Chase Briscoe, entering his first NASCAR Cup Series Championship 4, faces a formidable challenge as he prepares to compete against seasoned stars including Kyle Busch. As Briscoe readies himself for the Phoenix finale, his ongoing admiration for rivals highlights the emotional landscape heading into the Kyle Busch NASCAR championship showdown.
Briscoe, age 30, recently joined Joe Gibbs Racing to drive the No. 19 Toyota and shared candid thoughts about his racing journey. Despite a decade in NASCAR’s national divisions, he told Fox Sports’ Bob Pockrass that part of him still feels like a fan living out a dream. Having only recently graduated from watching races on TV and tinkering with cars to running on NASCAR’s biggest stage, the transition feels both surreal and inspiring.
“I think fans should root for me because I’m really just one of them, if we’re being honest,” Briscoe said. “Like I still get starstruck racing against Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin and all these guys. I mean literally I was a fan less than 10 years ago. Just watching on TV and just trying to work on the cars myself. So yeah I think that fans root for me because essentially I’m just one of them.”
After ten years in the sport and five at the Cup level, Briscoe’s path to a title opportunity has been built on persistence. He now stands within reach of a championship, with the unique challenge of going up against a field of veterans—and notably, his own Joe Gibbs Racing teammate, Denny Hamlin.
Asked about how he balances the admiration he holds for his competitors with the need to defeat them, Briscoe emphasized that being awe-struck does not hinder his drive on the racetrack.
“I don’t know. I mean it’s cool that I’m racing against them. I think just because you’re starstruck doesn’t mean you still can’t go race with them. I’ve done it my whole career, where I am still like, ‘Man, I’m racing against this guy right now.’ And I’ve still been able to beat him or race around him. So I don’t think it’ll be any different this week either.”
Throughout his debut season with Joe Gibbs Racing, Briscoe displayed remarkable consistency. His postseason kicked off with a convincing win at Darlington, followed by another victory at Talladega that secured his place in the Championship 4. Across these critical weeks, his average finish was 9.1, highlighting steady performances despite tough competition.
Mechanical setbacks did surface: an engine failure at Martinsville proved costly after 295 laps. Yet team owner Joe Gibbs provided assurance that such issues are unlikely to recur, emphasizing renewed confidence for the finale in Phoenix.
Joe Gibbs Commends Briscoe’s Breakthrough and Looks to End a Five-Year Title Drought
The Phoenix finale carries high stakes for Joe Gibbs Racing, which is pursuing its first NASCAR Cup Series championship in five years. The team sees the intertwining tales of two drivers: Denny Hamlin, celebrated for racking up more wins than any other active driver without securing a championship, and Briscoe, whose underdog journey from Indiana dirt tracks to the spotlight symbolizes determination and growth.
As the team’s owner, Joe Gibbs described his pride for both competitors heading into Sunday’s all-important race.
“If I take Chase first, here’s somebody I noticed — I think yesterday on Sirius radio, they were talking to him about the couch that he slept on for like two years while he’s trying to get an opportunity in the sport,” Gibbs said (via Cup Scene). “To see him, a first-year guy, be able to get everything done that he’s got done, be on seven poles, won three races, to wind up in the final four. So, that’s a great story.” (13:52 onwards)
“Then you move over to Denny. Here’s somebody that’s won 60 times in our sport. All the things that he does now – he’s an owner of a race team, he races for us, and all he’s done over those years… His dad (being sick) and everything that’s taken place there. So it’s two definite different stories,” he continued.
At 44 years old, Denny Hamlin enters his fifth finale out of twelve playoff appearances, boasting a series-best six wins this season. While his career is filled with accolades, the absence of a championship stands out prominently as he continues to chase that milestone at Phoenix.
Briscoe’s emergence as a contender in his first year with Joe Gibbs Racing contrasts sharply with Hamlin’s legacy, yet his impact is deeply felt. The garage has taken notice of Briscoe’s hard work and adaptability. Phoenix may not have been his best track historically, but his recent run of form indicates he could be a serious threat in the championship race.
This year’s Championship 4 showdown spotlights both the drive of established veterans and the hunger of new challengers. As the event nears, all eyes will be on whether Chase Briscoe’s journey culminates in a storybook finale or if Denny Hamlin finally secures the title that has long eluded him.
The intensity surrounding this battle—with every lap holding immense significance—features not only the skills and histories of Kyle Busch, Hamlin, and Briscoe, but also the charged atmosphere of a sport defined by ambition and tenacity. The outcome will affirm either experience or underdog determination as NASCAR crowns its next champion.
Chase Briscoe feels he has a good answer to why fans should root for him: @NASCARONFOX pic.twitter.com/UNGghAKrX7
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) October 30, 2025
