Chase Briscoe stepped into the No. 19 Toyota at Joe Gibbs Racing this year after four tough seasons at Stewart-Haas Racing. From couch-surfing and scraping for money for years to suddenly being so close to a championship, his 2025 season feels like a story straight out of a driver’s dream. Yet, as Briscoe looks back, he gets real about the grind that got him here.

Starting this year, he initially struggled in those early phases, like finishing 35th in the fourth race at Phoenix. He admits the switch from SHR’s Fords to JGR’s Toyotas was not easy-coming, forcing doubt on every corner. But what flipped the script for Briscoe remains his most candid take yet.

Unpacking the early JGR learning curve

On the X post shared by Bob Pockrass ahead of the title race, Chase Briscoe didn’t sugarcoat his Phoenix spring flop. “I had no clue what I was doing,” he said plainly. “That was my third or fourth race of JGR… even if we ran every lap that race, I don’t think we would take a lot from it.” After 144 races in low-standard SHR cars, the JGR machine’s grip caught him off guard; the new Toyota car overwhelmed him with its speed and capabilities, and because of that, he underdrove it, having no idea how to handle the new beauty.

Chase Briscoe started 30th and didn’t get in 100 laps in the race at Phoenix last spring. He doesn’t think that puts him at a disadvantage this weekend. pic.twitter.com/HDhieeEzrG

— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) October 31, 2025

But that shift from SHR to JGR was not that smooth, as SHR rides just couldn’t handle aggressive throttle like JGR’s setups. Briscoe had never experienced something like this, so he spent races in JGR setups holding back speed, afraid that if he pushed his car too hard, the car might spin and ruin his races.

“I’d been so used to going to a lot of these tracks my entire career and not being able to do a certain thing,” he explained. “My car wouldn’t take it. I would just hit the wall or spin out.”

This was the primary reason why he had that streak of average finishes initially. Finally, it wasn’t until the Coca-Cola 600 race in May when he realized that his Toyota could indeed take that heat head-on. And that’s when he started pushing limits, grabbing wins at Pocono, Darlington, and Talladega throughout the year.

Crew chief James Small saw the spark firsthand. “It has been very fulfilling to watch Chase get better week to week, along with everybody else,” Small said recently. With hires like car chief JD stabilizing the pit wall, the No. 19 crew solidified even more.

Without grasping the JGR edge early, Briscoe figures he’d still be holding back himself and the car and might not be in the hunt for his elusive title. Those breakthroughs set the stage for bigger lessons from folks who’ve been there.

Mentorship from a three-time champ

Tony Stewart, Briscoe’s boyhood hero from back in Indiana, reached out with timely wisdom. “The Smoke,” a three-time Cup champ and Briscoe’s old SHR boss, texted him mid-October: “Call me when you get a chance.” Their 20-minute talk covered the mental side of chasing the title.

Stewart suggested Briscoe lean into what already clicks for him instead of experimenting with new tricks and styles. Growing up idolizing Stewart’s raw drive, Briscoe understands the point, knowing their styles differ, but the core advice is solid.

“I took from what he said what I could, but Tony and I are two different personalities. What may have worked for him may not work for me. That was even Tony’s point. He said, ‘Do what is working for me, ‘ so I don’t plan on changing anything for seven or eight months,” Briscoe shared.

Stewart, fresh off shutting SHR after 2024, gets the pressure of big events, as he himself won his last title in 2011 amid chaos. For Briscoe, locked into the final four via his Talladega triumph, it was a reminder to trust the process that’s already given him three wins this year. Their Indiana roots add layers; Stewart’s 2002, 2005, and 2011 crowns make him the last Hoosier to lift the trophy, a mark Briscoe could match Sunday.

That guidance fits Briscoe’s no-nonsense vibe, as he won’t overhaul his tactics for Phoenix but will channel it calmly. As the only first-timer in the final four, facing vets like Hamlin and Larson, Stewart’s tips reinforce sticking to the edge he’s already mastered. It’s the classic “Smoke” vibe that Briscoe saw in his 20-minute talk: straightforward, battle-tested talk that keeps Briscoe grounded for the fight ahead.