Chase Briscoe stepped into the No. 19 Toyota at Joe Gibbs Racing this year. He initially struggled, finishing 35th in the fourth race at Phoenix.
Unpacking the early JGR learning curve
Briscoe admits the switch from SHR's Fords to JGR's Toyotas was not easy. He had no clue what he was doing, he said plainly.
On the X post shared by Bob Pockrass ahead of the title race, Briscoe didn't sugarcoat his Phoenix spring flop. The new Toyota car overwhelmed him with its speed and capabilities.
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.
What flipped the script for Briscoe
The Coca-Cola 600 race in May was the turning point for Briscoe. He realized that his Toyota could indeed take the heat head-on. And that's when he started pushing limits, grabbing wins at Pocono, Darlington, and Talladega throughout the year.
Crew chief James Small saw the spark firsthand. It has been very fulfilling to watch Chase get better week to week, along with everybody else, Small said recently.
Mentorship from a three-time champ
Tony Stewart, Briscoe's boyhood hero from back in Indiana, reached out with timely wisdom. The Smoke, a three-time Cup champ and Briscoe's old SHR boss, texted him mid-October: Call me when you get a chance.
Their 20-minute talk covered the mental side of chasing the title. Stewart suggested Briscoe lean into what already clicks for him instead of experimenting with new tricks and styles.
Chase Briscoe understands the point, knowing their styles differ, but the core advice is solid. He took from what Stewart said what he could, and it helped him in his championship hunt.
The 2025 season has been a story straight out of a driver's dream for Chase Briscoe. From couch-surfing and scraping for money for years to suddenly being so close to a championship, he has come a long way.
Briscoe's journey is an inspiration to many. He has shown that with hard work and determination, anything is possible. And with the help of his team and mentors like Tony Stewart, he is ready to take on the challenge of becoming a NASCAR champion.