Chase Briscoe Secures Unlikely Victory at Pocono Raceway
Chase Briscoe clinched his first win with Joe Gibbs Racing and the third of his career under dramatic circumstances at Pocono Raceway on Sunday afternoon. The victory came after a critical miscalculation during a late-race pit stop that left Briscoe and his crew unsure of their fuel situation.
Briscoe’s tense moment occurred on lap 120 of 160 when he exited his pit stall prematurely, prematurely assuming he had sufficient fuel in his Toyota Camry. Crew Chief James Small attempted to communicate a warning, but Briscoe, misled by engine noise, accelerated away, leading Small to shout, “We are [expletive] on fuel, Chase.”
This miscommunication coincided with a caution on lap 125, which positioned Briscoe at the front for a 30-lap sprint to the finish. As the race progressed, Briscoe managed to conserve fuel under pressure from teammate Denny Hamlin, who, despite running in dirty air, applied consistent pressure on the leader.
Against the odds, Briscoe ultimately crossed the finish line, demonstrating remarkable fuel management, and even had enough fuel left to perform a celebratory burnout after the cool-down lap.
Reflecting on the unexpected victory, Briscoe admitted, “I’m still in shock… I fully expected to run out of fuel.” He described a constant sense of impending failure as he navigated the final laps, noting, “I was waiting for it to stumble off of Turn 1 and Turn 2.”
According to Small, the initial pit stop misstep could have resulted in a nine-lap deficit without the caution that altered the strategy. “I was shocked that we made it, to be honest," Small stated, praising Briscoe’s adaptability during the race. “He did an excellent job just managing that.”
Briscoe’s victory underscores critical lessons in fuel management for the team, as they reflect on a successful strategy at a race that could have easily ended in disappointment. His victory also marks a pivotal moment in his partnership with JGR, suggesting promising prospects for the remainder of the season.
