Briscoe Battles Illness to Deliver One of His Toughest Drives Yet at Dover

Denny Hamlin may have commanded most of the attention during Sunday’s All-Star Race at Dover Motor Speedway, but another Joe Gibbs Racing driver ended up creating just as much conversation. Chase Briscoe, who struggled through practice after brushing the turn 1 wall and qualifying 16th, clawed his way forward in the closing stages to redeem his weekend with a strong runner‑up finish.

Dover is one of the toughest tracks in NASCAR, and no amount of talent can save a driver who isn’t locked into its rhythm. The place punishes mistakes, and on Sunday, Briscoe wasn’t just fighting the track. He pushed through every lap with the kind of grit that only shows up when a driver refuses to let circumstances define his day.

In his post‑race media session, Briscoe revealed he had been sick for two to three days and was dealing with a stomach virus heading into the event. He admitted he wasn’t sure how he would make it through the weekend, saying, “I didn’t know how today was truthfully going to go.” That he managed a P2 under those conditions speaks volumes about his toughness and professionalism.

All-Star Weekend practice sessions are notoriously demanding, up to 90 minutes long, and held in mid‑80‑degree heat. Delaware’s humidity only adds to the strain, and being sick on top of that creates an entirely different level of difficulty. Still, Briscoe refused to let illness or weather derail his day, even after his earlier practice incident and a 25th‑place result in Saturday’s Pit Crew Challenge.

Once the race began, Briscoe kept Hamlin honest. Wherever Hamlin went, Briscoe seemed to track him down. In the final segment, the two engaged in a tight battle for control of the field before both were called to pit with 60 laps remaining. Briscoe never let the gap breathe, forcing Hamlin to stay aggressive every lap.

When Briscoe cycled back out and the race restarted, he seized an opening at the front with 52 laps to go. Briscoe held the lead for much of the final run by managing pace and staying laser‑focused on keeping his teammate behind him. He maintained that advantage until lap 322, when a small slip gave Hamlin the window he needed to take over and ultimately win.

Even though the victory slipped away, Briscoe’s performance was remarkable, a P2 finish while sick, at one of NASCAR’s most physically demanding tracks, under intense G‑forces. Hamlin may have been the fastest JGR car, winning by 0.887 seconds and collecting the $1 million prize, but Briscoe is the one everyone is talking about. He fought through illness, pressure, and the Monster Mile itself to earn $100,000 and climb to 17th in the standings.