In NASCAR, a driver’s name and crew chief’s reputation often go hand in hand, with the car’s speed directly tied to how well they sync up. Even the sharpest crew chief can look like the weak link if the driver hits a rough patch, turning fans against them overnight. That dynamic played out with Martin Truex Jr. and his former crew chief, James Small, where blame shifted quickly amid underwhelming results. But now, with Small calling shots for Chase Briscoe in the No. 19 Toyota at Joe Gibbs Racing, eyes are opening to a different story.

Briscoe’s season has rolled out strong, with two wins, 12 top-5s, and 15 top-10s, and a solid P9 at the Bristol race helped him to sit sixth in the Round of 12 playoffs with a 10-point cushion above the cutline. Those numbers force a rethink on past judgments, especially after Small’s time with Truex Jr. ended without the fireworks expected. Was the Aussie really at fault, or just caught in the crossfire? Let’s dig into what went wrong and who’s shining now.

Martin Truex Jr.‘s 2024 wrapped up without a single win, marking his first winless full season since 2014, despite four top-five finishes and 11 top-10s that landed him 10th in points. Fans initially pinned the slide on James Small, who took over as crew chief in 2020 after Cole Pearn’s exit, but the duo had notched eight wins together from 2020 to 2024. The dip raised questions about Small’s strategies, yet Truex Jr.’s own inconsistencies, like early exits due to wrecks at tracks where he’d dominated before, suggested deeper issues on the driver side. Now with Chase Briscoe, Small’s calls have fueled a turnaround, proving his edge in a fresh setup.

Briscoe has praised Small’s intensity, saying after a victory, “James is definitely… I don’t know how to explain it…he is a different person in Victory Lane. He just lets all his emotions out. He’s all jacked up and like, when the car crosses the finish line, it’s funny to see him like that because you don’t see that very often.” This highlights Small’s passion, which shone in Briscoe’s Pocono win despite being nine laps short on fuel, a “mountain climb” Small called shocking but doable thanks to a timely caution.

Small reflected, “It was going to be a mountain climb. We’ve lost many races by things not going the right way for us. Thankfully, that caution saved us and put us in a position that we could manage our fuel till the end,” tying back to his Supercars roots, where grit defined success. Briscoe’s adaptation to Small’s no-nonsense style, unlike Truex Jr.’s later frustrations, shows how driver buy-in can flip narratives.

Reddit threads buzz with fans reevaluating their takes, admitting early criticism of Small missed the mark. These voices echo a shift, spotlighting how Truex Jr.’s approach may have fueled his own struggles while Small thrives elsewhere.

Fans weigh in on the turnaround

Diving into the threads, one supporter laid it bare: “MTJ was so checked out. He wasn’t at the shop, he wasn’t at the sim, he did his own thing. Now he has some seniority and some control over the 19 team, it’s yielding significant results.” This hits on reports from late 2024, where Truex Jr.’s mid-season retirement announcement signaled burnout; he skipped sim sessions for family time, which disrupted team rhythm. Contrast that with Briscoe’s immersion; he’s logged extra hours at JGR‘s simulator, crediting it for his top-10 streak since Bristol. Small’s leadership, drawing from his 2020 Furniture Row stint where he stabilized a mid-pack car to playoffs, thrives in this engaged setup, turning the No. 19 into a points machine.

That energy carries over to another post. “Same boat here. I knew the 19 was a championship-caliber car for Chase, but James was the question mark for me. He’s exceeded my expectations. I think him having a driver with something to prove has made a huge difference.” Briscoe’s chip-on-shoulder approach, forged in SHR’s final turbulent year with three DNFs from mechanicals, pairs seamlessly with Small’s data-driven tweaks, like the aero adjustments at Sonoma that yielded his first road course top five. Analysis backs this, noting JGR’s chassis as elite, but Small is the variable that unlocked Briscoe’s potential, evidenced by a 7.7 average finish in the last 10 races.

“Blake Harris left his brain cells in the FRM shop,” was a sharper jab followed by another fan, contrasting Small’s success with Harris’ at Briscoe’s old No. 14 team. Harris struggled post-2024, but Small’s detail-oriented prep, like fuel strategies at Pocono, showcases sharp decision-making honed over years at Richard Childress and Furniture Row.

Admissions poured in next. “Yeah, I’m willing to admit I was wrong now. I feel like MTJ was incredibly difficult to work with towards the end, and that may have kept Small from making the decisions he needed to make. Briscoe is a good pairing with Small, and they really seem to be working well together. I wish them both success.” Truex Jr.’s prickly radio exchanges in 2024, documented, hinted at vetoing aggressive risks, stunting Small’s bold plays. Briscoe’s deference, seen in post-race huddles, lets Small shine, fueling their +10 playoff edge and a projected championship shot if momentum holds.

Wrapping the chatter, a cheeky one landed: “I guarantee you that Briscoe wants to like this post. But he has great PR, so he won’t.” Briscoe’s savvy online presence, tweeting race breakdowns without stirring pots, keeps him relatable, much like his smooth radio communication with Small that avoids drama. Wikipedia logs his fan engagement as a strength, turning skeptics into backers as No. 19 eyes deeper into the playoffs.