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Phoenix Raceway, Arizona – Chase Briscoe, despite a remarkably successful maiden season with Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) that culminated in a Championship 4 berth, finds himself grappling with lingering disappointment over the NASCAR Cup Series finale. The 28-year-old driver, who transitioned from Stewart-Haas Racing to the No. 19 Toyota Camry, admitted to still "kicking himself" over decisions made during the pivotal race at Phoenix Raceway, which ultimately denied him a shot at the championship.
"It’s hard to swallow, in a sense," Briscoe stated in a candid discussion ahead of the NASCAR Awards Show. "As the days go on, it gets even tougher because it would be different if we ran 15th all day. But I feel like we were capable of winning and just didn’t get to show it with all the issues."
Briscoe’s journey to the Championship 4 was a testament to rapid acclimatization and performance. He replaced veteran Martin Truex Jr. in the No. 19 machine, a move that initially presented a significant challenge. However, under the guidance of crew chief James Small, Briscoe not only met but often exceeded ambitious pre-season goals. The driver highlighted a conversation with Small at the start of the year, where the crew chief laid out a roadmap including 15 top-five finishes and leading 800 laps. Briscoe confirmed that many of these objectives were achieved, noting, "We pretty much did all of them."
The season saw Briscoe secure three victories, lead the series in poles, and accumulate more points than any other competitor during the playoff stretch. This impressive performance marked a substantial leap from his previous career statistics, which boasted only two wins prior to joining JGR. "He wanted four wins and we came up short on that one, but overall, like everything he thought we were capable of in our first year, we pretty much did it," Briscoe reflected.
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The source of Briscoe’s profound disappointment stems from the Championship Race itself, where he felt his team possessed the speed to contend for the title. He drew parallels to his teammate, Denny Hamlin, who was also a frontrunner in the final race. However, a series of setbacks plagued Briscoe’s No. 19 team throughout the weekend. An early practice session was marred by a flat tire, which was compounded by a less-than-ideal qualifying effort. Another flat tire during the race further hindered their progress, creating a narrative of constant recovery.
"We went from the back to the front like two or three different times," Briscoe recounted, illustrating the team’s resilience and the car’s competitive pace. Despite these adversities, Briscoe consistently battled his way through the field, and his pit crew executed flawless stops, gaining significant track position on numerous occasions.
The crucial turning point, and the primary focus of Briscoe’s regret, appears to be a late-race tire call. He confessed to second-guessing his own advice to crew chief James Small regarding tire strategy. While Kyle Larson and his crew chief, Cliff Daniels, opted for two scuff tires to secure their championship victory, Briscoe had instructed Small to "trust your gut," which led to the decision to take four qualifying scuffs.
"I would personally rather be on offense, and I just wish that he would have obviously not let me talk him out of it," Briscoe admitted, acknowledging the mental burden of the "what if." "Who knows? You never know. It’s the question mark of what would have happened. So that’s the only thing that, I guess, is kind of burning me up is the tire issues we had and that I wish I would have let James trust his gut."
Despite the sting of the championship race, the overarching narrative of Briscoe’s first year with Joe Gibbs Racing remains overwhelmingly positive. The team’s decision to pursue Briscoe predates Truex Jr.’s eventual retirement announcement, indicating a strong belief in his potential from team owner Joe Gibbs. Briscoe recounted a conversation with Coach Gibbs the day before signing his contract, where Gibbs conveyed his eagerness to bring Briscoe into the fold.
"The goal was to at least win a race," Briscoe said, underscoring the team’s initial expectations. "I don’t think they expected this for our first season." He shared a humorous anecdote from Coach Gibbs, who called him just before the official announcement of Truex Jr.’s decision, stating, "You better not screw this up." Briscoe, with a laugh, confessed to telling Coach Gibbs on the grid after the championship race, "I hope I didn’t screw it up."
Looking ahead, Briscoe is resolute in his ambition to build upon the momentum of his breakthrough season. The immediate focus shifts to leveraging the experience gained and elevating the team’s performance in the upcoming seasons. "Now the goal is to build on this and move the goalposts even higher next year and beyond," he concluded, signaling a clear intent to contend for championships in the future. The performance of Briscoe and the No. 19 team at Joe Gibbs Racing has firmly established them as a significant force in the NASCAR Cup Series, with the potential for further success in the years to come.
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