“It’s Been Cool”: Chase Briscoe Comments on Ryan Newman Comparisons Over Qualifying Prowess

It must have something to do with both being from Indiana. How else would you explain how Chase Briscoe, of Mitchell, Indiana, is being compared as one of the most prolific pole qualifiers in NASCAR Cup to fellow Hoosier and former Cup driver, Ryan Newman, who grew up in South Bend, Indiana?

Prior to this season, Briscoe had earned just two poles in his previous tenure with the now-defunct Stewart-Haas Racing from 2021-2024. But since joining Joe Gibbs Racing this year, replacing the retired Martin Truex Jr., Briscoe has been on a tear when it comes to qualifying, leading all Cup drivers with seven poles in the first 32 races of the 36-race season.

Newman, meanwhile, earned the colorful nickname “Rocket Man” for the 51 poles he earned during his Cup career from 2000 through 2023.

However, Newman pales in comparison to Richard Petty, who compiled an incredible mark of 126 pole positions earned in his Cup career from 1958 through 1992. And Jeff Gordon, from Pittsboro, Indiana, earned 81 Cup poles in his career. Tony Stewart, from Columbus, Indiana, managed just 15 poles in his Cup career.

Still, to be compared to a fellow statesman like Newman isn’t lost upon Briscoe.

“Yeah, it’s been cool,” Briscoe told Frontstretch.com recently. “I remember as a kid, obviously watching Newman qualify up front all the time, and a fellow Hooser, too, which is neat.

“After we’ve qualified on the pole, I see a lot of fans like posting ‘Rocket Man’ (online) or they’re posted the picture of Newman doing the pole award and they’re like PhotoShop-ing my face on it, which is pretty funny…It’s great to be compared to (Newman) in qualifying, for sure.”

From struggling to find his footing at Stewart-Haas Racing to emerging as the series’ new “Rocket Man” contender with Joe Gibbs Racing, Briscoe’s transformation has been remarkable.

While he still has a long way to go before approaching Newman’s 51 poles, or the legendary marks of Richard Petty and Jeff Gordon, his consistency in qualifying this season signals a new level of confidence and speed. More importantly, it cements Indiana’s deep-rooted connection to NASCAR excellence.

As Briscoe put it best, “Anytime you’re getting talked about, especially for doing something or winning something, it’s neat.” For now, the Hoosier native is letting his speed do the talking, and it’s saying plenty.

About the author

Jerry Bonkowski

Jerry Bonkowski is a veteran sportswriter who has worked full-time for many of the top media outlets in the world, including USA Today (15 years), ESPN.com (4+ years), Yahoo Sports (4 1/2 years), NBCSports.com (8 years) and others. He has covered virtually every major professional and collegiate sport there is, including the Chicago Bulls' six NBA championships (including heavy focus on Michael Jordan), the Chicago Bears Super Bowl XX-winning season, the Chicago White Sox and Chicago Cubs World Series championships, two of the Chicago Blackhawks' NHL titles, Tiger Woods' PGA Tour debut, as well as many years of beat coverage of the NFL, MLB, NHL and NBA for USA Today. But Jerry's most notable achievement has been covering motorsports, most notably NASCAR, IndyCar, NHRA drag racing and Formula One. He has had a passion for racing since he started going to watch drag races at the old U.S. 30 Dragstrip (otherwise known as "Where the Great Ones Run!") in Hobart, Indiana. Jerry has covered countless NASCAR, IndyCar and NHRA races and championship battles over the years. He's also the author of a book, "Trading Paint: 101 Great NASCAR Debates", published in 2010 (and he's hoping to soon get started on another book). Away from sports, Jerry was a fully sworn part-time police officer for 20 years, enjoys reading and music (especially "hair bands" from the 1980s and 1990s), as well as playing music on his electric keyboard, driving (fast, of course!), spending time with Cyndee his wife of nearly 40 years, the couple's three adult children and three grandchildren (with more to come!), and his three dogs -- including two German Shepherds and an Olde English Bulldog who thinks he's a German Shepherd.. Jerry still gets the same excitement of seeing his byline today as he did when he started in journalism as a 15-year-old high school student. He is looking forward to writing hundreds, if not thousands, of stories in the future for TheSportsRush.com, as well as interacting with readers.

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