Chase Briscoe has made a dramatic impact in his first season after shifting to Joe Gibbs Racing, stepping into the No. 19 Toyota previously driven by Martin Truex Jr., following his tenure at Stewart Haas Racing. The adjustment has been fruitful for the Mitchell, Indiana native, delivering the strongest performance of his Cup career so far and leaving room for him to boost his stats even further with ten races left on the calendar.
Heading into the Cup Series playoff opener at Darlington Raceway, Briscoe holds one victory from Pocono. This season, he has established career-high single-season numbers in top-five finishes with ten, top-10 finishes with twelve, and six pole positions—including a pole at the Daytona 500.
Optimism Abounds Ahead of the 2025 NASCAR Cup Playoffs
Briscoe has openly shared his elevated confidence this year as he enters the 2025 NASCAR Cup Playoffs. During a recent media day, Briscoe reflected on his changing mindset.
“I was telling my wife, this is really the first time I have legitimately thought I could win a Cup championship,”
—Chase Briscoe, NASCAR driver
Historically, Briscoe had made playoff appearances twice in his first four full-time years, finishing as high as ninth in 2022 and 14th in 2024. He commented on the difference between earlier seasons and his outlook now:
“In the past I could make the playoffs, and that was exciting, but down deep you kind of know the odds of you winning are pretty slim.”
—Chase Briscoe, NASCAR driver
Briscoe credits part of his renewed optimism to being surrounded by talented teammates, notably Denny Hamlin and Christopher Bell, both of whom are in the playoffs along with him at Joe Gibbs Racing. Their collective strength has heightened his hopes as the postseason begins. He acknowledges, however, that reaching the Championship 4 and contending for the title will be a challenging feat.
“Now, not to say I’m the favorite by any means, but I feel like I have a legitimate chance to go do it,”
—Chase Briscoe, NASCAR driver
“It definitely feels different this time around just knowing you have a shot. I would say this playoffs just feels different because of that.”
—Chase Briscoe, NASCAR driver
Tough Competition from Elite Playoff Field
Despite feeling more prepared than ever, Briscoe must overcome a deep and competitive group of fifteen other playoff contenders. Notable among these are all four drivers from Hendrick Motorsports and three from Team Penske. There is also dynamic competition from teammates like Hamlin and Bell, who are expected to be both colleagues and rivals on the track.
The broader playoff lineup includes 23XI Racing’s Bubba Wallace and Tyler Reddick, Trackhouse Racing’s Shane van Gisbergen and Ross Chastain, Richard Childress Racing’s Austin Dillon, and the Wood Brothers Racing entry of Josh Berry. Briscoe recognizes that each contender, representing organizations such as Hendrick Motorsports, Team Penske, and others, brings significant skill and determination to the field.
One of Briscoe’s toughest obstacles this season is Denny Hamlin, who has experienced a rejuvenation this year with four victories and strong overall form for Joe Gibbs Racing, making the path to the final round more competitive than ever.
What This Playoff Run Means for Briscoe and the Cup Series
Briscoe’s campaign reflects a fresh chapter in his career, driven by momentum from strong results, supportive teammates, and a new confidence in his own abilities. Entering the playoffs at Darlington Raceway, he hopes to translate this momentum into a run for the Championship 4 and perhaps even clinch the ultimate prize. The upcoming weeks will reveal whether his transition to Joe Gibbs Racing can culminate in the breakthrough season he has long been seeking, while fans, teams, and fellow drivers watch a NASCAR Cup field filled with both veteran talents and rising stars.
