At Phoenix Raceway, the scene was set for Briscoe to take the big leap. As one of the four contenders in the Championship 4, he arrived as the underdog with serious momentum. Unfortunately, his day unraveled when he suffered a right-rear tire failure in Stage 2, setting off a cascade of issues.

He was forced to pit, went deep in the field, and though he battled back into contention, old tires and worn options ultimately left him outside the top spots, finishing 18th, third among the Championship 4 but far from the title.

This race was the kind where the car looked the part, Briscoe’s team had the speed, but the final dash didn’t fall his way. Briscoe ended the season this weekend by posting on X “Well… we had a fast car that’s for sure. Just didn’t have it go our way. Proud of this @BassProShops team for never giving up. We’re just getting started!”, Those four words, “We’re just getting started,” carry a lot of weight. They’re not just a tagline.

The fact that he still left with his head high and said that they are “just getting started” speaks volumes about his mindset.

That tweet is a statement of intent from a driver who’s spent 2025 building up steam, snagging wins, showing flashes of championship-level potential, but ultimately falling short in the season finale. Now the question becomes: can he take that warning and turn it into action in 2026?

It’s been a breakout season in many ways for Briscoe. He made the jump to Joe Gibbs Racing in 2025, taking over the No. 19 Toyota and immediately showing he belongs in the elite tier. He collected three wins, including one at Pocono, where he edged his own teammate, and locked into the playoffs with authority.

His seven poles, the most in the season, came in bunches, too: he was arguably the fastest guy at times, showing the raw speed the team needs.

Yet, as the Phoenix race revealed, speed alone isn’t enough; consistency, strategy, and avoiding the kind of bad breaks (like tire failures) will separate the contenders from the pretenders. Briscoe and his crew know this. That’s likely why his “just getting started” line holds so much energy.

Here’s why the wider NASCAR world should pay attention: Briscoe isn’t just saying “look at me,” he’s saying “look out.” When a young driver makes the leaps he’s made in one season, qualifying fast, winning races, handling pressure, it changes the dynamic for everyone else. Teams that thought they’d built a comfortable hill to climb now see a competitor ready to climb it alongside them, or over them.

Now the real test begins. Briscoe’s message is bold: “We’re just getting started.” But turning that into a championship bid will require avoiding the kinds of pitfalls that cost him in Phoenix, those tire issues, the pit strategy missteps, and any procedural chatter that distracts from pure speed. As one analyst noted, the Championship 4 contenders were all impacted by tire problems in Phoenix.

If Briscoe and the No. 19 team can combine their speed with cleaner finishes, smarter strategy, and a little luck, then yes, 2026 could be a different story. His warning isn’t just for show. Fans on X are rallying behind Briscoe.

Fan reactions fuel the Fire

“Super proud of you, Chase. I said a few weeks ago the driver that has impressed me the most this year is you. Saw you step up your game and really made your presence known in the Cup Series. I think that championship is right around the corner my friend.”

Chase Briscoe’s 2025 season certainly backs up that kind of praise. He recorded 3 wins, 15 top 5s, and 19 top 10s across 36 races. His seven poles show he wasn’t just competitive in races, but often led the field at the start.

His average starting position is around 10 in 2025, which indicates how strong his qualifying runs were. When a driver consistently starts near the front and finishes inside the top ten almost half the time, it’s hard not to “make your presence known.” In the context of being part of the Championship 4 field at year’s end, this is a significant step up.

“Thank you for giving us fans of yours an amazing season. Thank you for always being generous to us fans. Always proud to call you my driver!”

Briscoe’s performance offered plenty for his fans to cheer for. Beyond wins and poles, his consistent presence near the front meant that supporters weren’t seeing just one-off flashes; they were seeing a driver who elevated his baseline. Statistically, for example, the driver’s average site shows that his average finish improved significantly (an average finish of 12.514 in 2025), a sign of reliability.

“I think you blew many people’s expectations, including myself, this year, and one can only imagine what more you’ll accomplish with that 19-team in 2026. Great effort altogether, and have a good offseason, Chase.”

Indeed, Briscoe exceeded expectations. He’s been in the Cup series for several years, but 2025 signified a breakout season. His move to the Joe Gibbs Racing No. 19 team proved to elevate his performance.

The stats again: 3 wins, 7 poles, 19 top 10s. Also, despite entering the Championship race with strong form, he encountered critical setbacks at the finale, which means he still falls short of the ultimate goal, but the framework is there.

“Chase, you and the 19 team showed perseverance today. 2 flat tires… they knew you were there. It is a blessing to cheer for you and be a fan! Enjoy the off-season with your Family!”

This is a strong point, and it’s fully supported by what happened at the 2025 Championship Race at Phoenix Raceway. Briscoe started 12th, worked his way up, and was running as high as second in the final stage. Then he suffered a flat right-rear tire during the race, and earlier during practice, he had a left-rear tire failure, which limited his track time.

The fact that he had the speed to contend, despite these issues, shows perseverance; the car and crew were fighting back even when hit by serious adversity. For fans, seeing that kind of resolve resonates deeply: you know the driver is pushing, the team is working, and the result might not be perfect, but the effort is unquestionable. “As always, we’re so very proud of your efforts. Nobody to blame (but maybe Goodyear) for how this one turned out. You & the whole team should be proud of.”

There’s acknowledgment here that, even when the result wasn’t the one fans wanted, the effort was admirable and responsibility is broadly accepted. The tire issues at Phoenix and pre-race practice failures triggered a lot of discussion about components and tires.

In practice at Phoenix, Briscoe had a left-rear go down early. During the race, the flat right-rear cut short his run for better results. While one cannot definitively place blame without internal team data, motorsport reporting did note “surprise tire issues wreak havoc” in the Phoenix session.

So the fan’s comment “Nobody to blame (but maybe Goodyear)” taps into that thread. Meanwhile, Briscoe’s season numbers and qualifying stats mean the team absolutely has reason to be proud.