Joe Gibbs Racing felt the effects of the hurricane “silly season” two weeks ago. The team’s highly regarded veteran driver, Martin Truex Jr., announced that 2024 would be his last full-time year. But when one door closes, another opens. A top-performing driver from the now-shuttered Stewart-Haas Racing team is ready to take Truex’s place.
Chase Briscoe’s resume is impressive. He earned his first Cup victory in 2022 at Phoenix and made it to the final eight in just his second year competing in NASCAR’s premier series. Briscoe recently suffered a stroke, but with his right hand he’s capable of incredible things, and Martin Truex Jr. believes it’s possible at JGR.
Martin Truex Jr hails his Cup colleague
The 2017 Cup Series champion won 15 races in the past six seasons with Joe Gibbs. Until 2020, Martin Truex Jr. had a notable relationship with crew chief Cole Pearn. But his closest racetrack colleague had a special relationship. James Small and Truex became known for their fierce arguments and stern communication.
Now, as Martin Truex Jr. prepares to leave his home at Joe Gibbs Racing, Small will continue to serve as crew chief for the No. 19 car. And Truex is confident that Chase Briscoe will excel in his new role. Speaking to reporters before the race in Nashville, Truex said he’s happy with his successor. “I think it’s a great opportunity for him. In sports, a lot of it comes down to timing and being in the right place at the right time.
And he’s going to have a great team to look after and protect.” Martin Truex Jr. has a high opinion of Briscoe’s crew chief and believes Briscoe will be a capable man to lead him to glory. “I think this is big. James is really good at what he does. He’s going to give Chase a chance to win a lot of races. He’s easy to get along with and works hard. There’s no reason not to keep this. It’s a tribute to the eight wins that the No. 19 driver and crew chief have achieved together.” Now, Chase Briscoe may be able to reach his full potential under Small’s capable leadership.
Following Martin Truex Jr.’s confidence, team owner Joe Gibbs and Briscoe’s major sponsors also expressed their confidence in Briscoe.
The SHR driver is expected to take JGR to new heights
After Martin Truex Jr. announced his departure, Joe Gibbs faced a dilemma. The No. 19 car had a particularly big challenge, and Gibbs wanted an experienced driver. Therefore, Chase Briscoe was a natural choice. Although he only won one Cup race in 129 starts, his 2019 Xfinity performance was outstanding with 10 wins. Joe Gibbs therefore emphasized that Briscoe’s selection was the result of careful consideration. “Of course, we do a lot of research before choosing a driver, but throughout the process, everything kept leading us to Chase. With James (Small)’s leadership, Chase’s direction, and the support of Bass Pro and, of course, Toyota, we couldn’t be more excited about the future of our 19-man team.”
Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris also trusted Briscoe’s talent. “As we expand our relationship with Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota and Chase Briscoe, we are proud to represent athletes from all over North America.”
Chase Briscoe is clearly receiving a lot of interest from future employers. Now we can only wait to see how he uses his driving talents to impress the JGR community.
