Chase Briscoe of Joe Gibbs Racing shared his insights with the media on Wednesday ahead of the Daytona 500, expressing that this year’s race carries even greater significance due to recent changes in the playoff format. In a candid session, Briscoe described the Daytona 500 as ‘chaos,’ highlighting both the intense environment and the unpredictable nature of the event, especially as he focuses on maximizing his performance for a top finish.
The Chase Briscoe Daytona 500 outlook is shaped by the sport’s evolving postseason structure, which now puts a premium on accumulating points and smart decision-making. Briscoe openly discussed the impact of these changes, his personal preparation, and the atmosphere surrounding the upcoming race at Daytona International Speedway.
The Postseason Format and Its Impact on Daytona’s Prestige
The alteration in NASCAR’s playoff format has shifted the strategic priorities for drivers competing in the Daytona 500. Instead of simply relying on a single victory to secure their place in the Playoffs, drivers must now consider the weight of each race and the importance of collecting every possible point. Briscoe addressed this shift, emphasizing how it changes the stakes and the race’s status among the drivers.
“Yeah, I think that in the years past, like, if you were confident that you were going to win a race, yeah, you wanted to win the Daytona 500, but if you crashed out or whatever, you just kind of go on, because you felt like you were still going to make the Playoffs. Where now that defeat is going be even greater than ever before, just knowing that, you didn’t get those points. I think it’ll change some stuff. I think this race is still just as prestigious as it was before. If anything, I think it makes it more prestigious. In the past, so-and-so won the Daytona 500, and they’re locked in the Playoffs. Now, it’s just the Daytona 500.”
– Chase Briscoe, Driver
This change has heightened the sense of urgency and pressure, turning each lap into a battle not just for position, but for the points necessary to advance in the postseason.
Strategy Adjustments Under the New Format
Beyond race results, the revised points system has also prompted drivers like Briscoe to rethink their approach to risk and reward on the track. He cited previous experiences, such as the Bristol dirt race with Tyler Reddick, where aggressive moves carried less consequence if a win had already been secured. The stakes are higher under the current rules, influencing how drivers manage risky maneuvers during crunch moments late in the race.
Briscoe outlined that the difference between finishing second and deep in the field is now so steep, drivers must weigh their options more carefully, especially when contemplating bold moves at the end of a race that could make or break their season’s momentum.
Building on Previous Performance: Briscoe’s Approach This Season
As Briscoe looks to the new season, he is keen to build upon the progress the No. 19 team made last year. He talked about the evolution his team underwent, dividing the year into thirds and recognizing the progression in their on-track results, which culminated in nearly record-setting top-five finishes for the team.
“Uh, I just want to keep it going and continue to build on that. Hopefully, (I) have an even better year than last year. I think that’s the exciting thing for us on the No. 19 team is, if you break the season up into thirds, the first 12 (races), middle 12, and last 12, like, we were three totally separate teams last year. And our results just continue to go up, right? And I think we tied the most ever, top-fives or whatever for a season, but we feel like we left so much on the table, especially that first half of the season. If we can just continue to do what we did last year, we should be in a really, really good spot. Just a matter of trying to back it up.”
– Chase Briscoe, Driver
This optimism is matched by a recognition that the team must avoid leaving opportunities unclaimed and continue adapting as the season unfolds.
Questions of Car Performance and Qualifying Prospects
Speculation has arisen regarding whether Briscoe can clinch pole position as he did the previous season. He offered a candid take, suggesting that many variables—including weather conditions—could influence qualifying outcomes, and that predicting pole wins is challenging even for seasoned drivers.
“I don’t know. I didn’t think I was going to be on pole like I was last year. Hopefully, I get a big tailwind down the back (straightaway) and down the front somehow, and yeah, we’ll see what we got.”
– Chase Briscoe, Driver
Safety Measures and Driver Adjustments Inside the Car
Recent modifications by NASCAR, such as restrictions on putting hands out the window net, prompted discussion about safety and driver comfort. Briscoe expressed support for the change, reflecting on his own practice of always keeping both hands on the wheel in turns for better control, which aligns with the intent to promote safety.
“I didn’t think it really made a difference before, but they swore up and down that it made a difference. It doesn’t hurt my feelings at all. The problem is, now we’re going to be trying to figure out if you can get the knee up there, your elbow up there, or whatever it may be. But yeah, I’m all for it. I was one of the few guys that would put both hands on the wheel in the corner because I didn’t feel confident enough to do it right with one hand. So yeah, I was glad they made the change.”
– Chase Briscoe, Driver
This adjustment, though minor, underscores the ever-evolving nature of safety protocols in a high-speed, high-risk sport like NASCAR.
The Elimination of Road Courses From the Playoffs
The removal of road course races from the Chase format has been a topic of debate. Briscoe shared his mixed feelings, noting the strategic difficulties introduced by stage breaks and the added complexity of point calculations. He also highlighted the value of including varied racing disciplines like dirt and road courses in the Cup Series, suggesting that having at least one such race could be beneficial but prefers certain venues over the ROVAL.
