Chase Briscoe’s NASCAR Cup Series season continued to unravel at Phoenix, where he suffered another disappointing exit, adding to his early 2026 struggles. As a key driver for Joe Gibbs Racing, Briscoe’s season began on a troubled note, failing to finish in the top 30 in three of the first four races, with Phoenix marking his second consecutive race cut short by a crash.
While many anticipated Phoenix to serve as a turning point for Briscoe, the race instead proved painful, complicated further by widespread tire issues impacting several drivers during the event. His crash in Stage 2, captured in a video posted by the Rubbin is Racing account on X, drew sympathy from fans and the racing community alike.
Briscoe’s Response to the Phoenix Incident
After the crash, Briscoe responded candidly on social media, briefly but pointedly conveying his frustration with four simple words: “It hurt inside too.” This reaction highlighted the emotional toll the incident took on him. Though forced out of the race, Briscoe admitted he had yet to fully analyze his onboard footage to pinpoint the exact cause of the mishap.
“I’ve only seen the replay one time, it almost looked like something in my left front,”
Briscoe shared in an interview with NASCAR.com, indicating uncertainty about the mechanical issues that may have contributed to the crash.
He described experiencing a vibration prior to the crash, which he suspected originated from the front end of his car. This mechanical concern added to his season’s growing list of frustrations.
“When I had my vibration, I told them that I thought it was in the front end. Just par for the course for how this year started. It was another car that was extremely fast, felt like we were certainly going to be in contention for the win and just another failure for us,”
Briscoe explained.
Speed and Struggles Amid Challenging Conditions
Despite the setbacks, Briscoe emphasized the competitiveness of his Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota and praised the speed his team displayed during the race. He noted the vehicles performed well despite the tough conditions at Phoenix, which featured hot weather and slick track surfaces leading many drivers, including himself, to struggle with handling and tire grip.
“All the JGR Toyotas seemed to be strong and marching towards the front, how was the racing in these hot and slick conditions? It was a blast, I was having a lot of fun,”
he remarked during a discussion with NBC Sports.
Briscoe went on to describe how the additional power delivered to the Toyota cars—seventy extra horsepower—intensified the driving experience, making the cars slide significantly but increasing the excitement behind the wheel.
“We were driving them extra power, it’s only 70 horsepower more, but it feels like way more than that. We were sliding all over the place and it made it a lot of fun. I think Darlington is going to be out of control when we go there with this package. It was a lot of fun, wish I was out there until the end and the JGR cars were certainly good.”
Looking Ahead Despite Early Season Woes
Shortly after his Phoenix race ended prematurely, Briscoe shared a candid message on X expressing his frustration with the season’s ongoing difficulties but maintaining hope for improvement. Despite strong car speed, he has struggled to convert performance into favorable race finishes.
“Another race winning speed car with a 37th place finish. Can’t catch a break this season. Get a little luck to go along with all this speed and it’s gonna be a lot of fun. Got a big hole to dig out of but we can do it,”
Briscoe posted, underscoring the challenge ahead for himself and the Joe Gibbs Racing team.
As the season progresses, Briscoe and the JGR team are focused on bouncing back, with Las Vegas presenting the next opportunity for redemption. The team’s determination to rise from a difficult start reflects their desire to capitalize on the strong car setups and maintain a presence among NASCAR’s front runners.
Another race winning speed car with a 37th place finish. Can’t catch a break this season. Get a little luck to go along with all this speed and it’s gonna be a lot of fun. Got a big hole to dig out of but we can do it.
— Chase Briscoe (@chasebriscoe) March 8, 2026
