Martin Truex Jr. has called it quits on NASCAR. The 2017 Cup Series Champion wants more personal time, which is why he will be stepping down from his full-time position at Joe Gibbs Racing. Although he has decided to walk away, he will make appearances as a part-time driver. The first race he will compete in during 2025 will be the Daytona 500, and fans cannot wait to see how he performs.

Truex Jr. has also made it into the playoffs, but after two difficult races, he finds himself at the bottom of the playoff standings. At Atlanta, he got wrecked, and despite trying to fight his way through, he ultimately finished the race thirty-fifth. The Glen improved his result, but not enough to crack the top 12. Bristol could be Truex Jr.’s last race as a full-time driver unless he wins. Meanwhile, Chase Briscoe, set to replace Truex in 2025, remains safe in the playoffs. Bob Pockrass asked Briscoe how he feels about possibly eliminating Truex at Bristol, and here’s what the SHR driver said.

Chase Briscoe is stuck between a rock and a hard place

Someone might get hurt, and it will be because of Briscoe’s actions. He has a commitment to his current team, but as he will be going to Joe Gibbs Racing, eliminating their veteran driver is not a good look. At Darlington, Briscoe surprised everyone by beating Kyle Busch to the finish, but now the question remains: will he be able to do the same to Truex Jr.?

Bob Pockrass wanted to get to the bottom of this, and when he met Chase Briscoe, he asked him, “Yeah, Chase, is it weird at all? Or will it be weird if it comes down to you and the 19?” To this Briscoe replied, “It’s just kind of ironic, right? The stories kind of write themselves, I feel like, at this point.”

Acknowledging that it would be odd for him, he addressed what everyone was thinking, saying, “I guess that, you know, us making it is probably going to knock out a Gibbs car, more than likely.” As of now, he is still with Stewart-Haas Racing and has commitments to the team, but considering that eliminating Truex Jr. could hurt his future team, he finds himself at a crossroads.

Making a bold statement about the team he will join next year, Briscoe stated, “I’m not worried about the 19 team or Joe Gibbs Racing or anything like that. So yeah, if it ends up knocking the 19 out, I apologize to those guys, but I’m doing what’s best for me and my team right now.”

Next year, Chase Briscoe will be heading to the Joe Gibbs Racing garage, and the crew there will become his family. Based on that, Bob Pockrass wondered if the driver had interacted with his future team.

How well does Chase Briscoe know his future Joe Gibbs Racing crew?

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After hearing that Briscoe is committed to his current team, Bob Pockrass wanted to know more. The reporter then asked him, “Have you had much interaction with those guys over the last month or since the announcement? Has it been pretty—you’re in your spot, and they’re in their spot?”

Briscoe explained the situation, saying, “Truthfully, before the playoffs started, it was kind of one of those things—hey, you know, if you don’t make the playoffs, you can kind of start coming around here a little bit more, getting to know the guys.”

He noted that on Wednesdays and Thursdays, he is free from his duties with SHR, so he would have spent time getting to know the team, but since he won at Darlington, that was no longer possible. Briscoe still interacts with his future team at the racetrack, as they exchange greetings with each other.

In addition, he also receives a message from James Small, the No. 19 crew chief, at the end of each weekend, which keeps them in touch. Although the communication is brief, both parties are looking forward to working together. However, Briscoe is concerned for his current crew members, as although he is in the safe zone, Bristol could change everything.

With that said, do you think that Chase Briscoe will eliminate Martin Truex Jr. while advancing to the Top 12? Share your thoughts in the comments below.