Winning is the DNA of Joe Gibbs Racing. With two of their playoff drivers in the Championship 4, Toyota is on cloud nine. But more importantly, winning against your own teammates may just be one of the toughest things to do, and Chase Briscoe knows it all too well. He said, “But honestly, I don’t think it’s any different because I’ve learned, you know… but like at JGR, you compete for wins against your teammates all the time. So, it’s not really like it’s uncharted territory for us.” It is sort of routine at this point.

Just take the Round of 16 sweep, for example. Christopher Bell claimed victory in the Round of 16 finale at Bristol Motor Speedway, joining Joe Gibbs Racing teammates Denny Hamlin and Chase Briscoe, who won at Gateway and Darlington, respectively. This marked the first time a team had three different drivers each take a race win. And now with Hamlin and Briscoe’s championship fate sealed, could Bell be joining them anytime soon?

Chase Briscoe sounds off on the practice JGR receives while racing each other

Speaking on Kevin Harvick’s Happy Hour podcast, he said, “I mean, yeah, I’ve thought about it a little bit. It’s certainly possible. Honestly, I don’t think it’ll feel any different than what it does every other week because that’s the one thing I’ve kind of learned at JGR—every single weekend, a lot of the time, if I’m going to win the race, I’m racing my teammates for the win. So, yeah, there’s more at stake with the championship, but I still have to go beat the same guys, and we do get a lot of practice racing each other for wins and big situations.” 

Joe Gibbs Racing drivers do not hesitate to push each other for wins. Remember Denny Hamlin’s Enjoy Illinois 300 playoff race this year? The 44-year-old took the checkered flag, leading 75 of the 240 laps and finishing 1.620 seconds ahead of his teammate Briscoe. Chase Briscoe had secured a strong second-place finish, delivering another solid result for the company. While he was certainly in contention for the win, Briscoe also recognized and respected his teammate’s position.

Apart from playing the part of a perfect teammate, Briscoe also looks forward to his own playoff bid, a chance to grab his first-ever title as a JGR rookie. But steering away from the personal angle of winning, Briscoe’s win wouldn’t have been possible without Ty Gibbs‘ late-race help. During the final overtime start, Gibbs positioned himself behind Briscoe, providing a crucial push that propelled Briscoe ahead of Todd Gilliland by 0.145 seconds. This strategic move enabled Briscoe to clinch his first superspeedway win and secure a spot in the Championship 4.

But the stakes are much higher than that. There’s just one race left before the finale and two spots remaining in the playoff standings. A win guarantees you an automatic spot in the season finale, and a strong points finish can push you in the mix, too. But for Christopher Bell, a win would look better, a sure shot at clinching one of the two spots remaining. And maybe Briscoe and Hamlin could help out Bell, as the duo has already locked in their spots.

This perfect blend of helping each other out while not losing sight of their own playoff run is what makes JGR stable. And amid Briscoe not feeling unusual about racing against his team, the 30-year-old has bigger plans in mind for Martinsville.

Chase Briscoe sets his gaze on a Martinsville win

Chase Briscoe’s approach to Martinsville is turning heads as he commits to a calculated, team-first strategy that echoes Denny Hamlin’s style. Briscoe’s intent is clear and ambitious. Speaking on the Dale Jr. Download podcast, he outlined his mindset heading into ‘The Paperclip.’ He hopes to finally clinch the long-awaited victory.

He said, “I mean, for us, it’s just trying to go there and win again, truthfully. I mean, all of us want a Grandfather Clock, right? I feel like that’s a place where I’ve always ran really, really good. I just haven’t been able to win all the way.”

Briscoe’s record at Martinsville speaks to his consistency—six top 10s in nine starts, including one earlier this year—yet the elusive win still remains. With the penultimate round carrying major implications, his approach now holds added weight for Christopher Bell’s playoff campaign. With a win and his teammate’s playoff bid on either side, Briscoe will have to put his foot down sooner or later, and all eyes will be on JGR as they continue to oust their Penske rivals.