Chase Briscoe, a strong contender for the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series crown, is set to compete for his first title as the season wraps up this Sunday. His pursuit of the Chase Briscoe NASCAR championship pinnacle comes after a breakthrough year, where he stepped into a leading role among motorsport’s elite at Joe Gibbs Racing.
Briscoe’s Path to Championship Contention
This season marks Briscoe’s fifth year at NASCAR’s highest level and his debut as a championship finalist. Hailing from Mitchell, Indiana, Briscoe earned his place in the title showdown after making the playoffs’ Round of 8 last year with Stewart-Haas Racing, the team he raced for until 2024. His rapid adjustment to Joe Gibbs Racing has resulted in three victories and a coveted spot among the season’s Final 4, competing directly with top-tier talent like Denny Hamlin and Kyle Larson.
Adapting to New Challenges with Elite Teams
During his time with Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR), Briscoe was not always seen as a championship threat, especially as SHR faded in its final seasons before the team’s departure from NASCAR in 2024. While he found success with race wins in 2022 and 2024, he rarely entered the last races with a real shot at the title. Transitioning to Joe Gibbs Racing, Briscoe faced the challenge of adapting to new equipment and a higher level of expectation, now behind the wheel of a Toyota rather than a Ford Mustang. This adjustment, however, has seemed to bring out the best in his driving and competitive spirit.
Briscoe Reflects on Growth and Preparation
Reflecting on his journey, Briscoe pointed to his early years with SHR as crucial in preparing him for this chance, explaining,
“I feel like the first four years of my career to now, truthfully, I’m glad that I had the four years of experience at SHR, just because I have Cup experience, I kind of know the ins-and-outs of Cup racing. I still had races where I competed for wins or won at SHR’s level. I feel like it would have been hard to step into this car year one of your Cup career and go perform,”
said Briscoe.
Looking at the combination of his journey and current opportunity, Briscoe added,
“Just kind of the perfect storm. I had a couple of years of experience in Cup. Somewhat competitive equipment. Now gave me the opportunity to obviously come over in elite equipment and show me what I’m capable of,”
Briscoe continued, describing his readiness for the season’s climax.
The Race Ahead at Phoenix and the Competition
Now, doubts about Briscoe’s ability to perform on a major stage have diminished, but the final test awaits at Phoenix Raceway. He will face stiff competition not only from his experienced Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Denny Hamlin, but also from the Hendrick Motorsports duo of William Byron and Kyle Larson—each aiming for the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series championship as well.
The storyline for this year’s finale is Briscoe’s effort to capture his first championship after steady progress through the sport’s ranks. His challenge also highlights the impact of team changes, such as the shift from Ford Mustangs at SHR to Toyotas at JGR, and underscores the significance of competitive equipment and organization stability in elevating a driver to contender status. As he prepares for his shot at the title, Briscoe’s journey serves as testament to the value of perseverance and adaptation in NASCAR’s demanding environment.