“I’m not against not having a road course. I enjoyed having a road course in there, I would have loved it not to be the ROVAL. I could go either way on it. You know, the road courses are still extremely hard. With the stage breaks, because of how the race plays out, Like, you have to sacrifice your finish a lot of the time, unless you’re SVG (Shane Van Gisbergen) and you’re 47 seconds ahead. You sacrifice your finish a lot of times from the stage points. With this points format, is makes it really tricky to run road course races, truthfully, that just made it not a lot of fun. Personally, I think we need to have a road course in there, for the same reason I feel like we need to have a dirt race. It’s a discipline that we run, and we should do that in a Cup Series. And I think if we have five or six of them, then we probably do need one in the postseason. I would rather be at a Watkins Glen or something like that instead of the ROVAL.”
– Chase Briscoe, Driver
Toyota and Briscoe’s Preparation for San Diego
Looking ahead to the San Diego course, Briscoe mentioned that he himself had not yet completed any preparation, though Shane van Gisbergen was already logging time through simulators. While Briscoe expects an even playing field with the new course, he added that van Gisbergen’s experience would likely still stand out.
“Well, I’m glad that he’s (Van Gisbergen) getting the laps in (via simulator). He needs them (laughs). Yeah, we haven’t done anything, truthfully. Maybe Toyota is behind the scenes, but I haven’t done anything myself. It’ll be interesting to go there, and everybody be on an equal playing field, right? But yeah, he’ll still be the guy for sure.”
– Chase Briscoe, Driver
Personal Discipline and Team Routines
Briscoe’s relationship with his crew chief, James Small, extends beyond strategy to daily routines, including personal fitness. He humorously described Small’s persistent encouragement, acknowledging that it remains a consistent aspect of his professional life regardless of results.
“He’s still on me. I probably haven’t done as good of a job, and he got into me pretty good on Monday about it. I think it’ll always be a thing. I could be 45 (years-old) and James (Small) would be my crew chief, and it’d still be a thing. Yeah, it’s not going to stop.”
– Chase Briscoe, Driver
Last Pitstop Intensity in the Daytona 500
When asked how he manages the crucial final pit stops in the Daytona 500, Briscoe shared details of the escalation in intensity that sets the event apart from all others. He described how the pace and risk skyrocket as teams approach their final group of stops, with drivers forced to make split-second decisions that could determine their finishing position.
“The intensity that we experience all year long, I feel like there’s nothing like it after the final green flag (pit)stop. Before that, everybody’s kind of just riding around, saving as much fuel as possible, and it’s like a chess match, and who can save the most, and say we’re running 54-second lap times, and we get within like two or three laps of pitting, or that first group peels off. Now, all of a sudden, we’re running 49-second lap times. It is just that five-lap window of when guys are about to pit, or when the first one peels off. From there, to the next five laps, is the most intense thing we do all year long, because guys know that that is their only opportunity to make passes. Once we kind of get double-filed out, you’re kind of stuck there, for the most part. So, you were just making these huge blocks. Guys are having runs because they’re coming on pit road, and that’s where typically we’ve seen the chaos just happen. You go from kind of riding around, you’re just cruising around there, really slow compared to what you normally do. And all of a sudden, you’re just on the edge of destruction. That feeling, to me, is unlike anything else we do all season long. And you still have it at Talladega and stuff, but the Daytona 500 is so intense because guys are willing to do whatever to try to win the race. Somehow, we could bottle up that feeling and give it to every fan or every person who’s ever watched the sport, they would be hooked up.”
– Chase Briscoe, Driver
Anticipating On-Track Developments During Critical Moments
The lead-up to the finish is not just fast-paced but mentally demanding. Briscoe noted that drivers can often anticipate the moves of those around them as the field reshuffles during pit cycles, especially knowing which competitors are more likely to attempt aggressive maneuvers or blocks. His description likens the situation to ‘chaos,’ a word that encapsulates both the excitement and the inherent risk present at the climax of the Daytona 500.
“A little bit. You can kind of see stuff coming, especially as guys start kind of merging back onto the racetrack. You know from a speed standpoint where you’re going to catch them, so, you can kind of start materializing some things. If you’re the 10th car back, everybody’s kind of now the same speed, and you know that you’ve missed your opportunity to probably win the race. But at the same point, like, when you’re leading the pack and you’re catching those slow guys, you’re weaving in and out of cars. Some guys are way more aggressive at throwing the block, even if they’re 25, 30 mph slower, so you kind of know that going into it. It’s just chaos.”
– Chase Briscoe, Driver
Qualifying and the Value of the First Pit Stall
Briscoe remarked on one of the key advantages to qualifying on pole: getting the top pit stall selection for race day. He explained how having the first pit stall plays differently under caution and green flag conditions, offering both significant gains and unique challenges.
“Pit stall (selection) for Sunday is big. Depending on kind of where you end up, if you’re first or second, that pit stall number one is a huge advantage for yellow flag stops, but it’s a little bit of a disadvantage for green flag stops. So that’s the biggest thing. You’re really able to focus on the rest of the week knowing that you’re going to start up front. Not that it really means a whole lot, but it just makes your Duel less stressful. You can kind of just cruise around.”
