Chase Briscoe’s 2025 season has been the kind of underdog story NASCAR fans can’t get enough of. His Talladega win on Sunday wasn’t just his first-ever superspeedway win; it was also his first-ever ticket to the Championship 4. On the final lap, as a fuel-less Kyle Larson moonwalked behind, in a breathtaking finish, Briscoe outdueled Bubba Wallace and others, winning with a 0.145s margin. More than redemption, this victory was validation!

After years of grit, heartbreak, and near-misses, Briscoe finally stood tall as a true title contender. But beyond the confetti and celebration, the emotional weight of this journey runs deep. Because for Briscoe, reaching this point wasn’t just about speed. Rather, it was about rising from one of the lowest moments of his career not so long ago.

Chase Briscoe’s journey from SHR to a championship contender at JGR

Chase Briscoe’s move from Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) to Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) in 2025 was a significant turning point in his career. Reflecting on the transition, Briscoe shared, “I idolized Tony and he was my hero, and then you know just the friendships and the relationships that I built with all the 14 guys, and we still have a group chat to this day and talk almost every day.”

With SHR shutting down at the end of 2024 and Martin Truex Jr.’s retirement, Briscoe faced uncertainty, not knowing “what the JGR chapter was really going to look like.” As he will now race at Phoenix as a championship contender for the first time, this triumph marked a major milestone after a difficult 2024 season, where he finished 24th or worse in five of the last seven races of the season.

Briscoe also recounted a recent visit to Phoenix: “I went there a couple of weeks ago for some media stuff, and I stood on the front straightaway. I hadn’t done that since I won there, and I kind of thought about how that day felt and how winning my first Cup race… I did think about it for a second. I was like, next time you might stand here, you might be a champion.”

Standing at Phoenix, the nostalgia hit Briscoe as he remembered his 2022 win there, which was a major milestone in his NASCAR Cup Series career. Driving for Stewart-Haas Racing, Briscoe captured his first Cup win at the Ruoff Mortgage 500 by leading 101 laps and holding off a competitive field. Not just that, that win made Briscoe the 200th different driver in Cup Series history to win a race.

Now, racing at Phoenix with the ultimate prize within reach, Briscoe’s journey is a testament to perseverance, growth, and the high stakes of the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs. His story is one of transformation – moving from idolizing heroes, navigating team changes, to standing on the cusp of NASCAR glory. And he didn’t forget to thank someone for this.

Chase Briscoe thanks Ty Gibbs for Talladega victory boost

Chase Briscoe was emphatic in thanking teammate Ty Gibbs for the critical push that helped him secure victory at the 2025 YellaWood 500 at Talladega. “Ty Gibbs, just incredible teammate there. I mean, I honestly would not have won that race without Ty,” Briscoe said after the race, underlining the importance of teamwork in NASCAR’s superspeedway racing.

The late-race shove from Gibbs on the final lap allowed Briscoe to edge Todd Gilliland in overtime. Briscoe acknowledged the race’s intensity, humorously remarking about the stress, “I think I told MRN, I don’t have very much hair in the first place, but what I had left was going to be gray.”

The teamwork within JGR during this win was critical in ultimately advancing two drivers, Briscoe and Denny Hamlin, for the championship at Phoenix. This fresh synergy between Briscoe and Gibbs contrasts with earlier playoff tensions within JGR, showing how collaboration and mutual support can emerge even after internal late-season debates about team racing.

Because if you remember, at New Hampshire, JGR teammates Ty Gibbs and Denny Hamlin collided when Hamlin was fighting for his championship, and Gibbs refused to give him way, ultimately facing the brunt of the No. 11. This incident had sparked internal discussions within JGR, with Hamlin later admitting he “went too far” in his frustration but stood his ground.

In the end, Chase Briscoe’s Talladega victory was a testament to JGR learning from its mistakes. Briscoe’s shout-out to Gibbs underlines how success in NASCAR often hinges on strong teammate alliances, especially on super-speedways where drafting and pushing teammates are crucial race-winning strategies.​