“You have to perform at JGR.”
That’s the brutal reality Chase Briscoe embraced when he signed with Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) in December 2024 to replace Martin Truex Jr. in the No. 19 Toyota Camry. With sky-high expectations and the weight of a legendary team behind him, Briscoe had no time for a learning curve.
And he wasted no time making a statement.
With a lap of 182.745 mph, Briscoe stormed to pole position for the 2025 Daytona 500—a historic moment for both JGR and Toyota.
- First Daytona 500 pole for JGR since 1998 (Bobby Labonte).
- First-ever Toyota pole in NASCAR’s biggest race.
But Briscoe knows better than to celebrate too soon.
“At the end of the day, the pole doesn’t mean a whole lot outside of what it means for your race,” Briscoe told Fox Sports. “You still have to go out there and win.”
So while this pole-winning moment is symbolic, the real test comes on Sunday.
Briscoe’s Pole is Big—But Can He Win the Daytona 500?
Briscoe isn’t naïve.
- A pole means nothing if you don’t finish up front.
- Superspeedway racing is unpredictable.
- One crash, one pit road mistake, and it’s all over.
“I guess it’s good I didn’t screw anything up today,” Briscoe joked. “Because there’s a lot of little things you have to do inside the car to qualify.”
His Daytona 500 record is a mixed bag:
- Best finish: 3rd in 2022 (SHR No. 14 Ford).
- Worst finish: 35th in 2023.
- Finished 10th in 2024.
Now in a top-tier ride, the expectation isn’t just a solid finish—it’s victory.
Briscoe Steps Into Truex Jr.’s Shadow—Time to Prove Himself
This isn’t just any Daytona 500 for JGR’s No. 19 team.
- Briscoe is replacing a former Cup champion in Martin Truex Jr.
- Truex went winless in 2024 and lost his competitive edge.
- Coach Joe Gibbs made it clear—this team needs a reset.
Briscoe is that reset.
And winning the Daytona 500 would instantly justify the team’s faith in him.
Even beyond his own success, Briscoe has extra motivation:
He’ll be racing in honor of Martin Truex Sr., the late father of Martin Truex Jr..
“This race is bigger than me,” Briscoe said. “It’s about representing the No. 19 team and honoring the Truex family.”
A win wouldn’t just be career-defining—it would be deeply meaningful.
Final Verdict—Can Briscoe Deliver for JGR?
Briscoe’s pole run has already made history, but the real story will be told on race day.
- JGR and Toyota are giving him the tools to win.
- He’s shown flashes of superspeedway talent before.
- The pressure is massive—but so is the opportunity.
Briscoe isn’t just racing for himself.
- He’s proving JGR made the right choice.
- He’s stepping into a new role as a leader.
- He’s carrying the weight of the Truex family’s legacy.
And come Sunday, he’ll have the chance to make his mark on NASCAR’s biggest stage.
Will he rise to the occasion? Or will the unpredictable nature of Daytona swallow him whole?
The Great American Race is about to give us an answer.
