Chase Briscoe has commented on the conflict between his Joe Gibbs Racing teammates, Denny Hamlin and Ty Gibbs, which unfolded last week at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. In his first season with the team, the Mitchell native expressed hope that relations among the drivers will improve moving forward, emphasizing the need for stronger collaboration within the team.
While the incident between Hamlin and Gibbs highlighted tension, rivals Ryan Blaney and Joey Logano of Team Penske demonstrated seamless teamwork at New Hampshire. Their coordination contributed to Blaney’s third win this season and Logano securing his sixth top-five finish. Briscoe praised their cooperation, stating:
“Look at Penske right? They’re probably the best example of just how to help each other out. They know that the more they can help each other the better it’s going to be for all of them. It’s something that truthfully we probably haven’t done the greatest job at.” – Chase Briscoe
In contrast, Hamlin, who has yet to secure a championship despite his long tenure, was vying for his first title but was spun out by Gibbs—a move that many considered excessive. Hamlin called for intervention from JGR leadership and openly criticized Gibbs on his Actions Detrimental podcast. After multiple team discussions, Hamlin admitted he may have been too harsh in his remarks, and both drivers now appear ready to work together more effectively.
Supporting this outlook, Briscoe added:
“I certainly think that things will be different going forward for us, you know, just the teammate side of things, just trying to make it easier for all of us, right?…It’s unfortunate that stuff has to happen, but typically, when you have to have tough conversations, you know, things are normally for the better going forward.” – Chase Briscoe
During the race, Gibbs’ day ended prematurely while Hamlin managed to finish 12th. Briscoe crossed the finish line in 10th place, marking his 16th top-10 of the season. Currently, Hamlin holds a 27-point lead over the playoff cutoff, with Briscoe maintaining a 12-point margin.
Briscoe Aims To Capitalize After Securing Kansas Pole Position
Briscoe earned the pole position for the upcoming race at Kansas Speedway, achieving his seventh pole win of the 2025 season. He stood out as the only driver to complete a lap in under 30 seconds during qualifying. Joining him on the front row is teammate Denny Hamlin, with Kyle Larson and Chase Elliott starting the second row.
Briscoe stressed the critical role of track position at Kansas, explaining the importance of a strong start:
“Tomorrow, track position is going to be a big key, and for us to start out front and be able to get stage points is the biggest component of these Playoffs, so as long as we do our job and execute, at least the first stage we should get points and hopefully keep it up there all day long.” – Chase Briscoe
“We’ve been really solid. We haven’t run outside the top-10 in the Playoffs yet, and we’re on the cutline, that’s the crazy thing.” – Chase Briscoe
With a win at Kansas, Briscoe has the opportunity to qualify directly for the next playoff round. To date, Ryan Blaney remains the sole driver to secure a spot in the Round of 8 after his victory in New Hampshire.
Upcoming Hollywood Casino 400 Signals Critical Moment for Drivers
The drivers will next compete in the Hollywood Casino 400, a 267-lap race scheduled for Sunday, September 28, at Kansas Speedway. The event holds significant playoff implications and will be broadcast on the USA Network beginning at 3 pm ET, with live radio coverage available on MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, Channel 90.
Briscoe’s focus on improving teamwork with his JGR colleagues following the recent discord underlines the tense atmosphere within the team as they approach this pivotal stretch of the season. How effectively they resolve their internal issues could influence their performance and chances of advancing deeper into the playoffs.
