Chase Briscoe runs the high side of Turn 1 during the Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400 at Dover Motor Speedway. (Photo: Josh Jones | The Podium Finish)
DOVER, Del. — When former NASCAR Cup Series Champion Martin Truex Jr. retired from full-time competition at the end of the 2024 season, there was questions on how the No. 19 team would perform at certain tracks, such as Dover Motor Speedway. Chase Briscoe answered those questions when he wheeled his Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota Camry to an amazing result of second on Sunday afternoon.
To begin the weekend, Cup Series qualifying was rained out, so the No. 19 started from the front row based on points and their finishing position at Sonoma Raceway the previous week. Even with no on-track time in his first take with JGR at Dover, Briscoe fit right in with the rest of the front runners.
From the first lap of the Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400, the 31-year-old driver held on to the top five for the first 70 laps of the race. But as the tires began to wear out on the No. 19 machine, Briscoe slowly faded to the middle of the top ten.
By the end of Stage 1, Briscoe had moved himself into 6th on the running order, giving his JGR team a good understanding that more long run speed was going to be the key to victory on a sunny afternoon in Delaware.
For the rest of Stage 2 and most of Stage 3, Briscoe held his ground, keeping a close eye on the top five while staying inside the top ten for the entire run. It was looking like a good top ten finish was in order for Briscoe, but his fortune would change for the better right before the end of the show.
With 14 laps remaining, NASCAR officials were forced to throw a caution, eventually waving the red flag for rain. Briscoe at time, didn’t think this would change his fate if NASCAR resumed the race, but with a very good strategy call from crew chief James Small, the entire day flipped for the JGR No. 19 crew.
Chase Briscoe (bottom) battles with JGR teammate Denny Hamlin (top) for the win at Dover Motor Speedway during the Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400. (Photo: Declan Wayman | The Podium Finish)
Briscoe, once the race resumed from the weather delay, came down pit road for fresh Goodyear tires, giving himself a massive advantage over the top eight drivers who chose to stay out for track position. On the following restart, the veteran driver made a spectacular move in Turns 1 and 2 on the outside lane to move up to the top five. Another caution was thrown for an incident involving JGR teammate Christopher Bell, allowing Briscoe to restart closer to eventual race-winner Denny Hamlin.
On the first overtime attempt, Briscoe moved his way into the runner-up position behind Hamlin when another caution was thrown for Zane Smith spinning out on the backstretch. This gave the No. 19 team a huge break, and the opportunity to win, but the No. 11 Progressive Toyota was too fast when it mattered most.
On the last overtime start, Briscoe went even into Turn 1 with Hamlin, but the outside prevailed yet again and Hamlin secured his fourth win on the 2025 campaign, forcing the native of Indiana to take a 2nd-place result.
“I mean you’re always on the hot seat, but it feels like I definitely have some more confidence now,” said Briscoe in his post-race comments. The driver out of Mitchell, Indiana, was in an intense state when talking about having your job on the line, knowing there was a ton of pressure on him to perform well with his new No. 19 crew at Dover, but also all around the NASCAR Cup Series schedule.
“I’m comfortable where I’m at and as long as I can keep doing what I’m doing, there’s no reason why they (Joe Gibbs Racing) would get rid of me. So, I just need to continue to be battling for race wins and obviously get in victory lane.” Briscoe was not thrilled with the runner-up effort, but he knows he is doing his job when he is up front competing for a victory every Sunday.
The No. 19 JGR team will be on track this coming weekend, running on sacred ground that means a lot to Briscoe. That track is Indianapolis Motor Speedway, for the famous Brickyard 400.
