Tony Stewart’s Mentee Takes a Sly Dig at Former SHR Boss Amid Surprising Praise for Joe Gibbs

It's the start of a new chapter for Chase Briscoe. The former Stewart-Haas Racing driver will join Joe Gibbs Racing for the 2025 season, taking over Martin Truex Jr's No. 19 Toyota next year. The 29-year-old has had an impressive Cup Series campaign, making it to the Round of 12 before being eliminated at the Charlotte Roval. Operating under the limited resources provided by Tony Stewart's team, fans are eager to see how the Indiana native fares with better equipment going forward.

Having spent four years driving the No. 14 Ford, Briscoe is taking a step in the right direction by joining a powerhouse organization such as Joe Gibbs Racing. In a recent interview with Sirius XM NASCAR Radio, the racing driver couldn't help but compare the management approach between the two teams and their owners.

Briscoe compares management styles between his two employers "The opportunity of a lifetime." That's how Chase Briscoe described the chance of competing for one of the biggest teams in NASCAR. Ever since the legendary Martin Truex Jr announced his retirement from full-time racing, the opening at Joe Gibbs Racing became the most coveted spot in the Cup Series. The team decided to take a chance on Tony Stewart's mentee, who won at Darlington Raceway during the regular season to secure a spot in the playoffs. Toyota Racing Development played a big part in the 29-year-old's appointment as well, with the manufacturer's faith in Briscoe's talent helping the deal close quickly.

With the 2024 season having recently concluded, Chase Briscoe was asked by Dave Moody if it was too soon to compare the two teams' culture, especially regarding the management approach between Tony Stewart and Joe Gibbs. Sharing his thoughts on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio, the 29-year-old said, "From a management standpoint, the JGR stuff has been very eye-opening. Just how involved Joe is, just every executive level. That's something that, at SHR, we haven't had as much of. So for me to be able to have Joe Gibbs call me twice a week and just check on me and see how I'm doing, that's something that's very new for me. So, that's been exciting for me for sure."

Over the years, Tony Stewart has taken a step back from NASCAR, having recently shifted his attention to the NHRA, taking over his wife Leah Pruett's seat while she is focused on raising a family. It's no secret that Stewart-Haas Racing's struggles have coincided with the 53-year-old taking a more passive approach with his team, choosing to focus more on his interests elsewhere. Meanwhile, Joe Gibbs has always placed a lot of importance on having the right team to achieve success on the racetrack, saying, "The most important thing we (have) is our people and the people that you have on your team." It's not surprising that he has been checking on Briscoe regularly, given the team owner's management style.

Joe Gibbs Racing only had their sights set on Chase Briscoe. When Tony Stewart announced that his team would cease operations at the end of 2024, JGR president Dave Alpern sprung to action, taking a proactive approach to seal the deal with the 29-year-old in the next four to five days. Recalling the experience, the Indiana native said, "It did happen crazy fast", highlighting just how much of a hands-on approach the 83-year-old team owner has, a stark contrast to what he was used to experiencing at Stewart-Haas Racing during the last four seasons.

Chase Briscoe pays tribute to Tony Stewart It's the end of an era for Chase Briscoe. Having spent the last four years at Stewart-Haas Racing , the 29-year-old considers Tony Stewart's team as nothing less than his second home. The racing driver had built a good rapport with his teammates and crew members, relationships he will continue to cherish going forward. One of the biggest highlights of the Indiana native's career is getting to drive the No. 14 Ford, which was driven by none other than Stewart himself during his final Cup Series campaign.

Paying tribute to his mentor and former employer, Briscoe got emotional during the post-race interview at Phoenix . He said, "Just getting to the Cup Series is fulfilling a dream, but literally as a little kid, I would dress up in Tony Stewart's uniform and helmet and play my racing video game. The fact that of all the cars that I could ever drive in the Cup Series, the fact that I got to drive the No. 14 car and get in Victory Lane just meant the world to me. I didn't think it would mean that much to me."

It's been quite a journey for Tony Stewart and Gene Haas' racing team. What started as a two-car operation in 2009 eventually led to multiple championships at NASCAR's highest level. After the race in Phoenix, the majority of the Stewart-Haas Racing crew stayed back to hang out, recalling stories and reminiscing. Chase Briscoe described it by saying, "This was a special place with special people", as the occasion was an emotional farewell to an important chapter in the driver's career.