The NASCAR Cup Series race at Phoenix Raceway saw plenty of intense moments, but for Joe Gibbs Racing’s Chase Briscoe, it was a day to forget at the Shriners Children’s 500. On Lap 99, right after a Stage 2 restart, Briscoe got caught in a multi-car pile-up that left his car badly damaged, and seven other drivers had their race days cut short.
A Costly Split-Second Decision by Chase Briscoe
The trouble started when Michael McDowell suffered a flat tire, bringing out the caution. Once the race restarted, the field spread out aggressively as drivers fought for positions.
Briscoe found himself in a tight spot as he tried to avoid hitting Carson Hocevar on his right. In doing so, he steered left but clipped the right front of Justin Haley’s Chevrolet. This sent Briscoe’s car back into Hocevar’s No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevy, slamming him into the wall and ripping Briscoe’s right-side window off.
Huge pileup on the restart at Phoenix! 🫣
Big hits for @chasebriscoe and @CarsonHocevar as well💥 #NASCAR
🎥 @NASCAR pic.twitter.com/VEeKhyC5J6
— Motorsport.com (@Motorsport) March 9, 2025
As chaos unfolded, other cars got swept up in the wreck, including Shane van Gisbergen, Cole Custer, and Brad Keselowski. The incident ended Briscoe’s day early, leaving him with a disappointing 35th-place finish.
However, Briscoe’s most direct response came on social media, as he summed up his feelings in just eight words: “That one hurt in more ways than one…”
Briscoe Reacts to the Wreck
After the race, Briscoe didn’t try to sugarcoat the situation. Speaking to the media, he admitted, “Yeah, got myself in a bad spot. Unfortunate but try to learn from it and not do it again and go on to Vegas.”
Briscoe acknowledged that things could have gone differently but also made it clear he wants to learn from it and have a better showing next week in Las Vegas.
Chase Briscoe has had a tough start to the 2025 season. He talks with @JamieLittleTV after today's big crash in Phoenix. https://t.co/wueS1sgvhO pic.twitter.com/haONZeXCSO
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) March 9, 2025
For NASCAR fans, these moments of brutal honesty are part of what makes the sport so compelling. It’s a reminder that even the best drivers make mistakes, and in a high-speed, high-stakes environment, one wrong move can turn a great race into a disaster for many.
As the season moves forward, Briscoe and his team will look to bounce back stronger. NASCAR is all about learning from past experiences, and if there’s one thing Briscoe has made clear, it’s that he’s taking this lesson to heart.
