Chase Briscoe came close to securing his second win of the season with Joe Gibbs Racing at Dover Motor Speedway on Sunday, finishing just behind teammate Denny Hamlin after a thrilling late-race battle. The intense competition unfolded following a crucial late restart and a red flag, which set the stage for a final showdown driven by tire strategy and track position.
How the Race Unfolded: Key Moments and Strategies
The race‘s defining moment featured Christopher Bell spinning out as he vied for the lead beneath Hamlin, triggering a red flag that paused the action for an hour. This opened the door for Briscoe, who, armed with fresher tires on his No. 19 Toyota, challenged Hamlin aggressively during the final two laps. Despite this advantage, Hamlin managed to surpass Briscoe on the frontstretch just after the white flag, leaving Briscoe in second place.
Briscoe acknowledged the delicate dynamics of competing against a teammate in such a tight situation. He commented,
“If it wasn’t a teammate, I definitely could have been more aggressive,”
—Chase Briscoe, Driver. He explained the high risks involved, saying,
“The odds of one of us wrecking were pretty high, and I want to make sure a JGR car wins the race. It would not have been a good Monday morning meeting if I go in there and do something and wreck us both and somebody else wins.”
—Chase Briscoe, Driver.
Briscoe’s Season Momentum and Reflections on Performance
Following a second-place finish the previous week at Sonoma, Briscoe is demonstrating strong form in a critical stretch of the season aimed at solidifying a playoff position. However, he stressed that actual race wins are crucial for earning playoff points.
“I was trying to be smart about it, but also going for the win, too,”
he said.
“I just needed the back of the Camry to be about three to four inches shorter, I was all but clear [of Hamlin] but couldn’t get it done.”
—Chase Briscoe, Driver.
Despite the near-miss, Briscoe expressed gratitude for the opportunity to contend late in the race, especially considering his car’s earlier performance. He admitted,
“We were not the best car, by any means, We weren’t even a second-place car. Realistically, we should have finished fifth to 10th, that’s just the speed we had.”
—Chase Briscoe, Driver. He added,
“We just lacked five percent of what we needed to be the best car. I just could never get there for some reason. Fortunately, we were able to make something out of it at the end, I just we were on the other end of it.”
—Chase Briscoe, Driver.
Implications for Briscoe and Joe Gibbs Racing Going Forward
Briscoe’s back-to-back runner-up finishes at Sonoma and Dover underscore his potential as a strong contender during the summer stretch, vital for playoff positioning in this competitive NASCAR season. The narrow loss at Dover highlights both the fine margins that define victories and the strategic challenges teams face when teammates battle intensely. How Briscoe and Joe Gibbs Racing build on this momentum could greatly influence their playoff prospects and championship hopes moving ahead.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Where will Chase Briscoe be in 2025?
A. Chase Briscoe is set to join Joe Gibbs Racing’s championship-winning team in 2025, replacing Martin Truex, Jr. in the No. 19 Toyota Camry XSE.
Q. Where is Chase Briscoe going in 2025?
A. Switching from Stewart Haas Racing to Joe Gibbs Racing has set higher expectations for Briscoe, who is experiencing his best year in Cup racing. Chase Briscoe was chosen last year by JGR to take over for Martin Truex Jr., who said 2024 would be his final season as a full-time NASCAR Cup driver.