Chase Briscoe has experienced a notable upswing in his career since joining Joe Gibbs Racing, benefiting from improved equipment, detailed data, and stronger support compared to his time at Stewart-Haas Racing. With a recent victory at Pocono Raceway and holding eighth place in the playoff standings, Briscoe has dispelled early-season doubts. The former #19 car of Martin Truex Jr. has become an ideal match for Briscoe’s driving style.
Since May 11 at Kansas Speedway, Briscoe has recorded the highest average Driver Rating (98.1) of any full-time Cup Series driver, maintaining the series’ top performance for three consecutive months. Behind the wheel of his #19 Camry, he has demonstrated exceptional speed by securing five poles during this period, including three in a row at Charlotte, Nashville, and Michigan, followed by consecutive poles at Indianapolis and Iowa.
Strong Qualifying Results Highlight Consistent Speed
Briscoe’s average starting position of 10.0 tops all drivers this season, marking the first time since Jeff Gordon’s identical average in 2006 that the fastest qualifier did not hold a single-digit average start. This shows Briscoe’s ability to maintain speed beyond what he experienced previously with Stewart-Haas Racing.
However, Richmond Raceway remains a challenge for Briscoe, potentially threatening his momentum. While Martin Truex Jr. secured three wins and averaged a 15.6 finish there last year, Briscoe’s eight starts at Richmond have resulted in no wins or top-10 finishes, with his best performance being an 11th-place finish in 2023 after starting 20th.
Briscoe Acknowledges Richmond Raceway Difficulty but Stays Positive
Despite the track’s difficulty, Briscoe remains hopeful heading into Sunday’s race. He candidly stated,
“I’ve never ran in the top 10 here. It’s been one of my worst tracks. But so is Sonoma, and that was one of the 19’s best tracks, too. So, I don’t know. I feel like it’s been hard for me to even really read into statistics of the past for me, just because it’s so different now, just the potential and the capability of the car.”
—Chase Briscoe, Driver
He also reflected on his progress over recent years:
“This place is definitely been a struggle for me. It’s just been a place I’ve always kind of felt like a fish out of water to a certain extent, but over the course of the last two years, especially, I feel like I made big gains.”
—Chase Briscoe, Driver
Simulator Sessions and Focus for Richmond
To sharpen his performance, Briscoe spent extensive time on the simulator, completing 400 laps to fine-tune his driving lines and mimic the fastest competitors. His immediate objective is to deliver when it counts and improve his results this weekend, aiming to turn his Richmond Raceway struggle into a breakthrough.
Looking Ahead: Potential Turning Point at Richmond Raceway
Briscoe’s surge this season and dedication to improvement suggest he is ready to turn a corner at Richmond Raceway, a track that has challenged him throughout his career. His performance in the upcoming race could mark an important step toward sustaining his playoff momentum and validating the decision to drive the #19 Toyota Camry under Joe Gibbs Racing.