Briscoe Conquers Pocono and Secures a Spot in the NASCAR Playoffs
Chase Briscoe, the talented driver, has achieved a crucial victory at the Pocono circuit, securing his place in the NASCAR playoffs. This triumph marks a significant milestone in his career and in his new stage with Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR). After an unexpected change in his career path, Briscoe joined JGR, a team with a rich history of success in the NASCAR Cup Series. The pressure was evident: “If you don’t make the playoffs, you won’t be racing in this car anymore,” he was warned. The switch to JGR meant adapting to the high standards of a winning team. “It’s been a lot of work,” commented James Small, Briscoe’s team principal. “There wasn’t much demand before. Now, it’s different.” On Sunday, Briscoe proved his worth by winning at Pocono, surpassing Denny Hamlin in an exciting race. This is his third victory in the Cup Series and the first with his new team.Briscoe’s victory also marks the first win for the number 19 car since 2023, when Martin Truex Jr. was behind the wheel. This triumph came almost a year after Briscoe lost his seat at Stewart-Haas Racing. Hamlin, with seven wins at Pocono, was close to catching Briscoe in the final laps, but ultimately settled for second place. “It was difficult to have someone chasing you, especially the best of all time here,” admitted Briscoe. The fuel strategy was key, with Briscoe gaining a 0.682-second lead over Hamlin. “The most nervous I get is when two of our cars are out front,” commented Joe Gibbs. With this victory, Briscoe joins Hamlin and Christopher Bell in the playoffs. “It’s definitely more work, but it’s because they’re at a very high level,” Briscoe said. “Even competing with teammates who are winning has been a big adjustment for me.” Briscoe, who won an Xfinity Series race at Pocono in 2020, has had an outstanding performance, including his fourth top 10 in the last six races. His crew chief, James Small, has been instrumental in this success. The race, which was delayed by rain, saw Briscoe lead 72 laps and win the second stage. “I literally grew up playing my sprint car video game in a Joe Gibbs Racing Home Depot uniform,” Briscoe said. “Getting the coach in victory lane after they gave me a chance is very rewarding.” In other aspects of the race, Carson Hocevar made a clean pass on Ricky Stenhouse Jr. A pit road incident involved AJ Allmendinger, who hit a tire that impacted a team member. In addition, Bubba Wallace, Michael McDowell, and Riley Herbst suffered brake issues. The next NASCAR stop will be in Atlanta, where Christopher Bell won the first race of the season.I’ve won three races in the Cup Series, but this is the least enjoyable because it’s already expected,” Briscoe said. “At SHR, you felt like you were surprising the world if you won.
Chase Briscoe
