Briscoe Breaks Through as Strategy and Rain Shape Pocono

After a lengthy rain delay, the NASCAR Cup Series finally took the green flag at Pocono Raceway for the Great American Getaway 400. Once the track dried and the field got rolling, it was Chase Briscoe who executed a flawless strategy to capture his first Cup Series win of the season and the first of his career at the Tricky Triangle. Briscoe, driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, didn’t start on pole and didn’t dominate early, but when it mattered most, he had the car and the composure to close it out.

The race opened with Denny Hamlin on the pole after setting a quick lap in qualifying, and it looked like it might be his day to extend an already impressive Pocono legacy. Hamlin led early and picked up the Stage 1 win, showcasing the speed of the No. 11 Toyota. But as the laps wound down and fuel strategy came into play, Hamlin’s pace was matched by Briscoe, who had quietly worked his way into contention by the halfway mark.

A key moment came during the final pit cycle, when Briscoe’s team made the call to stretch their fuel just far enough. While others had to conserve or pit late, Briscoe stayed smooth up front, maintaining a slight cushion over Hamlin and a charging Ryan Blaney. The final restart with under 15 laps to go sealed the deal. Briscoe pulled away cleanly and never looked back, leading 72 of the 160 laps on the way to victory. It was a massive win not just for Briscoe, but for his team, who executed perfectly in a high pressure scenario.

Hamlin held on for second, and while he didn’t get the win, he solidified his standing as one of the most consistent performers at Pocono, now tied for the most all time wins at the track. Blaney came home third after starting deep in the field due to a pre race mechanical issue. The defending champion overcame the setback and ran a smart race, staying out of trouble and picking off spots steadily throughout the day.

Chris Buescher finished fourth, continuing a quietly strong summer run, while Chase Elliott rounded out the top five with a consistent performance in the No. 9 Chevrolet. Further back, John Hunter Nemechek, Kyle Larson, Ryan Preece, Brad Keselowski, and Austin Cindric completed the top ten. Cindric, in particular, had an impressive charge from 19th to 10th, salvaging a strong result for Team Penske.

The race featured 11 lead changes among nine drivers and was slowed by seven cautions for a total of 31 laps. The average speed came in at just over 130 miles per hour, and considering the conditions earlier in the day, NASCAR officials and track crews did well to get the full race in before sunset.

Looking ahead, Briscoe’s win shakes up the playoff picture. With a spot now locked in, he becomes a legitimate contender heading into the final stretch of the regular season. For Hamlin, the speed is there, but he’ll be hungry to get back to victory lane soon. Blaney’s recovery drive keeps his momentum alive and proves once again why he’s a championship caliber driver even when things don’t go to plan.

Pocono delivered on its reputation. Fuel strategy, long green flag runs, and late race pressure combined to create a race that rewarded patience and punished mistakes. Briscoe didn’t just survive the chaos, he controlled it.