The NASCAR Cup Series is no stranger to high stakes, fierce competition, and the constant search for the next big talent. In 2025, Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) appears to have struck gold with Chase Briscoe, the 30-year-old driver who stepped into the No. 19 Toyota Camry XSE following Martin Truex Jr.’s retirement. Briscoe’s debut season with JGR has been nothing short of remarkable, prompting team owner Joe Gibbs to hint that they may have found their next cornerstone driver. With blistering speed, a string of poles, and a commanding performance at Darlington, Briscoe is turning heads and rewriting expectations. Could this be the beginning of a new era for JGR?
Joe Gibbs Racing has long been a powerhouse in NASCAR, boasting seven driver’s championships and over 330 wins across all major series since 1992. The team has a storied history of nurturing talent, from legends like Tony Stewart and Kyle Busch to modern stars like Denny Hamlin and Christopher Bell. When Martin Truex Jr., the 2017 Cup Series champion, announced his retirement after the 2024 season, JGR faced the daunting task of filling his seat in the No. 19 car. The choice was Chase Briscoe, a driver who had shown flashes of brilliance at Stewart-Haas Racing but had yet to fully realize his potential in top-tier equipment.
Gibbs, a Pro Football Hall of Famer turned NASCAR titan, explained the meticulous process behind selecting Briscoe. “Yeah, when we make those decisions, it’s all of us sitting at the table and we have extensive discussions, arguments when it comes to picking drivers and crew chiefs,” Gibbs told SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. The decision wasn’t made lightly, especially with Bass Pro Shops, a key sponsor, needing a driver who could carry Truex’s outdoorsman legacy. Briscoe, an avid hunter and fisherman from rural Indiana, fit the bill perfectly. “He’s a hunter and I got to tell you, I think for all of us to see kind of what has happened with James and Chase, their chemistry in a very short period of time, that’s what I gosh, this is exciting,” Gibbs added.
Briscoe’s transition to JGR has been a revelation. After four seasons with Stewart-Haas Racing, where he secured two Cup Series wins and two pole positions in 144 starts, Briscoe has elevated his game in 2025. Driving the No. 19 Toyota, he has already clinched two victories, including a dominant performance at the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway, where he led 309 of 367 laps and fended off Tyler Reddick to secure back-to-back wins at the iconic track. This feat made him one of only eight drivers to achieve consecutive Southern 500 victories, joining the likes of Greg Biffle.
His qualifying prowess has been equally impressive. Briscoe has secured six pole positions in the 2025 regular season, the most in the Cup Series, including prestigious races like the Daytona 500, Coca-Cola 600, and Brickyard 400. “The six poles and more top fives and our starting average for us is first. That car has showed speed now,” Gibbs noted, highlighting the No. 19’s raw pace. Briscoe’s 13 top-ten finishes and 11 top-five finishes through 27 starts mark career highs, placing him shoulder-to-shoulder with elite drivers like Chase Elliott and Christopher Bell.
A key factor in Briscoe’s success has been his rapid chemistry with crew chief James Small, who previously guided Truex to eight victories. Small’s obsessive focus on qualifying setups has unlocked the No. 19 car’s potential, with the team ranking in the top five for average speed at intermediate tracks in 2024 and carrying that momentum into 2025. Briscoe credits Small for pushing him to new heights. “As a driver, you’re only as good as the team and car that you’re in, right? James and the entire engineering group at JGR, they give you really good race cars week-in and week-out,” Briscoe told TobyChristie.com. This partnership has transformed Briscoe’s mindset, shifting him from a driver fighting to prove he belongs to one who knows he does.
Small, in turn, has praised Briscoe’s adaptability. “We’re still a work in progress. We’re far from being where we think we can be,” Small said after Briscoe’s Pocono victory in June 2025. “At this point, he’s meeting our expectations. I still expect a lot from him. He’s only going to get better.” The crew chief’s confidence is well-founded, as Briscoe’s Pocono win—edging out teammate Denny Hamlin—marked a turning point, validating JGR’s decision to bring him on board.
Briscoe’s integration into JGR’s high-expectation environment has been seamless, despite the stark contrast with his time at Stewart-Haas Racing. “At SHR, if we ran eighth, that was a good weekend. Where at JGR, the expectation is way different,” Briscoe explained in a NASCAR.com interview. The team’s rigorous preparation, from simulator sessions to data analysis, initially overwhelmed him, but he has embraced the challenge. “There’s a ton of stuff, but it’s all together. You’re watching the video, and you’re looking at the data, and then you go to the simulator, and try to apply it,” he told The SportsRush.
Off the track, Briscoe’s down-to-earth persona has endeared him to fans and sponsors alike. Gibbs highlighted Briscoe’s balance as a family man, noting, “He’s really hard-working. Great person. Great family guy. He and Marissa with their three kids now. It’s a thrill to see somebody like that.” This relatability, combined with his dirt-track roots and passion for sprint car racing, mirrors the path of JGR alumnus Tony Stewart, a childhood idol of Briscoe’s. His move to JGR feels like a homecoming, especially given his early days playing sprint car video games in a Joe Gibbs Home Depot uniform.
As the 2025 playoffs unfold, Briscoe is a legitimate championship contender, currently leading the Cup Series points table with 2070 points. His Darlington triumph secured his spot in the Round of 12, and with upcoming races at World Wide Technology Raceway and Bristol, he has a chance to build on his momentum. “I was telling my wife a couple of weeks ago, ‘this is really the first time I’ve ever legitimately thought I could win a Cup championship,’” Briscoe admitted on the Dale Jr. Download podcast. This newfound confidence is a testament to JGR’s ability to unlock his potential.
However, the pressure is immense. “This is one of those opportunities where if you don’t perform, there’s no excuses,” Briscoe said in a Motorcycle Sports interview. JGR’s history of success—evidenced by drivers like Kyle Busch, who won eight races in his 2008 debut season, and Carl Edwards, who reached the Championship Four in 2016—sets a high bar. Yet, Briscoe’s 2025 performance suggests he’s ready to meet it. His ability to handle the spotlight, combined with JGR’s resources, could make him a regular contender for years to come.
Joe Gibbs’ praise for Briscoe isn’t just about his on-track results; it’s about his potential to carry JGR into the future. “I think we got something that could make our time with Bass Pro and our sport something special for the 19 car going forward,” Gibbs told SiriusXM. Briscoe’s speed, work ethic, and cultural fit have silenced doubters who questioned whether he could fill Truex’s shoes. As he continues to rack up poles, wins, and top finishes, the NASCAR world is taking notice.
For fans, Briscoe’s journey is a compelling narrative of perseverance and talent. From sleeping on couches to chase racing dreams to dominating Darlington, he embodies the grit and heart of NASCAR. As JGR chases its 200th Cup Series win and a championship in 2025, all eyes are on Chase Briscoe. Is he the next cornerstone driver for one of NASCAR’s most storied teams? The answer seems to be a resounding yes.
