Chase Briscoe’s first NASCAR Cup Series opportunity came nearly four years ago, thanks to Tony Stewart and Stewart-Haas Racing. After 126 races and a playoff berth, Briscoe is ready to take on a new challenge, this time with Joe Gibbs Racing, one of NASCAR’s most historic teams. Briscoe will take over the No. 19 Toyota from Martin Truex Jr., who is retiring, after signing a multiyear contract with JGR.
Briscoe spoke with JGR shortly after SHR announced that it will cease operations after the 2024 season, and he signed his contract the week of the race in Sonoma. One of the first contacts Briscoe made after signing was to Stewart, who believed in him enough in 2020 to let him drive the No. 14 car he drove to victory in 2011. Briscoe thanked him for the opportunity before breaking the great news, which Stewart was “ecstatic” to hear.
“I called Tony while on my way to Sonoma — yes, I signed that week — and just told him, ‘Hey, thanks for everything.'” Because the day he came and told us, he was so busy, with people approaching him and whatnot, that I didn’t really get to talk to him,” Briscoe told FOX Sports. “I contacted him and told him how much I loved the opportunity and how much it meant to me to drive the 14 vehicle, and he told me in the end, ‘If there’s anything I can do to help you, please don’t hesitate. I’ll call anybody.
I answered, ‘Well, you don’t have to; I signed a deal yesterday. He says, ‘Oh, the Front Row deal?’ I answered, ‘No, it’s not the Front Row deal. He says, ‘Oh, the Wood Brothers?’ I said, “No, not the Wood Brothers.” ‘Well, what is it?’ he asked. And I said, ‘I’m going to Gibbs,’ and he was overjoyed. It was really amazing to see how pleased he was for me, and I believe he understands the potential that awaits me. So yeah, it was great to talk to Tony.”
Chase Briscoe: ‘My career is basically done’ if I don’t win at Joe Gibbs Racing Stewart knows what it’s like to be a part of a team like JGR, having driven the No. 20 vehicle for the first ten seasons of his career. Stewart won two championships at JGR, something Briscoe would undoubtedly like to achieve. But before he can think about that, Briscoe has to win. Briscoe has only one victory in his career, which came in 2022 against Phoenix. This season, he is 25 points behind Joey Logano for the 16th and final playoff position.
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