NASCAR CUP SERIES: DAYTONA 500

February 11, 2026

Chase Briscoe

Press Conference

An Interview with:

THE MODERATOR: We're now joined by P2, Chase Briscoe. We'll start with questions for Chase.

Q. With the Duel race paying points, how do you balance wanting to prioritize getting points with not wanting to do anything that could tear up your car before Sunday?

CHASE BRISCOE: It's definitely a tougher balance than what it was last year. Last year, if you were one of those cars that were confident you were going to win a race throughout the season, not that you just throw away the Duel, but you're definitely not really worried about points.

Where now, those 10 points could be a huge difference maker come at the end of the year. It's hard to sit here and talk about points, the first 10 points, right? Those 10 points pay the same as the last 10 points. That could be the difference maker in you obviously making the Chase, but really the seedings and bonus points that come along with that.

It will be a tough balance tomorrow night of just trying to manage your race and still try to run up front and get those points, but also not put yourself in a bad spot to where you jeopardize your front-row starting spot because it is a big deal to start in the front row.

Even talking to James very briefly, the plan is to go race unless it just drives terrible for whatever reason, and hopefully you can stay out of the chaos.

Q. Does winning Talladega give you extra confidence coming into here?

CHASE BRISCOE: Yeah, I think so. At least in my case, right? I've never been able to win on any superspeedway at any level. Just finally getting to win one, I definitely feel like I'll be more confident in my moves. I haven't ran a superspeedway race since then.

I remember even Stenhouse coming up to me the week after Talladega and telling me after you get one, everything will click and it will be easier from now on.

I'm hoping that's the case. I guess we'll find out a little bit tomorrow night, but certainly on Sunday.

Q. Front row of the Daytona 500 two years in a row. What does this mean for you personally?

CHASE BRISCOE: Yeah, it's practically cool. I feel like I'm a Hendrick driver almost (smiling). I felt like forever Hendrick cars on the front row, seven, eight years in a row.

It's cool for sure to be able to consistently two years in a row now. It's really a testament to the folks back at JGR. We've made so many improvements on our superspeedway program. This race really comes down to, at least in qualifying, attention to detail, just doing every little thing.

The 19 group has consistently kind of been the best one. That's really exciting for us. Just a lot of pride in that, right? I know for me, every week when I get in the car, I know I'm in arguably the best car every single week. When we come here and do stuff like we've done two years in a row validates that.

It's the kid in me to be able to lead the field to green two years -- not lead the field, but being in the front row, for two years in a row at the Daytona 500. It's a really big deal, not only for myself, but I haven't even checked my phone, I'm sure Johnny Morris is ballistic already. He gets super fired up for this race. He's called me two or three times this week telling me he's so excited to get here and asking me how the car is. It's a big deal for him, as well.

It should be awesome to be on the front row again Sunday.

Q. As big a point of emphasis as the hands on the wheel has been this week, were you surprised somebody got busted in the first session?

CHASE BRISCOE: He's my buddy, but I'm not surprised it was the guy that had it happen to him (smiling). I told my guys as soon as it happened, Of all the people, I bet he didn't even remember it was a rule.

Yeah, it's pretty funny. I joked with my guys after. Honestly, we could have had my hand up, I think I would have been on the pole. I've done a really good job of just practicing that perfect form all the way around the racetrack.

No, it did not surprise me that of all the people. If there was odds on it, I would have said he would have been the odds-on favorite.

Q. Did you make any changes to the vehicle between practice and qualifying?

CHASE BRISCOE: I have no idea. I'm not the guy to ask on that. I know there was some stuff I wasn't not unhappy with, but I just thought there was some stuff we could do better after practice.

Everybody's car, you see it on TV, just bouncing all over the place. So I just asked my guys if there's anything they can do to make it maybe a little bit better. I felt like we were hitting the ground so hard that we had to have been giving up some amount of time just in the car hitting.

I thought it was a little bit better in qualifying. I don't know what they changed. I'm fairly confident they must have changed something 'cause it didn't bounce quite as bad.

Q. The telemetry on FOX was showing a lot of drivers going 90% throttle, not 100%. Is that a thing?

CHASE BRISCOE: Unless they're scared, but I don't think so. I will say, though, the Fords, even on our data, their wide open is 90%, for whatever reason. But, yeah, they're wide open.

Q. The telemetry is not showing it right?

CHASE BRISCOE: It's definitely not right. Whoever showed 90, it was wrong. If it showed 90 for me, I was pushing my foot as hard as I possibly could. All that workout stuff James has been having me do, I was using it on my right foot. I was definitely 100% throttle.