Chase Briscoe captured a dramatic overtime victory at Talladega Superspeedway in October 2025, securing his spot in the NASCAR Cup Series Championship 4. With a last-lap pass on Bubba Wallace, Briscoe earned his first career superspeedway win, a breakthrough moment in his career. The victory not only showcased his racing skill and cool composure under pressure but also guaranteed him a chance to compete for the title at Phoenix Raceway.

But, Briscoe’s focus isn’t just on the car or the track. Behind the scenes, there’s a support system quietly shaping how he handles the intensity of championship racing. Family, distractions, and keeping his mind right. It’s all part of the game, and Briscoe has some unique strategies that might surprise fans who only see the race-day heroics.

Chase Briscoe on racing for the big stage

During a recent episode of the Happy Hour podcast, Kevin Harvick asked Chase Briscoe if he had ever been in a position where racing for a championship forced him to abandon all his usual race plans. Briscoe replied, “Not really… even in Xfinity, you know, it was 2020, so it was COVID year, so it was different… people weren’t even really allowed in the garages still.”

In 2020, Briscoe had a breakthrough season in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. He secured four wins and finished fourth in points, despite challenges posed by a pandemic-restricted atmosphere and limited team presence. “I didn’t have a lot of people there, even when I raced for that,” Briscoe explained Harvick.

Briscoe also spoke candidly about the challenges of balancing family life with racing, especially with his upcoming championship race at Phoenix next month. “I gotta leave Wednesday versus leaving on a Friday or Saturday and… just even the flight going out there with three little ones is gonna be stressful in itself.”

Chase Briscoe is married to his wife, Marissa, since November 2019. The couple has three children: their son Brooks, born in 2021, and twin boy and girl Cooper and Collins, born in October 2024. The pressures of being a family man add another layer to his race preparations, especially given Marissa’s health recovery journey after delivery.

Yet, Briscoe remains optimistic and grateful for the opportunity of having friends and family around for major events that racing offers: “It’ll be different, you know, truthfully, I’m glad that it’s gonna be chaos, you know, and have all those people there… that means you’re at an incredible opportunity… So I’m thankful for that.”

Even amid the intensity of championship battles and family demands, Briscoe embraces the energy and support from them as a motivator to perform at his best. His gratitude and focus highlight the maturity he brings as he competes for the sport’s biggest prize. As Briscoe summed it up perfectly, “I think I would rather have it that way.”

James Small reflects on milestone achieved with Chase Briscoe

James Small, crew chief for Chase Briscoe’s No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing team, expressed deep pride and satisfaction after guiding Briscoe to milestones he never reached during his time with Martin Truex Jr.– winning a superspeedway race. Small, an accomplished engineer and strategist, spent years working alongside Truex, including during his championship runs.

However, the breakthrough for Small came with Briscoe, with whom he has developed a strong rapport marked by trust and shared ambition. “To do it in the Round of 8, check our ticket to Phoenix, is just amazing. We’ve had fast cars in the past, but usually luck has evaded us. Today everything kind of came together. Kind of stepped on our pee-pees there at the end of stage one. Bounced back and won that stage, and just amazing,” he said in a press conference.

James Small was also asked to compare Chase Briscoe with Martin Truex Jr., and his response was both candid and telling. “They couldn’t be more different if they tried. Just very, very different people. Very different demeanors.” Small said with a smile. While their personalities and demeanors contrast sharply, the crew chief noted a rare similarity: both share a love for fishing and hunting.

Beyond hobbies, their paths to success couldn’t be more different either. After Stewart-Haas Racing closed shop in 2024, Briscoe found himself without a ride, while Truex’s retirement created the opening for Briscoe to step into the Joe Gibbs Racing lineup. Small reflected on his time working with Briscoe, emphasizing that he never wavered in his belief in the driver’s talent and potential.

Briscoe, for his part, has always viewed JGR as the perfect platform to showcase his skills and prove himself at the highest level. Heading into the Championship 4 finale at Phoenix, the 30-year-old will benefit from an extra week of preparation. After a disappointing result at the track in his last outing, that additional time could prove invaluable as he looks to maximize his performance and secure a title run.