, especially winning. I would say it’s different from myself (compared) to them. For me, I’d put the Brickyard 400 over the Daytona 500 from a personal standpoint, but I’m probably the only one who feels that way because I’m from Indiana whereas those guys just want to win at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. But yeah, I definitely think when you look at the majors, this is one of the four. There’s a reason everyone wants to win here so bad.”
—Chase Briscoe, Driver, Joe Gibbs Racing
The Unique Challenge of Racing at Indianapolis
Briscoe describes Indianapolis Motor Speedway as an entirely unique test for NASCAR drivers, sharing that no amount of preparation at similar venues quite compares to racing on its historic four corners.
“I think it’s truly its own animal. You could sit there and say Pocono, turn two is similar, but even that, to me, it drives nothing like the four corners here. It might be the same shape, but the banking feels different and it’s way rougher at Pocono. And just the style of racing at Pocono is just feels different, so I feel like this place is certainly its own animal for sure.”
—Chase Briscoe, Driver, Joe Gibbs Racing
Making a Statement with San Diego Event Video
Briscoe recently participated in a promotional video for an upcoming NASCAR event in San Diego, which he describes as a memorable and energizing project. The video showcased the unique setting and created excitement for a new kind of racing challenge.
“Yeah, it (the video) was super cool to be a part of. We went out there (San Diego) the week of Sonoma and we knew why we were going out there but didn’t know what the video was going to be about. But when they filled us in on it when we got there, I think all of us kind of bought in and thought this was going to be the coolest video ever. And I think it turned out better than expected. It made us look really cool, right? Yeah, really fun to be a part of and to go out there and see the base. I was just talking about it a little bit ago, it’s going to be the coolest race on the schedule. Just the base itself is super neat. The scenery is going to be unlike any other. The pre-race, I can’t even imagine how cool it’s going to be. And I think the race track in general is going to be a lot of fun. I was glad to be one of the six guys to go out there and film that video and they did an amazing job. I think NASCAR in general has done an amazing job with the new company they’ve done a lot of the video stuff with and they knocked it out of the park.”
—Chase Briscoe, Driver, Joe Gibbs Racing
Details and Expectations on the San Diego Course
The upcoming San Diego event promises a racing experience unlike any other, and Briscoe shared his first-hand perspective on the dramatic layout, including racing alongside legendary landmarks and military hardware.
“Yeah, it was the same track as they showed in the video, at least as far as I know what the plan is – to be similar to that. But we drove around a lot of it and for a large majority of it, you’re right beside the water which is really cool. There’ll be aircraft carriers right beside the race track, which is really cool. There’s one part we drove by and there’s like 60 helicopters sitting there, so it’s going to be so cool, the scenery in itself. Yeah, I think it’ll race really well. Not sure I’d even call it a street course. I think a lot of it will be in the runway, hangar part of the base where it’ll be really wide. You’ll be able to move around, so it’ll be more like a road course compared to a street course, but I think there will be parts where the real streets of the base, (pause) and I know they have a little bit of work to do on that, just to smooth it out and what not. But, I think it’s going to race really well. It’s three miles, which will be interesting, but should be a lot of fun.”
—Chase Briscoe, Driver, Joe Gibbs Racing
Childhood Dreams and Early Experiences at Indianapolis
Briscoe’s Indiana roots are central to his connection with the Speedway, as he fondly recalls his first visits as a child and teenager. He painted a vivid picture of his journey from spectator to competitor, marked by local traditions and youthful ambition.
“When I was seven years old, I got a uniform – a Simpson uniform. Usually, everybody would show up in a plain uniform, it’d all be one color and when you drive out of that tunnel at (turns) one and two, there’s that brick building right there and there’s this guy, Jim Bob Luger and he did embroidery. I was seven and that was my first time seeing this race track and I remember getting my uniform embroidered and getting name on it and coming inside the track, and that was the first time I’ve been inside the walls of Indianapolis Motor Speedway and just being in absolute awe. First off, of a track this big. I’ve been to dirt tracks that were a quarter of a mile and then to see this place and the grandstands, it was just unbelieve for this seven-year-old kid to see a race track of this size. And then, just remember coming here, I was probably around 10 or so to see my first Indy 500 and then Brickyard 400s and just coming here. I used to sneak in the garage area and just try to get autographs and such. And once I got older, I was about 16 or 17, and once again, sneaking onto pit road and passing out business cards. For me now to be on the other side of the fence and being a competitor, it’s just super cool for me. I remember the last Brickyard 400 I came here to watch, it was probably 2013 or so, I remember sitting right here. It’s really special I’m on the other side of the fence. I look back on it, I think the biggest win of my career was sneaking in the garage, past the yellow shirts. That’s a really hard thing to do, but I was able to do it a few times. Just crazy that seven-year-old me from going to get my uniform, to now racing here in the Cup Series.”
—Chase Briscoe, Driver, Joe Gibbs Racing
The Ultimate Dream: Winning the Brickyard 400
For Briscoe, victory at the Brickyard would represent the pinnacle of his career and the fulfillment of a deeply personal quest. In his mind, there is nothing that could top winning at Indianapolis except, perhaps, the Indy 500, which he sees as out of practical reach for now.
“Yeah, if I was able to win the Brickyard 400, it would be the biggest win of my career. I don’t think I could ever win another race that would mean more to me that I know I’ll realistically run. You know, the Indy 500 would mean more, but I’m not going to run that. Like I said earlier, I would put this race over the Daytona 500 because of the significance. I was talking about how many times I came to this place as a kid and what it means to me. So yeah, for me, to win on Sunday, there’s no race I’d rather win in the world, and it’d be so special to do it.”
—Chase Briscoe, Driver, Joe Gibbs Racing
Significance and What to Expect Next
Chase Briscoe’s pursuit of victory at Indianapolis Motor Speedway is more than just a quest for another trophy; it stands as a testament to lifelong aspirations, community pride, and the inspiration drawn from previous Indiana legends like Tony Stewart. A win at the Brickyard 400 would not only mark the highest point in Briscoe’s career but would also resonate deeply with the state and fans who have followed his remarkable journey. As the race weekend unfolds, both the possibility of triumph and the memories made along the way ensure this Brickyard 400 will carry lasting meaning for Briscoe and those who share his passion for the iconic venue.
