Briscoe Prepares for Postseason Challenge at Darlington
Chase Briscoe faces a pivotal moment as the NASCAR postseason kicks off at Darlington Raceway this Sunday at 6 PM ET. In June, Briscoe celebrated his victory at Pocono Raceway, securing a postseason berth in his debut season with Joe Gibbs Racing, marking a significant turnaround from his previous inconsistency with Stewart-Haas Racing.
Currently seeded eighth in the playoff standings, Briscoe enters the Southern 500 as the defending champion, having clinched his previous spot in the playoffs through a win at Darlington last year. This season, he expressed a heightened sense of expectation, stating, “At SHR, making the playoffs was an achievement; here, not making the Round of 8 feels like failure.”
Briscoe’s confidence is bolstered by his new team environment which emphasizes championship contention. “Arguably, we are one of the better cars week in and week out; it’s just a matter of putting the whole race together,” he remarked, acknowledging the efficiency demonstrated by top competitors like William Byron and Denny Hamlin. He believes his racing maturity will translate into improved performance as the playoffs progress.
Crew chief James Small leads a restructured team that Briscoe credits with a notable improvement in race execution, particularly after a breakthrough performance at the Coca-Cola 600 in May. Finishing the regular season eighth in points, Briscoe aligns closely with his teammates, Christopher Bell and Denny Hamlin, both of whom also advanced to the playoffs and collectively boast eight wins.
Briscoe’s season has already surpassed his previous best career finish of ninth in 2022, fostering a sense of optimism. “This is the first time I’ve truly believed I could win a Cup championship,” he asserted, recognizing a legitimate opportunity to contend at the highest level. With the playoff battle now underway, Briscoe emphasizes, “We need to perform in the playoffs,” as he prepares to chase further success at Darlington.
