AVONDALE, Ariz. — The checkered flag just waved on the NASCAR season, but work is already set to begin for teams and drivers undergoing offseason changes. Among this group is crew chief James Small, who is fired up about helping a "hungry" driver reach new heights.
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This week marks the beginning of Small's partnership with Chase Briscoe, who moves from the now-departed Stewart-Haas Racing to Joe Gibbs Racing. Briscoe will take over the No. 19 Toyota Camry for Martin Truex Jr. while trying to build a legacy of his own.
"For us, it's building a new story," Small told a select group of media members after Sunday's season finale. "Martin was already established (when Small took over the No. 19 team). Chase has only won a couple of races.
"It's like Martin when he went to Furniture Row (Racing). He's still very young. He's extremely fast. And I know he's very hungry to perform and show everybody what he's capable of. So, the whole team is just really, really excited to get going."
These comments at Phoenix are not the first time that Small has expressed excitement about working with Briscoe, who has two wins in 144 Cup starts, including the crown jewel Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway.
Small also explained in late June that he and Briscoe "got along like a house on fire" and that this driver swap could ultimately be a little "plug and play" as they move into 2025 and try to lock up a spot in the playoffs.
James Small told me that Chase Briscoe is a plug and play guy due to how similar he is to Martin Truex Jr.
Chase expanded upon that point. #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/Ek6NY3nwed— John Newby (@JohnNewby_) June 25, 2024
Joe Gibbs Racing has top-tier equipment, and Small has proven to be a championship-contending crew chief. If Briscoe continues to grow as a driver, he could potentially take the team to victory lane at least once in 2025.
This partnership with Briscoe will kick off almost immediately. While some in the industry may step back and take a quick breath, Joe Gibbs Racing and Briscoe will push forward. They have an inordinate amount of work to do and barely any time to get it done.
After all, the NASCAR offseason only runs from Monday, Nov. 11, until Feb. 1, 2025. The Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium on Feb. 2, 2025, will mark the first on-track event for Briscoe and the No. 19 team.
"Thursday, I'll go to the shop and get fitted," Briscoe said at Phoenix Raceway. "So I mean, it's gonna happen pretty quick. A couple weeks later, I'll do four days straight on the simulator.
"So yeah, I mean, there's really no offseason, especially since you're always busy in the offseason, but whenever you're having a switch like this, and not only just from a team but from a manufacturer, definitely becomes way more busy."
