Chase Briscoe, the Joe Gibbs Racing driver, found himself unexpectedly at the center of NASCAR’s latest viral promo for the 2026 US Navy Base Coronado race. The campaign, which featured six Cup Series stars stepping into the roles of naval recruits, showcased Briscoe’s rising visibility within the sport while offering fans a behind-the-scenes glimpse of NASCAR’s ambitious marketing efforts.

Briscoe’s candid reflections reveal how the drivers adapted to this unusual setting and how the promo was designed to fuse military precision with the authentic personalities of NASCAR’s top competitors, creating a fresh approach to engaging fans.

Briscoe’s Reaction to the High-Production NASCAR Promo

Briscoe admitted to being impressed by the final product, which exceeded the expectations of even the drivers involved. During a SiriusXM NASCAR Radio interview, he said,

“Just seeing how they made all that come together, it was pretty wild,”

and added,

“It was super cool just to finally see the finished product. We filmed all of it and knew what the goal was, but you never really know how it’s gonna turn out.”

The driver praised the production team behind the video, describing their work as movie-quality and highlighting their track record with engaging social media content. He explained,

“They do such an incredible job,”

noting,

“The production company they use is the same group that makes all those videos you see on Instagram, a lot of the short clips leading into a race.”

His own “Hoosier” call sign appeared alongside Chase Elliott’s “Peaches” and Joey Logano’s “Zamboni.”

The promo’s dialogue retained the natural banter among drivers, with Briscoe laughing genuinely during a moment when Carson Hocevar quipped to Elliott,

“Hey, Clyde, you gonna do some of that pilot sh**?”

and Elliott fired back,

“It can’t be any worse than your driving,”

prompting Briscoe to shout, Sick burn, Peaches! These moments captured the team’s camaraderie authentically.

Despite the thrilling aerial visuals, Briscoe revealed that the jet scenes were filmed with the planes stationary on the runway, enhanced by sophisticated CGI. He marveled,

“We were literally just sitting in the plane on the runway,”

and added,

“It wasn’t like we were actually in the air flying, but they made it look like it was.”

Behind the Scenes: What Made the San Diego Filming Unique for NASCAR Drivers

Beyond the dramatic footage, Briscoe valued the chance to bond with fellow drivers during the two-day shoot in San Diego. He shared,

“It was a lot of fun to shoot. Myself and all the other drivers had an awesome time in San Diego,”

and further explained,

“We were able to spend two days out there and just hang out as a group of drivers, and it was a lot of fun.”

The promo also featured spontaneous reactions that enhanced its appeal. For example, Gragson teasing Byron with,

“Sabrina Carpenter’s not gonna like that,”

referenced real-life rumors, while Hocevar’s comment on Shane van Gisbergen,

“Why did we not bring SVG?”

alluded to genuine race strategy discussions. Even moments when the drivers lightly tried to avoid Navy Security Forces became playful team-building exercises.

The naval immersion felt authentic as well, with the commanding officer leading an “honor, courage, and commitment” initiation, treating the drivers as actual recruits. Briscoe recounted,

“You belong here with us on this sacred ground,”

words that resonated deeply with the group.

The Broader Impact and Future of NASCAR’s Marketing Innovation

NASCAR invested heavily in the production, incorporating advanced CGI and cinematic techniques to captivate fans and build excitement for the upcoming Coronado race. The drivers were enthusiastic about the promo’s release; Briscoe expressed relief and pride saying he was “Glad that it’s finally out.”

For Briscoe, this project represented more than just a marketing campaign—it signaled a creative shift for NASCAR, blending genuine driver personalities with polished, military-inspired visuals. This fresh approach promises to deepen fan engagement and elevate the sport’s storytelling moving forward.