Chase Briscoe, known as the No. 19 driver, continues to face challenges on road courses despite his enthusiasm for them. Over his NASCAR Cup career, which peaked last year with a top-four finish, Briscoe has participated in 30 road course events. His results show only two top-five finishes and nine within the top ten, with an average finish position of 18.4. Nevertheless, Briscoe maintains a strong liking for competing on these technical circuits.
During a recent stop in Austin to promote the First Responders Appreciation Weekend at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA), Briscoe reflected on his connection with road-course racing. He expressed a genuine passion for the demanding nature of these tracks, even as his results have yet to consistently match his oval performances.
Enjoying the Challenge of Technical Tracks
Briscoe revealed his fondness for road racing began early in his career, despite early struggles with pace and technique. He stated,
“I surprisingly love road courses. It’s something that even at the beginning of my career, I loved going to them. I was just four or five seconds off the pace, and I had no clue where to get faster. And then I went and did a lot of road course racing and just kind of started to understand what I needed to be doing different. And I love road course racing now. It’s one of my favorite things to do,”
highlighting his gradual learning curve and passion.
The Indiana native noted that the arrival of competitors like Shane van Gisbergen in the field has added to the challenge, joking that it has made victories harder to secure. Still, Briscoe appreciates road circuits because he feels these tracks give drivers a better chance to influence their performance directly through technique and strategy.
Specifically, Briscoe enjoys the COTA track despite a modest record there—with an average finish of 15.6 after five starts and only one top-ten result. He is a fan of the layout in Austin, which is also home to Formula 1’s United States Grand Prix, making it a prominent venue within motorsports.
One difficulty he mentioned involves enforcement of track limits on COTA’s complex S-curves following the first hairpin. Briscoe pointed out that the gray area around corner cutting in these sections creates frustration during races due to inconsistent officiating.
Performance Gains After Switching to Joe Gibbs Racing
Briscoe’s move from Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) to Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) in 2025 proved pivotal in improving his road course results. The upgrade in equipment and team support helped raise his competitiveness across all types of tracks, including technical road courses. Prior to this transition, SHR’s struggles in its later years limited Briscoe’s ability to develop fully as a road racer.
Last season, Briscoe demonstrated more consistent speed and results, achieving three top-ten finishes in six road-course races. Notably, at Sonoma Raceway, Briscoe started in second position and managed to hold that spot through the finish, marking one of his strongest road course performances.
During the Mexico City race, he began in 19th but impressively climbed to seventh by the end. Before joining JGR, Briscoe described his road course outings as “hit-or-miss,” either excelling or falling short. However, his recent progress suggests a more reliable and competitive future on road courses.
Outlook for Briscoe’s Road Course Future
As Briscoe heads into the 2026 season, hope remains high for continued improvement on road courses. His dedication to mastering the complexities of these tracks, combined with stronger equipment from JGR, positions him as a determined contender capable of better finishes. Briscoe’s passion for road racing and growing experience offer optimism that the challenging circuits, once a source of frustration, could soon become places where he regularly shines.
