Chase Briscoe’s NASCAR future looks increasingly promising following a dramatic performance during Phoenix’s Championship Weekend, where he faced yet another round of adversity but reinforced his resilience on the track. Just months after the closure of Stewart-Haas Racing, Briscoe’s move to Joe Gibbs Racing has already positioned him as a key competitor to watch in forthcoming NASCAR seasons.
Overcoming Early Career Challenges and Team Transitions
Throughout his NASCAR journey, Briscoe has navigated an uphill path, frequently contending with limited financial resources and career uncertainty. Despite these setbacks, he climbed through the ranks of NASCAR’s national series, never letting challenges define his trajectory. At the end of last year, Stewart-Haas Racing’s announcement of its impending closure left Briscoe’s future in question once again, but he quickly found a new opportunity. Now, Briscoe is the successor to Martin Truex, Jr., taking control of the No. 19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota Camry XSE under the Joe Gibbs Racing banner.
His perseverance is still being put to the test, but stability off the track has shifted his perspective and offered new levels of optimism. While adversity on race weekends remains, it no longer dictates the course of his career, and his role within Joe Gibbs Racing provides a fresh source of motivation.
Phoenix Championship Weekend: Adversity and Near Triumph
The recent NASCAR Cup Series Championship Weekend at Phoenix Raceway brought Briscoe’s battling spirit to the forefront. Crew chief James Small summed up the No. 19 team’s tough experience, calling it “a [expletive]ing [expletive]show.” Their challenges began early during Friday’s sole practice session, when Briscoe suffered a left-rear tire failure. Repeated tire issues limited the team’s practice to just seven laps, while other title contenders completed longer runs, gaining valuable data and confidence for the race.
Improvement came on Saturday, as Briscoe clinched a 12th-place result in qualifying. However, with the three other championship hopefuls capturing the top three starting spots, the team understood that a flawless race would be essential to contend for the Bill France Cup on Sunday.
Race Day: Tire Trouble and Tenacity
Sunday’s 319-lap event proved to be a rollercoaster, marked again by tire problems that affected nearly all leading contenders. Briscoe’s right-rear tire went down about one-third of the way through the race just as he was running solidly in the top-10. A timely incident ahead allowed the No. 19 car to stay on the lead lap, but the setback forced Briscoe to restart outside the top 30 drivers.
Despite these obstacles, a revitalizing message from James Small seemed to invigorate the team. Briscoe battled back into the top 10, even contesting the lead alongside William Byron. However, fate intervened once more as another right-rear tire failure required an unscheduled green-flag pit stop. This incident cost Briscoe a lap and, effectively, his shot at the championship in his debut season with Joe Gibbs Racing.
“Certainly eventful. We never gave up. That’s been the story of my whole career: never giving up. You never know what can change at any point. Felt like we were good enough. We came from the front to the back two or three different times,”
said Briscoe post-race.
“Wish we could have been on an even playing field at some point. Was about to pass William [Byron], blew another tire. Just part of it. Obviously thankful for the opportunity. So excited to be at Joe Gibbs Racing, be able to compete for wins and compete for championships. Hate that one of us didn’t get it. I thought we were both certainly capable. This wasn’t our day.”
– Chase Briscoe, NASCAR Driver
Building Blocks for Future Championship Runs
Entering his first year with Joe Gibbs Racing, few expected Briscoe to be a genuine championship contender so quickly. His performance at Phoenix, despite the setbacks, reinforces the team’s potential for the coming year under a new NASCAR playoff format. The No. 19 crew now has a strong foundation to pursue even better results in 2026, drawing crucial lessons from both their triumphs and misfortunes this season.
For Briscoe, racing alongside major names such as William Byron and joining powerhouse Joe Gibbs Racing has proven to himself, and to the wider NASCAR community, that he belongs among the top tier of drivers. He spoke openly about the significance of this transition:
“It was big. Just in the sense of you always think you can do it, but you never really know if you can. This years to prove to myself and certainly a lot of other people, too, that I feel like I belong here, right? So yeah, looking forward to obviously building on that. Really this year I felt like we gave the field half a season head start because we were learning so much throughout the process. We’ll start on an even playing field next year, see if we can better.”
– Chase Briscoe, NASCAR Driver
Aiming Higher: Briscoe and Team Set Sights on 2026
The partnership of Briscoe and James Small suggests there is untapped potential waiting to be realized. With Joe Gibbs Racing supplying top-tier equipment, Briscoe is confident in his ability to compete at the front of the field. Looking ahead, both driver and crew chief are convinced that the best is yet to come.
“Certainly, we think we can get back here. James and I were talking; we don’t even feel like we’re at our full potential yet. I definitely feel confident we can get back.”
– Chase Briscoe, NASCAR Driver
As the NASCAR Cup Series turns toward a new season, the lessons from Phoenix and the momentum gained this year indicate that Briscoe’s story is far from finished. His determination and skill, forged through years of uncertainty and persistence on tracks like Phoenix Raceway, have positioned him and Joe Gibbs Racing as a team to watch as the battle for future championships continues.