– Chase Briscoe, Driver
Regarding why the first stall can be a disadvantage during green flag periods, Briscoe offered further clarification:
“The guys that are running 60 mph are already at pit road speed, and when they hit that yellow line, they’re going faster, so it just takes you longer to get caught up. Under yellow, it’s a massive advantage because you’re coming a shorter distance at that speed. But under green, it definitely makes it where you just can’t pull out in front of guys because they’re running 60 mph and you’re coming from the stop. It’s just hard to blend in because you’re maybe only going 40 mph and they’re going 60 mph already. So, it just puts you a little bit behind when they’re green.”
– Chase Briscoe, Driver
Briscoe on Tony Stewart’s Truck Series Participation
The return of Tony Stewart to the Truck Series at Daytona generated buzz within the garage. Briscoe, an avowed fan of Stewart and self-described as somewhat starstruck, shared his enthusiasm for seeing Stewart compete and commented on the high level of competition this season in the Truck Series field.
“Yeah, I’m excited. I was trying to find a shirt that I had that would fit me, but I don’t have any anymore. I’m fired up as a fan to watch him. He told me before the announcement came out that’s he’s going to come do it. Just to see how excited he really was for it. He’s hardly run any truck races as it is. He’s asking me all these questions, and I think he’s more nervous than he’s letting off. Just because he’s like, ‘man, I’m not going to get a practice in the draft. I’m doing single car runs all the time. I have to qualify in.’ It’ll be interesting to see what he thinks. And that field is like stacked. It’s probably the toughest Truck Series field we’ve had in Daytona in a long time. So, it’ll be fun to see kind of where he picks up.”
– Chase Briscoe, Driver
When reflecting on giving advice to Stewart, Briscoe acknowledged the surreal nature of the experience:
“It was a little. I gave him a little bit, but in the back of my mind, I’m thinking like, ‘why are you asking me? Like, you’re in the Hall of Fame, not me.’ But no, it was cool. I mean, everybody knows he’s my hero, right? Just the fact that, he was even asking, just questions of what the trucks drive like and things. It was neat.”
– Chase Briscoe, Driver
Racing Style Expectations for the 2024 Daytona 500
Briscoe addressed whether he anticipates changes in driving strategy or aggressiveness for this year’s race. He predicted that drivers would remain as intensely competitive as ever, referencing the previous week’s action at Bowman Gray for proof of unwavering aggression among Cup Series competitors.
“I don’t think so. I mean, Bowman Gray (the Clash) last week didn’t really mean anything, and we were all beating and banging, and destroying each other. I don’t think it’ll change anything. It’s still the Daytona 500. You know, all of us are pretty stupid in the grand scheme of things. We can’t see (the) big picture, all we see is that carrot thing in front of us, and we just start throwing crazy blocks and making crazy moves. It’ll sting a lot more whenever you leave here, knowing that you can’t win your way in now, but I don’t think it’ll be any different.”
– Chase Briscoe, Driver
The Essence of the Daytona 500: ‘Chaos’
Asked to distill the Daytona 500 down to a single word, Briscoe chose ‘chaos,’ a term that encapsulates both the energy on the track and the emotional charge in the air. This sentiment echoes not just the physical intensity, but the psychological battleground the Daytona 500 creates for drivers and teams alike as they contend with the unique pressures of this legendary race.
First Daytona 500 Memories and the Magnitude of the Event
Reminiscing on his inaugural Daytona 500, Briscoe described the surreal feeling of competing on NASCAR’s biggest stage, especially in the challenging context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The scale of the event, in terms of both in-person and viewership audiences, amplified the sense that he was taking part in something truly significant for the first time.
“Uh, it was still coming off COVID-19, so it wasn’t sold out. But I remember just realizing how many people were watching on TV, and I was like, ‘man, I’ve never raced in front of this many people’ And it just feels like a big deal. Not that the other weeks don’t. But, as a kid, you watch the Daytona 500, you watch the Duels. Then, you’re like, ‘holy, smokes, I’m racing in the Daytona 500!’ That was my first ever Cup (Series) race, too, so that was kind of cool. I’m checking this box off, running a Cup race, but it’s at the Daytona 500, and I just remember being like, ‘what am I doing out here?’ It just didn’t feel real.”
– Chase Briscoe, Driver
The Significance of ‘Chaos’ and What Awaits at Daytona
As the green flag approaches, Briscoe’s perspective sums up the essence of the Chase Briscoe Daytona 500 experience: unpredictability, emotional intensity, and a relentless drive to succeed amid a backdrop of historic change. The convergence of revised playoff dynamics, evolving strategy, and raw competition ensures that this year’s race will live up to the legacy its name commands, with every driver, team, and fan bracing for what Briscoe so aptly describes as ‘chaos.’
Ultimately, the impact of the new format and the race’s storied reputation combine to make the Daytona 500 a proving ground—not only for elite performance but also for resilience, adaptability, and the ability to thrive when every second and every move could define a season. As anticipation builds, Chase Briscoe and his Joe Gibbs Racing team remain determined to seize the moment and aim for the top.
