Chase Briscoe has demonstrated remarkable qualifying success this NASCAR season, solidifying his reputation with an extraordinary string of pole positions. As the NASCAR schedule reaches Iowa Speedway in 2025, Briscoe is set to take the pole position once again, marking his sixth pole start among 22 races. This exceptional qualifying streak highlights a significant turning point in his career and showcases the driver’s evolving edge on the track.
How Briscoe’s Team Change Has Fueled Qualifying Excellence
Briscoe’s qualifying performance in 2025 has been especially notable given his recent move to Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR), where he now drives the No. 19 car. This transition came after Martin Truex Jr., a seasoned NASCAR Cup Champion, retired from the seat last season. Briscoe’s newfound access to superior equipment has played a key role in his turnaround, as JGR is known for consistently delivering fast and competitive cars. Truex himself had earned ten poles in five seasons with JGR, but Briscoe has already surpassed that pace in his first year with the team. This season’s poles include a historic streak: starting with the Daytona 500, followed by qualifying first three races in a row at Charlotte, Nashville, and Michigan, then adding the Brickyard 400 and now Iowa.
Briscoe’s Own Take on His Qualifying Improvements
Despite the upgrade in machinery, Briscoe insists his personal approach to qualifying has remained consistent over his Cup career. Explaining the root of his qualifying success, he shared,
The race cars are really good, truthfully. And I felt like my entire career, even at SHR, we’d always kind of over-exceed where we should probably qualify, and qualifying has been, I feel, my strongest thing. And now I’m just in a race car that lets me go run really fast lap times. I don’t do anything different from what I have been doing the last four years of my Cup career. It’s just now my cars are faster.
—Chase Briscoe, NASCAR Driver
This comment reflects a sense of validation as he continues to harness his innate qualifying skill with improved equipment. His ability to extract speed from the car remains a defining trait even as the vehicle beneath him has significantly advanced.
From Struggles at Stewart-Haas Racing to Success at JGR
Briscoe’s early years in the NASCAR Cup Series, beginning in 2021, were marked by challenges, particularly during his tenure at Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR). Despite decent individual talent, SHR’s overall performance declined during his time there, managing only five wins among four full-time drivers. The team’s struggles meant Briscoe’s efforts were often unsupported by optimal resources. In contrast, JGR has established itself as one of NASCAR’s top teams for close to a decade, never concluding a season with fewer than six victories. This season is no exception, with the team already recording eight wins. Harnessing JGR’s consistently high-performing infrastructure has clearly elevated Briscoe’s results across qualifying and races alike.
What Lies Ahead for Briscoe at Iowa Speedway
With six poles to his name in 2025, including the one he will start from at Iowa Speedway, the pressure is now on Briscoe to translate his qualifying dominance into more race wins and possibly extend JGR’s already impressive winning count this season. Iowa is a favored track for Briscoe, adding another layer of expectation and excitement around his performance there. Observers and fans alike will be watching closely to see if Briscoe can continue capitalizing on his qualifying speed to secure a victory and further cement his growing stature within NASCAR’s elite ranks.