Chase Briscoe is ready for what he describes as a crucial moment in his NASCAR career at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course. The driver for Stewart-Haas Racing, at present, finds himself 32 points shy of the playoff cut line, necessitating nothing short of a victory to advance. This weekend’s race is crucial for Briscoe, who sees the situation as a “must win.”
Briscoe navigates this challenge with a substantial points deficit, which offers a unique kind of freedom in terms of race strategy.
“I think for us it’s honestly better that we’re kind of in the position that we are being 32 out or whatever it is versus 15 just because if you’re 15 to even 20, that is doable,” via Speedway Media.
“Where we’re 30, at least for us, we’re just looking at it as a must win. You could maybe point your way in, but a lot of things would have to go your way.
Chase Briscoe, driver of the #14 Rush Truck Centers Ford, waits on the grid during qualifying for the NASCAR Cup Series YellaWood 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on October 05, 2024 in Talladega, Alabama. Chase Briscoe is determined to win the Charlotte race to qualify for the NASCAR playoffs despite being 32 points below the cutoff.
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“I think it honestly opens up a lot for us from a strategy standpoint of just going in with the approach of flipping the track position and everything else.”
He is confident in his ability to compete for a win on the road course, which he regards as the track best suited for a successful strategy execution and victory.
“Out of all the tracks in this round, this is the one where I feel the most confident to come and battle for the win, so hopefully we can do that,” Briscoe confirmed.
Hailing from Mitchell, Indiana, he continues the legacy as a third-generation racer, following his grandfather and father. His racing career began with quarter midgets and advanced rapidly through various disciplines, including sprint cars. By age 13, Briscoe had not only taken to 410 sprint cars but also shattered Jeff Gordon’s record to become the youngest winner in that category’s history.
The racer’s rise to prominence was marked by his phenomenal success in the 2016 ARCA Racing Series, where he claimed the championship with a commanding lead. His inaugural season made enough waves to land him a spot in the Ford Performance NASCAR Driver Development Program. A win at Homestead-Miami Speedway during the 2017 Camping World Truck Series further cemented his reputation, earning him titles as the series’ Most Popular Driver and Rookie of the Year.
Briscoe’s momentum surged during the 2020 NASCAR Xfinity Series when he accumulated nine victories, the most by any driver that year.
In 2021, Briscoe joined Stewart-Haas Racing, driving the No. 14 Ford Mustang Dark Horse in the NASCAR Cup Series and secured the Rookie of the Year title. Despite the highs, the team and Briscoe are currently navigating a challenging 2024 season. Nevertheless, Briscoe’s recent win in the Southern 500 ended his 73-race winless streak, securing him a playoff berth and once again proving his ability to deliver under pressure.
Stewart-Haas Racing, co-owned by Tony Stewart and Gene Haas, will conclude its NASCAR operations in 2024. With Briscoe set to move to Joe Gibbs Racing in 2025, joining as the driver of the No. 19 Toyota and succeeding Martin Truex Jr., the upcoming races are important to his career.
