Chase Briscoe’s journey through the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season has been a striking example of perseverance and adaptation, as he reshaped his racing trajectory after joining Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR). The story behind the Chase Briscoe NASCAR season turnaround involves overcoming difficult transitions, extracting lessons from seasoned voices like Tony Stewart, and digging deeper with his crew, all on his path toward a potential championship.
Adjusting to Life with Joe Gibbs Racing
The 2025 season marked a major shift for Briscoe, as he drove the No. 19 toyota/”>Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing after four demanding years at Stewart-Haas Racing. What many fans saw as a fairytale run was paved with uncertainty—he freely admits the first few races were filled with mistakes and doubt, especially when he finished 35th at Phoenix in only his fourth start with the new team.
Reflecting on the challenges of adapting from Stewart-Haas Racing’s Fords to JGR’s Toyotas, Briscoe openly discussed his early struggles. He conceded that his initial attempts to control the much faster Toyota left him uncertain and often left speed on the table as a result. Bob Pockrass shared Briscoe’s candid reflections ahead of the title race:
I had no clue what I was doing,
Chase Briscoe, driver.
That was my third or fourth race of JGR… even if we ran every lap that race, I don’t think we would take a lot from it.
Chase Briscoe, driver.
Briscoe’s previous experience at Stewart-Haas Racing influenced his early, tentative approach, as he refrained from pushing the JGR machine to its limits, fearing it would react the way his old cars did. “
I’d been so used to going to a lot of these tracks my entire career and not being able to do a certain thing,
Chase Briscoe, driver, explained.
My car wouldn’t take it. I would just hit the wall or spin out.
Chase Briscoe, driver.
This hesitation resulted in a series of modest finishes at the start of the year. The turning point arrived during the Coca-Cola 600 in May, where Briscoe realized his new Toyota could not only handle, but thrive under increased pressure and aggression. From that breakthrough, Briscoe found his stride, with major wins at Pocono, Darlington, and Talladega. His Talladega win, especially, placed him in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff’s final four, a first for him in this elite setting.
Crew chief James Small noted Briscoe’s progress and the positive energy it brought to the team.
It has been very fulfilling to watch Chase get better week to week, along with everybody else,
James Small, crew chief. The arrival of new staff like car chief JD further solidified the No. 19 crew, helping to shore up the team as they set sights on a championship run in one of the most competitive seasons to date.
Mentoring from a NASCAR Champion
During this turbulent season, Briscoe drew on guidance from three-time Cup Series champion Tony Stewart—his boyhood inspiration and former boss at Stewart-Haas Racing. The critical advice came in mid-October, when Stewart encouraged Briscoe to reach out. Their twenty-minute phone conversation bridged experience and temperament, focusing on handling the mental demands of chasing a championship.
Stewart pointed out the importance of relying on what’s already successful, rather than altering approach just as the stakes reach their highest. Briscoe fully understood the essence of this mentorship, while also realizing that their styles and personalities differ in meaningful ways.
I took from what he said what I could, but Tony and I are two different personalities. What may have worked for him may not work for me. That was even Tony’s point. He said, ‘Do what is working for me, ‘ so I don’t plan on changing anything for seven or eight months,
Chase Briscoe, driver.
For Stewart, who ended his legendary run at Stewart-Haas Racing after 2024, the advice was battle-tested, drawn from his own title pursuits, including his final championship run in 2011. Stewart’s Hoosier background and leadership remain touchstones for Briscoe, who now stands poised to match Stewart’s achievement as the last Indiana native to win the Cup. This legacy and shared heritage reinforce the gravity of the moment for Briscoe as he prepares for the decisive races ahead.
Eyes on the Cup: What Lies Ahead
As Briscoe locks into NASCAR’s final-four challenge at Phoenix, he does so as the field’s lone newcomer, set to face established veterans such as Denny Hamlin and Kyle Larson. Stewart’s straightforward philosophy—stick to what works—remains front and center in Briscoe’s preparation, steering him away from drastic last-minute changes and toward a calm, confident outlook.
The high-stakes nature of the final race is not lost on the team or the fans. Success for Briscoe carries broader significance: it’s a testament to what’s possible through resilience and willingness to adapt, even in the unforgiving crucible of Cup-level competition. Joe Gibbs Racing’s strategic prowess combined with Briscoe’s renewed confidence has created a powerful presence this season—a shift that reverberates with the entire NASCAR community, from experienced observers like Bob Pockrass to fans who have followed Briscoe’s story from his early days of hardship and hustle.
The dramatic turnaround of Chase Briscoe’s 2025 NASCAR season now stands as a blueprint for perseverance amid change. His growth on and off the track, shaped by teammates like James Small, car chief JD, and champion mentors such as Tony Stewart, spotlights the collaborative and adaptive spirit required for success at the sport’s highest level. As the championship race looms, all attention shifts to Phoenix, where Briscoe aims to seize the moment and perhaps etch his name among Indiana’s racing legends.
Chase Briscoe started 30th and didn't get in 100 laps in the race at Phoenix last spring. He doesn't think that puts him at a disadvantage this weekend. pic.twitter.com/HDhieeEzrG
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) October 31, 2025
