Chase Briscoe battles back from multiple tire issues to finish third in first title battle
AVONDALE, Ariz. (November 2, 2025) – Denny Hamlin dominated the Championship race, winning both stages and led 208 of 319 laps in Sunday’s season finale at Phoenix Raceway. Hamlin looked headed to his first NASCAR Cup Series championship before a caution fell late. He battled back to sixth at the finish and ended in second place in the Championship 4 fight.
Chase Briscoe had to battle from the back multiple times due to tire issues. In a career year for the Indiana-native, Briscoe was 18th at the line and finished third in the final standings.
Toyota GAZOO Racing Post-Race Recap
NASCAR Cup Series (NCS)
Phoenix Raceway
Race 36 of 36 – 312 miles, 312 laps
TOYOTA FINISHING POSITIONS
1st, Ryan Blaney*
2nd, Brad Keselowski*
3rd, Kyle Larson*
4th, Joey Logano*
5th, Kyle Busch*
6th, DENNY HAMLIN
11th, CHRISTOPHER BELL
16th, ERIK JONES
18th, CHASE BRISCOE
21st, TY GIBBS
23rd, RILEY HERBST
26th, TYLER REDDICK
31st, JOHN HUNTER NEMECHEK
37th, BUBBA WALLACE
*non-Toyota driver
TOYOTA QUOTES
DENNY HAMLIN, No. 11 Progressive Insurance Toyota Camry XSE, Joe Gibbs Racing
Finishing Position: 6th
What are you feeling after the day you had today?
“Yeah, nothing I can do different. Prepared as good as I could coming into the weekend. My team gave me a fantastic car. Just didn’t work out. I was just praying that no caution. Had one there. What can you do? Just not meant to be.”
You ran away from everybody. The car had speed. The caution came out. What went through your head?
“I thought still okay. We took four tires. I thought that definitely was the right call. Just so many cars took two there. Obviously put us back. Team did a fantastic job. They prepared a championship car. Just didn’t happen.”
Can you do this again?
“I’ll try. I got a couple more shots at it. Man, if you can’t win that one, I don’t know which one you can win.”
What are you feeling right now?
“Just numb. I feel like there’s still some racing left. I can’t believe it’s over but there’s nothing I can do. Suck it up and it’s just another year.”
How strong was your Toyota Camry today?
“It was a championship winning car. Prepared so hard for the weekend and felt like I did the right things and was strong where I typically am weak. Just had everything we needed, just needed 40 more seconds of green flag.”
CHASE BRISCOE, No. 19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota Camry XSE, Joe Gibbs Racing
Finishing Position: 18th
How do you sum up your day?
“Yeah, just wish something went our way today. Our car was obviously good enough. We came from the back to the front two or three different times. It was just one of those weekends where nothing went our way. Sometimes that is how it goes. Truthfully, at the end, I think that James (Small, crew chief) wanted to take two tires and I kind of told him that I would rather be on offense. I didn’t think that many would take two tires, and I would rather be on offense. I don’t know. We had a great Bass Pro Shops, TRACKER Boats Toyota. It stings for sure. I could taste it for a little bit, with 70 to go, and then we blew that tire. Something to learn from for sure.”
About Toyota
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