Chase Briscoe recently opened up about the challenges he’s encountered while adjusting to his new role at Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR). Taking over the No. 19 Toyota, formerly driven by veteran Martin Truex Jr. a 33-time NASCAR Cup Series winner with 14 victories during his six-year stint with the team Briscoe admits he’s still in the learning phase. He estimates it will take another two to three weeks before he fully grasps the nuances of the car.
Adding to the difficulty is the venue for this week’s race: Darlington Raceway, famously nicknamed “Too Tough to Tame.” As one of the trickiest tracks on the NASCAR schedule, Darlington poses an even steeper challenge for Briscoe, who continues to rely heavily on crew chief James Small and the No. 19 team to fine-tune the car’s setup.
Speaking on Saturday, Briscoe mentioned that by the end of practice sessions, he still doesn’t have enough familiarity with the car to confidently recommend adjustments. Although the vehicles from each manufacturer are largely the same, he notes that the small but critical differences require time to get used to.
“I think I’m probably two or three weeks out from truly understanding exactly what I need,” Briscoe said via ‘SpeedwayDigest’. “Even though I feel capable of winning right now, I’m still figuring out what the car should feel like. JGR’s setup philosophy is different from what I’m used to, and switching manufacturers has added to the adjustment.”
Briscoe added, “When we get to the end of practice, I still rely on James and the team to make the right calls. I can give input on what direction I think we should go, but they understand the car way better than I do right now.”
“THE BIG MOVE FROM CHASE BRISCOE!”
Last time at Darlington, Briscoe punched his ticket into the NASCAR Playoffs and gave Stewart-Haas Racing its last Cup win. pic.twitter.com/xyoR7MppJy
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) April 4, 2025
So far in the 2025 season, Briscoe has earned three top-10 finishes and two top-5 results. He’s currently ranked 13th in the standings with 169 points.
Reflecting on his win at Darlington last September when he clinched victory at the prestigious Cook Out Southern 500 and secured a playoff spot Briscoe described it as a surreal and humbling moment. The win also marked the final triumph for Stewart-Haas Racing before it ceased operations at the season’s end.
“When I look at that trophy and see all the legends and Hall of Famers on it, I honestly feel like I don’t belong. I told someone recently, ‘You look at the list of names and then see 2024, Chase Briscoe like, how did that happen?’ It’s kind of weird,” he said.
Looking ahead, Briscoe will start Sunday’s 293-lap Goodyear 400 at Darlington from fourth on the grid, lining up just behind his JGR teammate Denny Hamlin. The race is set to begin at 3:00 p.m. ET.
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