Martin Truex Jr. joined Joe Gibbs Racing in 2019 after winning the 2017 Cup championship with Furniture Row Racing. However, James Small did not take over as crew chief of the No. 19 team until 2020. The pairing found early success, with Small guiding Truex to a runner-up finish in the 2021 championship standings in just their second season together.
That momentum, however, faded as Truex struggled to crack the top ten over the next three seasons, putting Small under growing scrutiny and raising questions about his leadership on the pit box. That narrative shifted once Truex retired at the end of 2024 and Chase Briscoe assumed control of the No. 19 entry.
The change became a turning point for both Small and Briscoe. The 2025 season became a proving ground that demanded immediate clarity, trust, and execution. But rather than easing into the role, taking his time, Briscoe delivered with authority.
Briscoe captured the most pole positions in the field, ranked second in total top-10 finishes, and tied for the most top-five results during the 2025 campaign. He also matched the best average starting position, and equaled the series high for lead-lap finishes.
Chase closed the year third in the championship standings, marking the strongest season of his career while stamping the No. 19 team as a legitimate title threat once again. From Small’s perspective, the numbers told the story clearly.
Reflecting on the year, the crew chief emphasized how the group steadily found its rhythm through preparation and discipline rather than shortcuts. “We’ve been incredibly consistent, incredibly fast, and we’ve executed through a number of races really well as a group,” he said.
“It’s a very, very different challenge, obviously, with completely different drivers in how they go about their business. For me, it was also a huge learning experience in trying to better myself as a crew chief and work with somebody completely different, and change the way we go about doing things,” added Small, who acknowledged that the transformation happened rapidly.
In just 12 months, the team rebuilt its process from the ground up. Small described the satisfaction of watching collective effort pay off, noting how the alignment between crew members and driver produced performance that held firm across varying conditions and race tracks.
Despite earning the Daytona 500 pole, early momentum in 2025 arrived in waves rather than surges for Briscoe. That was mainly because both the driver and the crew faced vertical learning curves. Briscoe adjusted to a new car while the team recalibrated around a new driver and additional personnel, creating an environment where clean execution lacked at times.
Small believes those pains of growing are now in the past. With familiarity established and communication sharpened, the upcoming season will be about winning races, not experimenting with setups or workflows. That pressure, Small understands, will fall squarely on his shoulders.