Chase Briscoe climbed from his Bass Pro Shops Toyota and knelt in prayer amidst a cloud of still lingering smoke from his victory burnout. After a moment, he climbed atop the black and orange #19 to a roar of applause from the 150,000 Talladega faithful in attendance. The 30-year-old driver from Mitchell, Indiana, had just won the biggest race of his career to lock himself into the championship race at Phoenix International Raceway in two weeks.

Just sixteen months ago, when Joe Gibbs Racing announced Briscoe as the replacement for Martin Truex Jr, who retired at the end of 2024, some were surprised. Many felt the hiring was to keep the seat warm until the much-anticipated free agency that is expected after the 2026 season. However, as the 2026 season comes to a close, few remain who still hold that viewpoint. Briscoe has had a breakout season, winning three races, seven poles, and leading the series with fifteen top-five finishes while being arguably one of the best teams in the series since late summer.

Time will tell what the remainder of 2025 holds, but with Briscoe’s previous success at Phoenix, it’s hard to say that he’s at any disadvantage heading into the championship race. That’s a pretty big deal for a guy who was concerned his career would be over if he didn’t find a way to win a race and make the playoffs this year.