Chase Briscoe’s car crossed the finish line in second place at Dover Motor Speedway on Sunday, marking his second consecutive runner-up finish in the NASCAR Cup Series. Just when victory seemed within reach, teammate dynamics and split-second decisions determined the outcome of what could have been his second win of 2025.
Why Did Chase Briscoe Hold Back Against Teammate Denny Hamlin?
Starting from second position at Dover Motor Speedway, Briscoe found himself battling wheel-to-wheel with Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Denny Hamlin during the race’s final stages. The two drivers occupied the front row as the laps wound down, but Briscoe couldn’t find a way around his teammate despite having fresher rubber.
After climbing out of his car, Briscoe explained his calculated approach to the final restart. The decision to race conservatively against Hamlin wasn’t about speed or skill, but about protecting his teammate’s championship hopes.
“I don’t know,” Briscoe said. “He was doing such a good job of pinning me so tight that I couldn’t really do a whole lot…. Denny was probably the best car, so it was going to be hard to just pass him – even with the tire advantage, I couldn’t do it.”
The tire advantage should have given Briscoe the edge he needed during overtime. However, when the moment of truth arrived, team loyalty took priority over personal glory.
“I definitely think if it wasn’t a teammate, I could have done a lot of things differently to potentially win the race. But I didn’t want to screw one of the JGR cars,” he admitted.
That restraint proved costly when Briscoe’s car wiggled just before the white flag waved. The brief loss of control eliminated any remaining opportunity to challenge Hamlin for the victory, leaving him to settle for another second-place finish.
How Did Strategic Pit Calls Set Up Briscoe’s Late Charge?
Sunday’s race at Dover took an unexpected turn when rain brought out a red flag, halting competition for an hour. The weather delay created a strategic opportunity that Briscoe and his crew chief capitalized on perfectly.
The decision to pit just before the red flag dropped transformed Briscoe’s race. When competition resumed, he found himself with track position and fresher tires than most of the field. That advantage allowed him to slice through traffic, climbing from 10th position to second in a matter of laps.
The final restart represented his best chance at victory. With superior tire grip and clear track ahead, everything aligned for a potential winning move. Unfortunately, the momentary loss of car control at the worst possible moment cost him the opportunity to capitalize on his team’s smart strategy.
Despite missing out on the win, Briscoe remained upbeat about his team’s performance and playoff positioning.
“I definitely feel like we’re in a really good spot right now,” he said. “If the playoffs started right now, I’d feel great about it. We can still have a little bit more speed, but overall, we’ve been executing and that’s what it takes a lot of the time.”
With six playoff points already secured and five races remaining in the regular season, Briscoe sits in a comfortable position. His consistent performance has put him in contention for strong playoff runs, and he believes his team is trending in the right direction heading into the postseason.