When Chase Briscoe first sat down for lunch with James Small, he thought he was just meeting his new crew chief. What he didn’t realize was that he was about to embark on a full-blown lifestyle transformation—one that would alter his eating habits, his fitness regimen, and possibly the trajectory of his NASCAR career.
Briscoe, who was announced last June as the driver of the No. 19 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing, quickly learned that working with Small wasn’t just about tightening up his racecraft—it was about tightening up everything. From that very first meal, Small made it clear that change was coming.
Fried Food? Forget About It. Small Demanded Full Buy-In.
“It was one of the first conversations,” Briscoe recalled during Daytona 500 Media Day. “James and I went to lunch, and he ordered this super-healthy bowl, and I ordered this fried stuff. He was like, ‘That’s going to change.’”
Briscoe, an old-school, eat-whatever’s-on-the-menu kind of guy, admitted that before linking up with Small, he never touched fruits or vegetables, avoided workouts, and lived on fried food. But Small, a fitness fanatic, wouldn’t have it.
“James is super into fitness; he and his wife are diehard,” Briscoe said. “He wanted to know my approach to it, and when I told him, ‘I eat all fried food, and I don’t work out,’ he was like, ‘Well, we need to change that. I want you to be 100% in the race car at all times, and if I’m putting 100% in on my end, I want to know that you’re 100% bought in, too.’”
The message was clear—Small wasn’t just building a fast race car; he was building a stronger, more disciplined driver.
The Secret Weapon? A Crew Chief’s Wife Turned Trainer
Enter Kat Sims, Small’s wife, who immediately took on the role of Briscoe’s personal trainer and nutritionist. Suddenly, skipping workouts or sneaking in junk food wasn’t an option.
“It’s been good for me, truthfully, to have his wife do it, because it holds me way more accountable,” Briscoe admitted. “If I don’t do it, James instantly knows.”
There was no room for shortcuts—no hiding behind vague “team programs” or optional workouts. Under Sims’ strict guidance, Briscoe saw results almost immediately, shedding nearly 10 pounds in the first few weeks.
“I’d be lying if I said I was perfect at it,” Briscoe admitted. “I did really well for three or four weeks and lost almost 10 pounds, then I plateaued. But that’s where it came from—this is such a big part of James’ life that he wanted me to be the same.”
From Fitness Regimen to Fastest Qualifier: Briscoe’s Breakthrough at Daytona
The results of Briscoe’s commitment were undeniable. On Wednesday night, he and Small made a statement—securing the Daytona 500 pole, a first for Briscoe, Small, and Toyota. Even more remarkably, it marked Joe Gibbs Racing’s first pole at the Great American Race since 1998.
What started as a simple meal has evolved into a career-defining shift for Briscoe. He’s no longer just a talented driver with potential—he’s now an elite competitor, fully invested in his craft, both inside and outside the car.
And if his record-breaking pole position is any indication, that investment is already paying off in a big way.
