Chase Briscoe returns to Pocono looking for a repeat performance

Chase Briscoe has an incredible history at Pocono Raceway, and frankly, it is the kind of venue every driver dreams of returning to. It was here last summer that he secured his first victory with Joe Gibbs Racing, a beautiful win that launched a three-trophy campaign. To claim that trophy, he had to outdrive his own teammate, Denny Hamlin, holding off the seven-time winner by more than half a second after leading 72 laps in total.

Now, the 31-year-old arrives back at the track ranked 13th in the championship with seven top-10 finishes. The road hasn't been easy lately, as he endured a tough stretch of three finishes outside the top 20 across four races at Talladega, Texas, and Charlotte. Thankfully, he has found some momentum with top-10 runs in his last two outings.

As the defending champion, Briscoe is feeling the pressure to return to Victory Lane and close a 100-point gap to the top five. He noted that the expectations are heavier this year compared to his first win with the team. "I feel like our prep work is dialed in," he said, hoping to become the first driver to secure back-to-back wins at the track since Kyle Busch.