JGR Cup Star Pits Denny Hamlin Against Kevin Harvick With Wild Take

In the heat of the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs, Joe Gibbs Racing’s Chase Briscoe sits solidly at No. 8 in the standings. His JGR teammates, Denny Hamlin at P3 and Christopher Bell at P5, have powered the team to a commanding eight victories this year, cementing JGR’s dominance amid a fiercely competitive field. But beyond the stats, Briscoe’s transition from Stewart-Haas Racing has opened the door for him to weigh in on the contrasts between his current and former mentor.

Denny Hamlin and Kevin Harvick, both legends with storied careers marked by on-track clashes like their 2010 Dover incident, where Harvick intentionally bumped Hamlin’s car during practice, represent the kind of intensity that defines NASCAR’s elite. Hamlin’s aggressive driving and team ownership role echo Harvick’s no-nonsense approach during his Stewart-Haas days, setting the stage for unexpected insights. As Briscoe navigates this high-stakes environment, his observations cut through the noise. But how do they resemble each other in the racing world? Let’s hear it from Chase Briscoe himself.

Chase Briscoe’s surprising comparison

On a recent episode of the Dale Jr. Download podcast, Chase Briscoe drew an eye-opening parallel between his current teammate Denny Hamlin and former Stewart-Haas colleague Kevin Harvick. While discussing the adjustment to new teammates, Briscoe didn’t hold back. “Denny reminds me so much of Harvick. It’s crazy. Like, just his approach to things, how hard he works.”

This wild take pits the two veterans against each other in a fresh light, especially given their history of friction. Think back to the 2014 Bristol clash, where Hamlin hurled his HANS device at Harvick’s car after a spin-out. Briscoe’s perspective stems from three years of racing with Harvick at SHR, where he witnessed that relentless work ethic firsthand, now mirrored in Hamlin’s preparation despite his added roles like co-owning 23XI Racing.

Dale Earnhardt Jr., hosting the podcast, was quick to point out the irony, noting how Hamlin and Harvick “kind of were like oil and water” and suggesting that might explain their past run-ins. Briscoe doubled down, emphasizing, “I feel like this is their demeanor, and how they like to approach things is so similar.” Consider Harvick’s 2018 dominance at Phoenix, where he notched his 40th Cup win with meticulous prep, much like Hamlin’s 2022 Coca-Cola 600 victory built on data-driven strategy and tireless sim sessions.

Briscoe’s “wild take” comes from observing these shared traits up close, both drivers’ ability to balance high demands while pushing teams forward, even as rivals who once traded paint in heated moments like the 2010 practice session at Dover, where Harvick sideswiped Hamlin’s car twice. Yet, Briscoe acknowledged the differences, too, praising Hamlin’s broader commitments. “I would say that Denny has way more stuff going on outside of the racetrack than Kevin has, and he still manages to put the time in and the effort in, week in and week out, and that is why he’s as successful as he is.”

This insight elevates the conversation, showing how Briscoe, who apologized to Toyota teammates after an on-track mishap at Iowa Speedway earlier this year, saying, “That was a really boneheaded move on my part, and I got in there and got loose and ruined their day,” uses these observations to fuel his own growth at JGR. It’s a reminder that in NASCAR, personal dynamics can reshape perceptions, turning old adversaries into blueprints for success.

While Briscoe’s take on Hamlin and Harvick grabs headlines, his own career choices reveal deeper layers of caution in this high-risk sport. And speaking of risks, Briscoe recently made a gut-wrenching call that speaks volumes about priorities beyond the Cup Series.

Briscoe’s sprint racing retirement

Chase Briscoe has stepped away from sprint car racing. The decision hit hard after a NASCAR pit crew member and Daytona 500 winner tragically died at age 35: Zachary Yager. “I’m retired, at least for the time being. Probably for good, truthfully,” Briscoe said on the Always Race Day podcast, citing the demands of his Cup schedule and fatherhood to three young children. This follows his 2024 sprint outings, where he got two top 10s but faced risks.

“We had twins last year. So having three kids now, it just makes it harder to tell my wife, ‘Hey, I’m going to leave a couple days early (before a NASCAR race) and go run some sprint car races,’” Briscoe said in an interview with The Express, emphasizing how the incident made him realize how simply a life can end, leaving all the things behind like family, combined with his own 2020 sprint flip that broke his leg, shifted priorities.

Briscoe, who started in dirt tracks with 2016 USAC National Midget wins, now focuses solely on NASCAR, balancing his No. 19 Toyota duties. This move underscores Briscoe’s maturity, especially post-Stewart-Haas shutdown, aligning with his 2025 JGR role, where consistency matters. As the playoffs heat up, this choice keeps him grounded amid high-stakes racing.