Joe Gibbs Racing Makes It Official
Photo Credit: Al Wheeler/Joe Gibbs Racing
It was supposed to be a secret until Joe Gibbs Racing driver Christopher Bell accidentally let the cat out of the bag last weekend at New Hampshire Motor Speedway..
Tuesday, the team owner himself made it official by announcing that Chase Briscoe will replace Martin Truex, Jr. in the team’s No. 19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota in NASCAR’s Cup Series beginning in 2025.
“I think it’s the worst kept secret in the sport for a while now,” Briscoe said. “Christopher, I guess, just couldn’t hold it in any longer. But yeah, super exciting to come to an organization where I feel like it matches my values and just the culture over here is different than wherever I’ve been before.
“It starts at the top with Joe, Dave (Alpern, president, Joe Gibbs Racing), Heather Gibbs (co-owner, Joe Gibbs Racing) and everybody.
“It's been fun for a couple weeks now to learn that side of them and see what makes them as successful as they are. That's the thing I'm excited about to come over next year and try to just add to that in any capacity I can.
“Obviously, they have amazing race cars, amazing people over here and then to do it with an iconic brand like Bass Pro Shops,” Briscoe continued. “I'm an outdoorsman myself. I love hunting and fishing. Literally, my son and I fish almost every single day.
“It's obviously big shoes to fill. Martin is an incredible race car driver, first-ballot Hall-of-Famer in my opinion. When he came over here, I think he had two wins, before he went to Furniture Row and Joe Gibbs, and that’s kind of the same situation I’m in right now, so hopefully I can have the same type of career as Martin where this was the skyrocket for him and hopefully be here for a really long time.”
Photo Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
According to team owner Gibbs, Briscoe’s background was a deciding factor in his decision to bring him into the team.
“Here’s the deal that I thought really rang true on Chase. When you’re doing this, it’s a really huge deal for us. Our company, the people that work for us. It becomes a huge decision. We went through this for months and we talked to I don’t know how many people that could potentially come to our car. And so, what really hit all of us with Chase and his background. You can go back and look at Xfinity, he won nine races that year (2020). And some of the other things he’s done, he’s already won in Cup.
“But to hear him sit and talk about his background and the sacrifices he made to race. I think that hit Johnny (Morris, founder, majority owner and CEO, Bass Pro Shops). I think Chase is a big outdoors guy. He has a fishpond in the back of his house there, so they shared a lot there, too. I think his story and how much he’s sacrificed to do what he does was really impressive. I know it impressed me.
“But also, we have to win, and we came down to the end, we think Chase can win. That's where we are and it’s a thrill for us to have him come onboard and he’ll take over the 19 car after this year.”
In addition to his background, Gibbs said Briscoe’s character was also important.
“When it comes to picking talent and you come from a football background with the draft and everything, the most important thing we do is our people and the people you have on your team. For us, it always starts with character. You're always looking at what type of person you’re getting.
“And the thing that is different about our sport is that these guys have to represent companies and they represent us. I've always really respected the drivers in NASCAR because you just don’t find people getting in trouble. It's a very high standard, so that’s what we always start with and you’re looking at, because it’s so important and you just think about Bass Pro Shops and the fact that Chase will be representing them. That's such a big deal for us and so, our drivers, we feel like character, and then of course that comes with us is we have to win.
“None of our sponsors say to us, ‘we’re good with running in the back’,” Gibbs continued. “You have to compete; we want to win. And so, then it starts into the talent. I think it’s never easy and it’s complicated when we pick people or somebody like this to take over for us on our race team. Huge deal for us.
“Christopher (Bell) was able to help me a little bit with Chase. I think he slept on Christopher’s couch, he was knocking on doors for three years. When you hear his story, there’s a miracle in there that really happened for him to get a chance for that Xfinity (Series) year. I actually met already with that person, and he told me this story, and it’s a crazy deal, he walked out of the store and Chase’s dad was there and started a conversation, which is crazy. I think it’s a good example of God putting his hand out. So, I think it’s the most important thing we do, is the people who work on our team and certainly felt Chase fit that for us.”
Christopher Bell (left) and Chase Briscoe
Photo Credit: Icon Sportswire // Getty Images
Bell and Briscoe go way back with each other and have become fast friends. If it wasn’t for Bell, Briscoe doesn’t think he’d be in NASCAR today.
“Yeah if it wasn’t for Christopher, I don’t know if I’d be in NASCAR period. Christopher was obviously with Toyota and I’ve known Christopher since I was probably 12-years-old. We started racing online together and formed this friendship and lived together for a little bit.
“Back on 2015, I want to say it was, he called me and said Roush-Fenway Racing had offered him a deal for a development driver and he wasn’t going to take it, so I got the name from him and walked in the front door of Roush-Fenway and said ‘I need to talk to this guy.’ Somehow got a meeting, and that was the whole meeting that started me getting an opportunity in motorsports.
“And then, same thing, with this, Christopher texted me the week of SHR (Stewart-Haas Racing) shutting down and he said ‘Hey, I think Martin might not be coming back. You need to be wearing them out over there.’ So he’s been a huge part of my career.”
Photo Credit: Sean Gardner // Getty Images
As far as team culture goes, Briscoe feels Joe Gibbs Racing will be a perfect fit for him.
“I think just how Joe is as a person. It starts at the top. The faith part of it was big, and obviously they want to do everything they can to win, but I feel like they do it the right way here.
“Out of all the teams that I met with; Joe was the only team that never said what can you bring. They just wanted me for me, and that meant a lot to me personally. They felt that strongly about me in the car and the other teams – Joe was the one that called me two-to-three times a day and reassure me how bad they wanted me in the car. That just made a difference for me personally, because it honestly helped my confidence in the race car – just knowing that he believed in me that much – and I haven’t even driven a race over here yet, so from that stand point, that was really important to me.
“And the culture and the faith side of it, how Joe is and even when we’ve been flying all over the place – he prays before we take off – and just things like that, that mean a lot to me personally. I definitely felt like from a culture standpoint it was a great fit. I just felt like what I believe in and how I try to go about everything, it was a perfect fit.”
Briscoe is well aware of whose shoes he’s stepping into and the pressure he’ll be facing to win.
“I mean, I think there’s pressure to perform coming over here (Joe Gibbs Racing) in the first place, doesn’t matter who’s driving it, whether it’s Martin or whoever. This car is capable of winning. So, that’s the one thing with this opportunity as well is if I don’t win, my career’s over, so I have to go win and prove my worth.
“I don’t think it changes with who you’re replacing. I think it’s kind of ironic, I was a diehard Tony Stewart fan and I'm doing the reverse Tony Stewart, going from SHR to Gibbs versus Gibbs to SHR.
“Yeah, I don’t think it matters who you’re replacing. But it is nice to know the car is fully capable, right? Martin’s won championships and in contention to win and won the regular season (championship) last year. So yeah, I think as a driver, you think you can get the job done and it doesn’t matter who you’re replacing, but it’s nice to know you’re coming into a situation that’s obviously proven.”