Chase Briscoe has finally set the record straight on what NASCAR fans believed was a bitter rivalry with former Stewart-Haas Racing teammate Noah Gragson. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver revealed their supposed explosive feud was just friendly banter.
Blown out of proportion by social media and NASCAR’s promotional efforts. This clarification comes as fans and media continue to look for drama, but Briscoe’s honesty offers a refreshing glimpse into the genuine relationships behind the wheel.
Chase Briscoe Reveals the Truth Behind His Feud With NASCAR Teammate Noah Gragson
“I mean, honestly, Noah is probably the one guy I talked to more than anybody that’s on the circuit. So, yeah, it was fun. I don’t know, it just kind of started as we were joking around and then it just kept escalating more and more and more. And I think some fans thought we were like legit mad at each other or going back and forth, but yeah, it’s just fun,” he said.
Speaking on the “Rubbin’ is Racing” podcast, Briscoe made it clear that reports of real animosity between him and Gragson were greatly exaggerated. What fans saw as heated exchanges and bitter conflict was just two close friends enjoying some competitive trash talk.
The situation started during the lead-up to NASCAR’s In-Season Challenge, where Briscoe and Gragson were matched against each other in the first round at Atlanta Motor Speedway. What began as typical pre-race banter quickly took on a life of its own, especially when NASCAR’s marketing team decided to highlight it.
NASCAR’s promotional team saw an opportunity and ran with it. They posted videos and social media content featuring the back-and-forth between Briscoe and Gragson, which only convinced fans that a real feud was brewing. The marketing strategy worked well; fans engaged heavily with the content and speculated about their relationship.
Behind the drama, though, the reality was much simpler. Briscoe and Gragson remained close friends throughout their supposed feud. Their friendship runs so deep that Briscoe’s 3-year-old son, Brooks, has famously chosen Gragson as his favorite driver over his father.
How Friendship Trumps Rivalry in NASCAR
“Noah is like that uncle that you take your kid to that has Pop-Tarts, ice cream, everything else when he’s with him — every candy that you try not to give your kid,” Briscoe said.
This family dynamic hardly points to two drivers who genuinely dislike each other. The foundation of their friendship was built as teammates at Stewart-Haas Racing in 2024, where they worked well together despite knowing they would eventually be competing for limited available seats when the team announced its closure.
The relationship between the two drivers shows how NASCAR’s competitive environment does not always lead to personal animosity. While fans and media often look for dramatic storylines, the reality is that many drivers maintain strong friendships despite fierce on-track competition.
The so-called explosive teammate feud that captivated NASCAR fans was about two friends having fun with competitive banter, amplified by social media and NASCAR’s promotional efforts. Briscoe’s honesty in addressing the situation highlights that sometimes, the most compelling storylines in sports are the genuine friendships between competitors.
Briscoe is one of the best. He has legs of a running back, big legs powerful dude.