Chase Briscoe looks like championship threat again this season

Chase Briscoe's breakout 2025 season with Joe Gibbs Racing was one of the feel-good stories of the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series campaign. 

The Mitchell, Ind., native won three races and made it all the way to the championship race, finishing third in the final standings. 

His performance this season has made it clear that was no fluke. 

Chase Briscoe heating up over summer stretch

Briscoe struggled early in the season to find consistent speed and results but has come on strong over the summer, picking up his first win of the campaign at Chicagoland on July 5. He has six top-six finishes over the last seven races, only finishing outside of the top six during that span after a crash at Atlanta. 

Briscoe hasn't just been quietly sneaking into the top five, either. He led a season-high 171 laps on Saturday at Richmond, finishing runner-up to winner Joey Logano after chasing him down in the closing laps. 

While a second victory of the season has yet to surface for Briscoe and the No. 19 team, the speed he's had over the last month have made it evident that it's on the way. Don't be surprised if Briscoe, who is now fifth in the series standings, is in contention to win a third straight Southern 500 at Darlington on Sept. 6. 

Driving for one of the best teams in the sport in a year where Toyota has been king among NASCAR's three manufacturers, it wouldn't be surprising if Briscoe once again has a shot to win the championship when the season finale at Homestead rolls around on Nov. 8.