This would be the third time that Chase Briscoe has raced within the NASCAR Cup Sequence Playoffs however this time is completely different.
He’s anticipated to compete and contend for a championship.
His first two playoff appearances got here with the embattled remnants of Stewart-Haas Racing in 2022 and 2024. This was not the group that dominated a decade with Tony Stewart and Kevin Harvick however the model that crumbled and ultimately folded.
That Briscoe even made the playoffs was one thing to have fun, particularly final yr as a consequence of so many workers departing as soon as the closure information was made public, however the requirements are a lot completely different at Joe Gibbs Racing.
“I used to be telling my spouse that couple weeks in the past, that that is actually the primary time I’ve ever legitimately thought I might win a Cup championship,” Briscoe mentioned throughout NASCAR Playoff Media Day in Uptown Charlotte on Wednesday. “Up to now, you make the Playoffs and it’s thrilling, however down deep you form of know that the chances of you successful are fairly slim, proper?
“Whereas now, to not say that I’m the favourite by any means, however I really feel like I’ve a legit probability to go do it, the place at SHR, you by no means actually felt such as you had a legit shot to do it. Undoubtedly feels completely different this time round figuring out that you’ve got a shot and I might say this Playoffs feels completely different due to that.”
Briscoe completed the common season eighth within the standings, together with his victory at Pocono locking him into the playoffs, beginning the 10-race gamut because the No. 9 seed and 4 factors above the cutline. There have been 10 total top-5s within the first 26 races and three runner-ups at Sonoma, Dover and Iowa.
“We’ve completed second so much, however the one was to (Shane Van Gisbergen, Sonoma) and that one, I don’t suppose I might have received except one thing loopy occurred to him,” Briscoe mentioned. “The Dover race, I undoubtedly suppose I might have probably received, nevertheless it was very excessive threat of wrecking myself and I don’t bear in mind the place the opposite one was the place we completed second (Iowa) however I’m positive there’s a probability to win that one probably too.
“Yeah, don’t know. In case you preserve placing your self in these positions, you’re going to win extra races. And the nice factor is, we’re in place. It’s only a matter of placing all of it collectively there on the finish. I be ok with it. Hopefully we will proceed to place ourselves in these positions they usually’ll ultimately go our means.”
However once more, that can also be a mirrored image of the altering surroundings Briscoe finds himself in, as a result of a runner-up would have been one thing to begrudgingly have fun at Stewart-Haas nevertheless it’s now not adequate within the large image.
By his personal admission, Briscoe mentioned he wanted to win at Gibbs or discover one thing else to do on Sundays, and he has at the least received by this level of the marketing campaign. Now, perhaps a championship isn’t completely the expectation however he desires to nonetheless be energetic within the hunt come the penultimate race at Martinsville.
“Yeah, I imply we have to go and carry out within the Playoffs, proper,” Briscoe mentioned. “That’s the distinction now’s that (at) SHR, did you wish to get knocked out of the Spherical of 16? No, however if you happen to did like there was no person like, ‘man, that was a disappointing season.’ They had been nonetheless excited they made the Playoffs.
“The place right here (Joe Gibbs Racing), it’s nearly like if you happen to don’t make the Spherical of 8, that’s form of a failure on the yr and actually the ultimate 4 even, proper? It’s only a completely different mentality. For me, suppose we’re absolutely able to making it to the ultimate 4. From a pace standpoint, I might say arguably we’re one of many higher automobiles form of week in and week out, it’s only a matter of placing the entire race collectively.”
Briscoe mentioned he has the potential of Denny Hamlin and Christopher Bell nevertheless it’s only a matter of executing the best way their groups do.
“They’re doing a greater job proper now placing the entire race collectively than what we do, and a whole lot of that falls on myself going again to what I used to be simply saying with the danger versus reward,” Briscoe mentioned. “I believe as I get higher in understanding and getting extra expertise, that’ll be higher for me. However yeah, I’m glad we had been in a position to win a race and make the Playoffs, however now that we’re right here, we have to do one thing about it.”
If Briscoe is to make the ultimate 4, it’s greater than seemingly going to require a win, he surmises. He’s 4 factors above the cutline now but when he advances on factors into the Spherical of 12, he’ll begin that spherical under the cutline after which faces a fair bigger margin ought to he advance on factors into the Spherical of 8.
Come a sure level, Briscoe goes to must win.
“I might like to have extra Playoff factors,” Briscoe mentioned. “I’m assured that we will get to that Spherical of 8, however when you get to the Spherical of 8, at our factors deficit, there’s an opportunity you’re going to nearly must win the race. Any person’s going to have the ability to level their means into the ultimate 4, however realistically for us, it’s in all probability not going to be an choice.
“We’re already beginning 20-30 factors behind, in order that’s the massive factor I believe for us is we’ve to have the ability to execute in these first two rounds and hopefully win a race or two. If we will try this and shorten that hole Playoff points-wise, I believe it places us in a greater spot.”
Happily for him, the playoffs this yr begin with the crown jewel race that he received final yr when it was the common season finale within the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway. And actually, the extra issues change, the extra they keep the identical as a result of Briscoe looks like he must win this race simply as a lot as he wanted to final yr.
“I really feel like we have to go win it simply to lock into the subsequent spherical,” Briscoe mentioned. “It’s completely different (as a result of) your again was up in opposition to the wall when it’s the final race of the common season and also you’re not going to race for a championship if you happen to don’t win however being within the playoffs this yr, it’s the identical feeling — that it’s a must to go carry out. …
“It’s not a must-win and if I’m working sixth, I don’t must do something attempting to win the race and go wreck. However if you happen to can win the race, we have to do it for the playoff factors that include it.
“Hopefully, I can go there and again up what we had been in a position to do final yr nevertheless it’s going to be completely different. Every thing adjustments all year long. Setups are completely different, tires are completely different, monitor will age, and it’ll be a problem for positive.”
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