At Pocono Raceway in Pennsylvania, Chase Briscoe’s career took a dramatic turn as he moved from Stewart-Haas Racing to the prestigious Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) team. Known for producing top drivers in NASCAR with five Cup titles, JGR set the bar high for its new recruit. Briscoe knew the stakes: if he didn’t make the playoffs, he’d risk losing his spot at JGR.
JGR, with their superior Toyotas and rigid championship expectations, was a stark contrast from Briscoe’s previous team. His crew chief, James Small, observed a significant change in Briscoe. “From where he came from, there wasn’t much accountability,” Small said. “That’s probably been a big wake-up call for him.” The increased pressures paid off when Briscoe claimed his first victory with JGR and secured his place in NASCAR’s playoffs.
Briscoe returned to the winner’s circle at Pocono on Sunday by managing his car’s fuel to outlast veteran racer Denny Hamlin in a tense final stretch. This thrilling win marked Briscoe’s third career Cup victory. “I’ve only won three races in the Cup Series,” he remarked, “but this is by far the least enjoyable just because it’s expected now.” His victory was a milestone not just for him but also for the No. 19 Toyota, which hadn’t seen a win since 2023 under Martin Truex Jr.
Despite Hamlin’s history at Pocono with a record seven victories, Briscoe managed to hold his position. Even though Hamlin, who recently became a father again and was returning from a brief hiatus, gave a strong chase, Briscoe managed to maintain his lead through skillful fuel management and strategic pit stops. Joe Gibbs, reflecting on the race’s outcome, noted the stress of having multiple team drivers contending for a win simultaneously.
With Briscoe’s win, Gibbs has three drivers—Hamlin, Bell, and Briscoe— in the playoff lineup. Reflecting on his journey and teammates’ influence, Briscoe said, “Even racing with teammates that are winning has been a big adjustment for me.” From an impressive run at Pocono in the Xfinity Series back in 2020 to an unbroken streak of top-10 finishes recently, Briscoe has been proving his worth in the Cup Series. The Pocono win has confirmed his spot in the playoffs, joining the elite 16-driver field.
For JGR, Briscoe offered them their 18th triumph at Pocono. As a young dirt racer from Indiana raised on sprint car video games in a Joe Gibbs Racing uniform, this win was particularly sweet for Briscoe. “I literally grew up racing my sprint car video game in a Joe Gibbs Racing Home Depot uniform,” Briscoe shared, emphasizing the significance of this victory for him and JGR.
Initially delayed by rain, the race lasted into a humid afternoon with Briscoe leading 72 laps and clinching victory in the second stage. Before the race, Briscoe playfully wondered on social media about making it to the NBA Finals. While that didn’t happen, a trip to the winner’s circle more than sufficed.
Elsewhere on the track, Carson Hocevar and Ricky Stenhouse Jr., previously involved in a spat, managed a clean race. In another incident on pit road, AJ Allmendinger accidentally set a tire flying toward a crew member. Fortunately, no serious injuries resulted. Not everybody outran trouble, though, as drivers like Bubba Wallace faced mechanical issues, notably with brakes. “It was a scary feeling for sure,” said Riley Herbst, after his brake rotor failed.
Looking ahead, NASCAR will next head to Atlanta, where earlier this year, Christopher Bell claimed victory. Racing enthusiasts eagerly anticipate the upcoming competition.