“You can’t plan on people to be perfect” - Kenny Wallace comes to Chase Briscoe’s rescue amid recent Kevin Harvick criticism

Kenny Wallace shared his views on the controversy surrounding Chase Briscoe wearing a shirt with the Toyota logo that sparked debate among fans and commentators. On his X account, Wallace explained that the shirt in question was not a Toyota-branded shirt, but rather one from Bass Pro, Briscoe's future sponsor.

The comment from Kenny Wallace came after Kevin Harvick pointed out on his podcast that Briscoe's choice of apparel was a "major fail" and suggested he should have been more cautious not to offend anyone.

Chase Briscoe was recently announced as the new driver for Martin Truex Jr.'s #19 Toyota Camry car at an event. The controversy arose when Briscoe appeared wearing a black shirt that featured a small Toyota logo in the top right-hand corner and a prominently displayed Bass Pro Shops logo in the center.

Kevin Harvick expressed skepticism on his podcast about Chase Briscoe wearing a shirt with a Toyota logo, deeming it a significant oversight. Harvick pointed out:

"I think it's a major fail on Chase's part to have that Toyota logo on during the gear."

He elaborated by comparing it to when Stewart-Haas Racing introduced Josh Berry, ensuring Berry only wore gear with the Stewart-Haas logo. The team had coordinated with Junior Motorsports to make sure everything was handled sensitively.

Harvick suggested that although Briscoe is transitioning from a team that's winding down, it's still crucial to avoid upsetting Ford.

However, Kenny Wallace countered the perspective by stating the shirt was actually from Bass Pro Shops and not primarily a Toyota promotional item. On his X account, Wallace defended Briscoe, saying he shouldn't be faulted for the incident, implying that the situation might have been blown out of proportion:

"First of all, It was not a Toyota shirt. I'm not going against Harvick or Caitlin or Mamba. Look at the shirt! [...] It's a Bass Pro shirt. Okay. With a little mini toy y'all to load over here and a joke gives a lot over there. So I'm not gonna blame that on Chase Brisco."

He added:

"If Ford says that's a major fail, I say that's a major fail on Joe Gibbs Racing. For getting Chase the shirt. Listen, you can't plan on people to be perfect, alright? People's doing everything they can do. So, I don't think that's a major fail on Chase Briscoe."

Wallace went on to explain what likely occurred, suggesting that when Briscoe showed up, he was probably handed the Bass Pro Shops shirt, which just happened to have a small two-inch Toyota logo.

Given the excitement of the moment, he didn't anticipate that this tiny detail would stir up controversy.

---

Ty Gibbs shares his views on Chase Briscoe joining the team in 2025

Ty Gibbs, who has been with Joe Gibbs Racing for three years, expressed his enthusiasm about Chase Briscoe joining the team. After speaking with the upcoming JGR driver himself, Ty Gibbs said: [via Daily Express US]

"Really cool. I think Chase is going to be a really good teammate to me and to our organisation. I'm glad that he's going to be able to join us, and excited for the future for them. Chase has got a lot of experience, so I think his feedback is going to be very helpful. Hopefully, we can build a good team around where we have a good relationship, and excited for him to be here."

Chase Briscoe is set to drive his #14 Ford in the upcoming Chicago Street race. Last year, Briscoe finished in 20th place after starting 16th.