Before the Darlington win, Chase Briscoe was just another face in the crowd—except for Joe Gibbs Racing. No one really saw him as a threat, let alone someone who could tame the ‘Lady in Black.’ But then he showed up, buckled in, and put on a clinic. Not even Kyle Larson could help but tip his hat to the #14 driver after that jaw-dropping run at the Southern 500.

Now, it’s crystal clear why JGR pounced on the chance to sign him for their #19 Toyota. Sure, JGR’s had its share of bumps this season, but they’re still a force to be reckoned with. And Briscoe? He’s already shown the team owners and sponsors what he’s made of, even before stepping into their car. But in true Briscoe fashion, he’s keeping his head down and his focus on SHR until the time comes to make the switch.

How did JGR show up on Chase Briscoe’s cards?

No one other than the owners is likely to have had any idea before May that Stewart–Haas Racing will be shutting its doors after the 2024 season. The shock that it must have been for the entire team is understandable. But there was one guy who turned out to be unfettered by the news. Chase Briscoe got poached by JGR within days after SHR’s retirement news got out.

As we know, Martin Truex Jr. is running his last season, and there was an inevitable vacancy in the #19 car. When Briscoe’s name appeared on the market, Joe Gibbs couldn’t wait to personally call him up and finalize the deal. So much so that the 30-year-old driver didn’t even get a chance to consult his idol before shaking hands with the JGR owner.

Kevin Harvick asked Briscoe about his decision to move to JGR, to which he responded, “From the day we shut down till to the day I signed at JGR was six days. So, it happened super super quickly and I called Tony the day that I found out that I had signed something. It was the next day, actually.”

Briscoe made the best call he could in a tough situation. Faced with uncertainty, he jumped at the chance and got right back to business. That’s probably what’s kept him in the game this season. Sure, switching from Ford to Toyota after so many years behind the blue oval—since his Xfinity days—will be a challenge, but Briscoe will cross that bridge when he gets there. But will it be easy for Briscoe to say goodbye to his dream car?

“I was wanting some advice,” said Briscoe

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Most people wouldn’t have even properly grasped the situation of SHR’s closure when Chase Briscoe already had another contract in hand. To Harvick’s question of whether he sought advice before his decision, Briscoe shared, “I called him and I said ‘Hey, look I was trying to talk to you at the shop the other day,’ I was wanting some advice.” But he never got the advice and only an elated Tony Stewart.

When Briscoe told Stewart about his new contract, Stewart was over the moon. He said, “Man, that’s the coolest thing I’ve heard all year long.” In retrospect, Briscoe exclaims, “So, yeah, I didn’t talk to him about it but obviously, worked out.” It is bound to work out for the people who put in all the efforts to make things work.

As for the transition, Harvick had some insights: “I know one thing is for sure. You’re gonna go from a pretty intense crew chief to another really intense crew chief.” Enter James Small, the first full-time Australian crew chief at JGR, who made waves by winning the 2013 Bathurst 1000 and steering the #19 driver to 11 victory lanes during his tenure. What the Briscoe-Small duo has in store for 2025 is anyone’s guess, but it’s bound to be interesting. What are your thoughts? Share in the comments below!