Chase Briscoe secured his first-ever spot in the Championship 4 after delivering a decisive final-lap push at Talladega Superspeedway, fulfilling not only his dream but also the season-long expectations tied to his move to Joe Gibbs Racing. The achievement marks a turning point for Briscoe, highlighting the resolve and skill that shaped his season following a high-profile transition to JGR and a pivotal win that helped him clinch the Chase Briscoe Championship 4 berth.
Rising to New Heights in Debut Season with Joe Gibbs Racing
After four mixed years at Stewart-Haas Racing, where Chase Briscoe tallied two victories and twice made the playoffs, his switch to Joe Gibbs Racing placed him in the seat of the No. 19 Toyota. He stepped in for Martin Truex Jr., who retired with an impressive tally of 15 career wins and two previous runs in the Championship 4 for the JGR organization. From the outset, Briscoe faced immediate scrutiny as he aimed to live up to the standards set by his predecessor and the championship-driven culture of Joe Gibbs Racing.
Initially, the partnership between Briscoe and his new crew chief James Small required time to settle. Those first weeks involved a period of adjustment, with both driver and crew learning the nuances of working together and shaping a new team identity.
“I knew it was going to be tough to get going, but we had a lot of belief in this team and what we had put together with Chase and some of the new people,” Small said (via SiriusXM). “For us, it was a learning experience as well, especially at the start… It was just very, very different to what we’d been doing for the previous five seasons.” — James Small, Crew Chief
In the first 12 races of the season, Briscoe managed to lead just 29 laps and often finished outside the top 14, placing him under mounting pressure. However, as the bond with Small developed, performance dramatically improved. Over the following 22 races, Briscoe claimed six poles, led 852 laps, and collected three victories—meeting the high hopes that Small had set for the No. 19 team at the start of the year.
“I think in my pre-yearly aspirations, I had four wins then,” Small added. “We’re at three right now and hopefully we can get one more. It’s been a great year, but we expected that if we all did our jobs right, we could perform at this level and I’m glad that we’ve followed through with everything we set out.” — James Small, Crew Chief
Now, with a Championship 4 ticket secured, Briscoe heads to Martinsville free from the earlier season’s burdens, driving with new confidence as the pressure lifts and the championship goal comes into focus.
Briscoe’s Mindset Shift and Key Teammate Decisions
Chase Briscoe’s breakthrough at Talladega was sealed with an assist from teammate Ty Gibbs, who made the choice to push Briscoe’s No. 19 car rather than attempt a victory for himself. This selfless act propelled both Briscoe and fellow Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin into the final four contenders, while Christopher Bell holds the provisional final Championship 4 spot above the cutline. The playoffs have seen Toyota and JGR dominate, winning five of eight races, solidifying their presence at the front of the pack.
Despite the strong finish, Briscoe revealed that confidence was not always high within his own mind. At the season’s outset, he struggled with the expectations weighed upon anyone handed the keys to a JGR car, questioning if he could meet the benchmark required and what a lack of wins might mean for his NASCAR future.
“Yeah, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t feel like we were capable of doing it. That’s why I said even what I said at the beginning of the year, ‘If I don’t go win, I’m never going to get hired again,’ because the expectation is you have to go to JGR and win. If you can’t win in a JGR car, why would anybody hire you for another team? Glad that I’ve been able to, I feel like, prove my worth. To be in the Championship 4 is a huge accomplishment itself. We want to win the championship. But to be one of those elite guys is a pretty special feeling.” — Chase Briscoe, Driver
Briscoe’s honesty points to the constant pressure all top NASCAR drivers experience, particularly those replacing accomplished veterans like Martin Truex Jr. at a powerhouse team.
Statistical Breakthrough and Building Toward a Career-Defining Finish
The 2024 campaign marks the most complete season of Chase Briscoe’s career. He currently boasts an 11.8 average finish—second best among all series drivers—and holds a league-leading 9.9 average starting position, with seven pole awards so far. His consistency has been remarkable, recording seven top-10 finishes in the last eight races and securing three victories, including the pivotal Talladega triumph that marked his arrival as a true contender.
While Briscoe has yet to score a victory at Martinsville in nine career starts, the momentum of his current run and his newly reinforced confidence position him as a key threat at the historic short track. His teammates Denny Hamlin and Christopher Bell, along with Ty Gibbs, round out Joe Gibbs Racing’s formidable playoff lineup, showcasing the depth and competitive edge JGR holds in this championship quest.
Looking Forward: What Briscoe’s Surge Means for NASCAR
Chase Briscoe’s push into the Championship 4 is not just a personal milestone; it signals Joe Gibbs Racing’s enduring strength and adaptability in high-pressure scenarios. The team’s dominance in the playoffs—bolstered by decisive moves from both drivers and team personnel—solidifies their reputation as a standard-bearer in the series. Briscoe’s rise, marked by patient teamwork, technical progress alongside crew chief James Small, and a willingness to evolve, offers inspiration for emerging drivers and underscores the relentless competitiveness of NASCAR’s elite.
With the Championship 4 now within reach, all eyes turn to Martinsville and the culminating races to see if Briscoe, alongside his JGR teammates and fierce rivals, can convert this momentum into a landmark first championship title.
💭 @JoeGibbsRacing crew chief James Small discusses the team's third win of the year @TALLADEGA, locking them into the Championship 4 ⬇️
🗣️ "It's been a great year, but we expected that if we all did our jobs right we could perform at this level."
🎧 https://t.co/WGRTG5gnEd pic.twitter.com/C7DUWPpku4
— SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Ch. 90) (@SiriusXMNASCAR) October 23, 2025
