Earlier in August, Dale Jr. had a sit-down with Joe Gibbs Racing rookie Chase Briscoe, who named NASCAR legend Tony Stewart as his inspiration to chart out his racing blueprint. The 54-year-old Cup veteran is now heavily involved in both NHRA drag racing and World of Outlaws, and that is what Briscoe wanted to do. But fast forward to today, and the No. 19 driver’s heart wants to follow Dale Jr’s path.

Dale Jr may have retired from Cup racing, but the hold he has on the NASCAR world hasn’t been lifted at all. Fans still rally behind the NASCAR Hall of Famer and still listen attentively to everything he says. Remember the 2012 Quicken Loans 400 where Dale Jr secured his first win since 2008? That victory was met with an outpouring of emotions from fans, many of whom had been waiting for this moment for years. Junior had dedicated the win to his fan base, acknowledging the unwavering support throughout his career.

And now Chase Briscoe wants a taste of that type of moment. Speaking to Frontstretch, he said, “You know, honestly, I mean, it’s not gonna do anything for me, right? But I just want to go and race in front of, you know, kind of my, literally my core fan base. 25 minutes down the road from there. And I remember in ARCA in 2016, that was the closest I’ve ever felt to Dale Jr. in my life. Like everybody was there wearing my stuff. So it’d be cool to go back now, you know, almost 10 years removed. And yeah, I just think it’d be a cool way to give back to the Speedway.” 

And that was the breakout moment for Chase Briscoe. His 2016 ARCA Racing Series championship marked his transition from a promising talent to a serious contender in the sport. Driving the No. 77 for Cunningham Motorsports, Briscoe dominated the season with six wins, 18 top 10 finishes, and 20 starts, clinching the championship with a 535-point lead over second place, Tom Hessert.

Fast forward to today, and life has its own rhythm. Earlier in the month, while speaking to Dale Jr, Chase Briscoe said that he had retired from driving sprint cars after his home track start at Bloomington Speedway during Brickyard last year, the same red clay quarter mile where he first cut his teeth. With twin bonds at home and a cup ride with Joe Gibbs Racing, he admitted that he had been driving a little cautiously that spring and decided that it would be his last.

However, things will change in 2026. With Salem and New Hampshire already circled in the ARCA calendars, Briscoe has already locked in his next race. He has confirmed racing at St. Louis.

He explained, “You know, logistically, it would definitely be possible. I mean, it’s only a three-hour, three-and-a-half-hour drive, so you can get there pretty quick on a plane. Yeah, I definitely want to do it. You know, obviously, I’d have to probably talk to the JGR guys. I think DeSouza’s who runs the ARCA program, and actually I’ve kind of floated it to him and told him, ‘Hey, I want to do this.’ So yeah, I would love to do it.” 

Briscoe hasn’t walked away from the dirt world; he has simply reshaped it. His sprint car racing has been revived through a partnership with rising talent Karter Sarff, where Briscoe contributes resources, guidance, and that NASCAR Spotlight.

He has even talked about the hardware at home — a micro and multiple chassis — keeping the edge to grow the program, whether as a full-time team or by collaborating with established outfits to bring in sponsorship. But as Briscoe looks forward to the balancing act between the Cup Series and Sprint car, fans have already ruled JGR out of the Championship 4.

Team Penske has a reputation for picking up towards the end of the postseason. With Joey Logano and Ryan Blaney looking like the favorites at Phoenix, the hammer had been dropped. But only performance and time will determine the 2025 champion. And Briscoe is sounding more confident than ever.

Chase Briscoe’s confidence is through the roof heading into the Round of 8

Briscoe entered the playoff riding a wave of momentum, kicking things off with a win in the opening race at Darlington and following it up with consistent top 10 finishes in the next event. His qualifying efforts turned heads as well, highlighted by a pole at Kansas.

But the Charlotte Roval proved challenging, as he slipped from a top 10 position in stage two and ultimately crossed the finish line in 14th. Even with those hurdles, Briscoe has somehow secured his spot in the Round of 8 with 14 points below the line, all while managing personal health concerns.

And now, as the 30-year-old looks ahead to Las Vegas, he remains optimistic but realistic about the competition waiting for him. Speaking from pit road after the Bank of America Roval 400 race, he shared his outlook, “I feel really good about it. I know a mile and a half wise would be good. Talladega, we just have to get there and see what happens. Then Martinsville, I thought we were decent there. I feel like we have a path to get there. More than likely we will probably have to win, but you never know with the playoffs. We will see what we can do.”

At Las Vegas, the No. 19 Driver has posted just one top-five finish in nine Cup starts. As Briscoe charts his path towards the Championship 4, strategy, skill, and resilience will be key in navigating the high-stakes races ahead.