“You have to perform at JGR.” That was Chase Briscoe’s blunt assessment when he joined Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) in December 2024. The expectations were high as Briscoe replaced Martin Truex Jr. in the No. 19 Toyota Camry. The pressure to deliver was immense, and the former Stewart-Haas Racing driver made his every move count.
Briscoe made a historic start with JGR as he clinched pole position for the Daytona 500. His lap at 182.745 mph earned JGR its second Daytona 500 pole, the first since Bobby Labonte in 1998. Despite the high start, Briscoe is keeping his expectations in check. While he accepted the importance of pole position, he remained cautious about the main event on Sunday.
Why isn’t Chase Briscoe celebrating the Daytona 500 pole?
Chase Briscoe’s pole-winning run at Daytona was a statement. It was also a breakthrough moment for Toyota, as it was their maiden pole position for the crown jewel NASCAR race. However, Briscoe is not letting this small win get to his head. Speaking with Fox Sports after qualifying, he admitted that he still has a mountain to climb.
“From a confidence standpoint, the team and I still have to execute a little bit. I guess it’s good I didn’t screw anything up today because there’s a lot of little things you have to do inside the car to qualify and just hit. But at the end of the day, the pole doesn’t mean a whole lot outside of what it means for your race. You still have to go out there and win,” Briscoe told Bob Pockrass of Fox Sports. The former SHR driver knows that all it takes is one big crash or a mistake on the pit road for things to go south on a track like Daytona.
Notably, Briscoe’s arrival at Joe Gibbs Racing marks the start of a new era. He is replacing Martin Truex Jr., a former Cup Series champion who lost his mojo to compete at the top level, going winless for the entirety of the 2024 season. The No. 19 team is in dire need of a revamp and now that they’ve found a right suitor, Coach Gibbs is expecting a return on his investment. A win at the Daytona 500 would do wonders for Briscoe, but his record at The Great American Race is pretty inconsistent and bleak.
Chase Briscoe, entering his first Cup points race with his new team at Joe Gibbs Racing, describes what winning the pole earlier this week means for him and the team. @NASCARONFOX pic.twitter.com/4hDZyGWPRz
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) February 16, 2025
This year’s Daytona 500 will mark Briscoe’s fifth start in the prestigious race. In his last four races, he has had a mixed result. His best finish came in 2022 when he finished third driving the No. 14 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford. However, in 2023 he failed to put up a show and finished 35th before returning to the top 10 in 2024. Now, Briscoe will be keen to improve his performance as he starts from the front.
However, the Indiana native knows that anything can happen in a superspeedway race. The Daytona 500 is unpredictable and starting up front doesn’t always translate to success. Still, his pole-winning speed is a promising sign for his future at JGR. Apart from that, Briscoe has another reason to dominate the race. The 30-year-old will be racing to honor Martin Truex Sr., the late father of his predecessor, Martin Truex Jr.
Briscoe’s special tribute to Martin Truex Sr.
Chase Briscoe’s Daytona 500 run with Joe Gibbs Racing is special for more than one reason. While he will run for his maiden Harley J. Earl Trophy, the JGR driver will also pay homage to Martin Truex Sr. Former NASCAR driver who was a respected figure in the racing world. He was a longtime competitor in the Busch North Series and played a key role in Martin Truex Jr.’s rise to NASCAR’s top level.
Earlier this year, Truex Jr. shared the heartbreaking news of his father’s passing and said, “We are devastated by the loss of our father. Simply put, he was our hero.” As fans prepare for the iconic Daytona 500, Joe Gibbs Racing and Briscoe have decided to honor Truex Sr.’s legacy. The No. 19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota Camry will feature his name. NASCAR insider Dustin Long captured the picture of the same and shared it with fans.
#NASCAR … Martin Truex Sr. among those honored on Chase Briscoe’s No. 19 Bass Pro Shops car for the Daytona 500. pic.twitter.com/dQ7fnKcyvf
— Dustin Long (@dustinlong) February 15, 2025
Apart from Briscoe, Martin Truex Jr. will also be paying tribute to his father. He will compete in the Daytona 500 in the No. 56 car, which his father used in his 15 NASCAR Xfinity Series starts. Seeing the No. 56 back on track will be an emotional moment for the Truex family and the entire NASCAR community.
Speaking about his father, Truex Jr. said, “Everything I’ve ever learned, you know, was from him. He was my hero growing up and still is. He made a lot of things happen for me, and taught me a lot of things about racing, and really, the opportunity to get here and be able to do what I’ve accomplished is all because of him and his sacrifices. So hopefully, we’ll go win this thing for him on Sunday.” However, as the green flag drops on the 2025 Daytona 500, Briscoe will lead the field from the pole position. Joe Gibbs Racing would expect him to come back with a historic win.
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