Chase Briscoe recently commented on a remark made by his crew chief, James Small, who described Briscoe’s driving style as “driving until he sees Jesus,” implying a very aggressive, all-out approach on the track. After winning the Pocono Raceway Cup Series race, Briscoe acknowledged this characterization, admitting that he tends to overdrive rather than underdrive. He explained that he often pushes too hard, which can be beneficial when leading but problematic in traffic. Early in the 2025 season, Small tried to get Briscoe to adjust his style, but it didn’t feel right to him. Eventually, Small trusted Briscoe to drive according to what felt best, which has paid off in recent months.

Briscoe’s victory at the Pocono Raceway was his third career NASCAR Cup Series win, his first of the season, and his first with Joe Gibbs Racing. This win qualified him for the 2025 NASCAR playoffs alongside teammates Denny Hamlin and Christopher Bell. Briscoe became the 11th different driver to win a Cup Series race in 2025.

James Small expressed surprise at how Briscoe managed to finish the race amid fuel mileage challenges. The race experienced a two-hour rain delay, making fuel strategy critical. Small revealed that when Briscoe left the pit road late in the race, if the race had continued under green flag conditions, they would have run out of fuel about nine laps before the finish. Despite this, Briscoe managed to save fuel effectively, reportedly achieving better mileage than Hamlin, and held on to win.

Briscoe reflected on the fuel-saving strategy during the final laps, noting that he had to lift off the throttle earlier than usual to extend the straightaways and conserve fuel. This approach was counterintuitive because slowing down while pushing the limits seemed contradictory, but it ultimately worked. He acknowledged there was something to be learned from this experience about managing pace and fuel consumption under pressure.

In summary, Briscoe embraces his fearless and aggressive driving style, which his crew chief once described as “driving until he sees Jesus.” After some early-season adjustments and gaining trust from his crew chief, this style has contributed to his success, including a crucial win at Pocono where fuel management and strategic driving were key factors.