Chase Briscoe recently opened up about the intense pressure and brutal expectations he faces while driving for Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR), describing it as a “huge weight” on his shoulders unlike anything he had experienced before in his career. After moving from Stewart-Haas Racing, where he drove the #14 Ford for four years, Briscoe began driving the #19 Toyota for JGR this year, replacing Martin Truex Jr., who retired after six seasons with the team.

Briscoe revealed that the expectations at JGR are extremely high because the team has a strong history of success. He recalled that during contract negotiations, JGR showed him a statistic that out of 40 playoff attempts across their cars, they had qualified 38 times, making it clear that failing to make the playoffs could mean losing the ride. This added pressure weighed heavily on him, especially since his teammates Denny Hamlin and Christopher Bell had each won three races that season, while Briscoe and Ty Gibbs had yet to win.

The stress of needing to secure a win and lock into the playoffs affected Briscoe physically and mentally. He said his wife noticed changes in him, and he felt like he had lost about 100 pounds due to the pressure. Fortunately, Briscoe broke through this burden by winning a race at Pocono Raceway, his first victory for JGR and his third career Cup win overall. At Pocono, he had to carefully manage fuel while defending his lead against Denny Hamlin, ultimately winning ahead of Hamlin and Ryan Blaney.

Briscoe’s crew chief, James Small, expressed surprise and pride at the win, admitting he was shocked they made it on fuel and calling it his proudest moment with the team. Small also described the transition to JGR as challenging for Briscoe, noting that the driver had to adjust to a culture of high accountability and perfectionism, which was a big wake-up call for him. Small praised Briscoe for absorbing feedback and improving, although he acknowledged they were still a work in progress.

After 17 races, Briscoe had moved up to ninth in the points standings with one win, six top-5 finishes, eight top-10s, four pole positions, and only two DNFs, showing significant progress in his first season with JGR. The team and Briscoe now prepare for the next race at EchoPark Speedway, where Briscoe holds the number two seed in the In-Season Challenge and is set to face Noah Gragson in the first round.

The article was written by Zarec Sanchez, a seasoned motorsports journalist with a deep appreciation for racing strategy and history, who emphasizes the intense mental and emotional demands placed on drivers like Briscoe competing at the highest level of NASCAR.

In summary, Chase Briscoe’s experience at Joe Gibbs Racing highlights the fierce expectations and pressure to perform at a top-tier NASCAR team, the physical and mental toll it takes, and his breakthrough victory that relieved some of that burden while marking his emergence as a serious competitor in the Cup Series.