Chase Briscoe’s spectacular effort at Pocono Raceway on Sunday, June 22, 2025, secured his maiden NASCAR Cup Series victory with Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) in the Great American Getaway 400. The 30-year-old Indiana native secured his third career Cup Series victory and guaranteed a position in the 2025 NASCAR Playoffs by outlasting teammate Denny Hamlin, a seven-time Pocono winner, in an exciting fuel-mileage battle. Both for Briscoe and JGR, which saw its No. 19 Toyota return to victory lane for the first time since Martin Truex Jr.’s 2023 victory, Briscoe’s victory was a major turning point.
Briscoe’s path to this point was anything but simple. Briscoe was unclear following the dissolution of Stewart-Haas Racing at the end of the 2024 season until he was hired by JGR to take Truex’s seat in the No. 19 car as he retired. Briscoe himself acknowledged the rigorous standards at JGR, saying, “You don’t make the playoffs, you don’t race in this car anymore.” The pressure to succeed was tremendous. Briscoe had not yet secured a victory, which raised the stakes as the season went on, even though he had four pole positions and five top-five finishes in the first 16 races of 2025. Briscoe performed well under duress after joining JGR, a squad with five Cup driver titles and a reputation for competence.
The actual race was a test of nerve and strategy. The start was postponed by more than two hours due to rain, which created the conditions for a hot and intense duel on the 2.5-mile “Tricky Triangle.” Briscoe demonstrated the speed of his No. 19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota by winning Stage 2 and leading a race-high 72 laps. His last pit stop on Lap 119, however, was crucial since he miscommunicated and had to leave the pit stall early due to a lack of fuel. As he fought off Hamlin and defending Pocono winner Ryan Blaney, Briscoe had to switch to a fuel-saving strategy for the final 34 laps after crew chief James Small advised that the tank would not last.
The triumph demonstrated JGR’s confidence in Briscoe and his development as a driver. Briscoe’s performance was commended by team owner Joe Gibbs, who acknowledged that he was anxious to watch his drivers compete for the lead. Gibbs also mentioned the thorough investigation that went into recruiting Briscoe. Gibbs reflected on the choice to include Briscoe in the fold in spite of opposition from rival teams, saying, “We went after him hard.” Briscoe said that he had a “huge weight” lifted after weeks of self-imposed pressure to perform, so the victory was both a relief and a validation. His light-hearted radio conversation with Small after the race, in which he said, “Do I get a ‘good boy’?” brought levity to the dramatic triumph.
Briscoe’s playoff berth was guaranteed by this victory, which also demonstrated JGR’s strength as three of its four drivers—Briscoe, Hamlin, and Christopher Bell—are now guaranteed spots in the postseason. Briscoe’s Pocono victory serves as a reminder of his ability to contend at the top level as the NASCAR Cup Series moves to EchoPark Speedway for the Quaker State 400 on June 28. This triumph was a dream come true for a driver who grew up watching JGR in sprint car video games and a daring declaration that he is one of NASCAR’s best.
