Chase Briscoe claimed a hard-fought and emotional victory in Sunday’s Great American Getaway 400 Presented by VISITPA.COM at Pocono Raceway, notching his first win of the 2025 season and his third career Cup Series victory in 161 starts.
Behind the wheel of the No. 19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing, Briscoe finally delivered on the promise that brought him to one of NASCAR’s most prestigious teams. The win marks his first top-10 finish at Pocono in six attempts and comes in front of a sold-out crowd at the Tricky Triangle.
“I wasn’t driving hard. I wasn’t on the ragged edge,” Briscoe said in Victory Lane. “It was so hard to have a guy like [Denny Hamlin] – probably the greatest of all time at Pocono – chasing me while I’m trying to save fuel.”
Briscoe executed what he called the most disciplined stint of his racing career. Known for occasionally overdriving and pushing the limit, the 30-year-old Indiana native credited a calmer approach to his success.
“My dad always tells me, ‘Slow down and you’ll probably go faster,’” he said with a smile. “Turns out, he was right.”
Denny Hamlin, Briscoe’s JGR teammate and a six-time Pocono winner, finished a close second, logging his 24th top-10 at the track and ninth of the season. Ryan Blaney followed in third, continuing his own strong run at Pocono with an eighth career top-10 at the venue.
Meanwhile, rookie Shane Van Gisbergen came home in 31st, the top-finishing first-year driver on a challenging day for newcomers.
With this win, Briscoe adds his name to the elite list of drivers who have brought home a Cup Series victory for Joe Gibbs Racing, a moment that carried deep personal meaning for the lifelong fan.
“I literally grew up racing my sprint car video game in a Joe Gibbs Home Depot uniform,” Briscoe said. “For Coach [Gibbs] to take a chance on me, it means everything. This is the most rewarding win of my life.”
Briscoe now has eight top-10s in 2025, and Sunday’s result could mark a pivotal turning point in a season that’s been filled with near-misses and learning curves.
William Byron remains atop the Cup Series standings, holding a 54-point lead over Kyle Larson as the series barrels into the summer stretch.
For Briscoe, Sunday wasn’t just a race win – it was validation, redemption, and the payoff of relentless perseverance.
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