Chase Briscoe’s transformation from a surprising underdog in last year’s NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs to a serious championship contender in 2024 is capturing attention across the racing world. After clinching victory at the 2024 Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway, Briscoe has positioned himself as a formidable competitor in the chase for the Bill France Cup this season.
The win at Darlington marked a significant milestone for the 29-year-old driver, not only delivering Stewart-Haas Racing’s final season victory with the No. 14 car but also fulfilling a lifelong dream racing for a team he admired growing up. However, his playoff run last year ended abruptly in the first round, leaving much to prove going forward.
Elevated Expectations with Joe Gibbs Racing
Transitioning to Joe Gibbs Racing in 2024, Briscoe has stepped into top-level equipment that vastly improves his chances of competing deep into the playoffs. Based in Mitchell, Indiana, he now drives the No. 19 Toyota Camry XSE and embraces the higher expectations that come with his new surroundings.
Recognizing the shift in mindset, Briscoe reflected during the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs Media Day on how this change impacts his outlook.
“I was telling my wife that couple of weeks ago, ‘this is really the first time I’ve ever legitimately thought I could win a Cup championship.’ In the past, you make the Playoffs and it’s exciting, but down deep you kind of know that the odds of you winning are pretty slim, right?”
he said. —Chase Briscoe, NASCAR driver
He added,
“Whereas now, not to say that I’m the favorite by any means, but I feel like I have a legitimate chance to go do it, where at SHR (Stewart-Haas Racing), you never really felt like you had a legitimate shot to do it.”
—Chase Briscoe, NASCAR driver
Handling Pressure as a Top Contender
Along with increased opportunity comes greater pressure. At his previous team, making the Playoffs was an achievement in itself; now, falling short of reaching the Round of 8 at Joe Gibbs Racing would be considered a failure. Briscoe emphasized this shift in expectations, stating,
“Yeah, I mean, we need to go and perform in the Playoffs, right?”
—Chase Briscoe, NASCAR driver
He explained,
“That’s the difference now is that [at] SHR, did you want to get knocked out of the Round of 16? No, but if you did, there was nobody like, ‘man, that was a disappointing season.’ They were still excited they made the Playoffs. Where here [Joe Gibbs Racing], it’s almost like if you don’t make the Round of 8, that’s kind of a failure on the year and really the final four even, right?”
—Chase Briscoe, NASCAR driver
Briscoe’s consistent performance throughout the regular season underlines his presence as a competitive force this year, boasting a win at Pocono Raceway, ten top-five finishes, and six pole positions. These results support the growing belief that he can contend seriously for the championship and potentially reach the Championship 4.
Adopting a Calm Focus Heading into the Playoffs
Despite the heightened stakes, Briscoe has chosen a calm and steady approach rather than letting the pressure overwhelm him. He described how he and his crew chief, James Small, have maintained a relaxed preparation,
“James [Small] and I have yet to talk about, like, ‘hey, the playoffs are starting this week. We need to focus on this for the next [week],’”
he said. —Chase Briscoe, NASCAR driver
Continuing, he added,
“Like, we have literally acted like it is a normal week. I texted the group chat this morning and just said, Look, fellas, like 10 weeks of the best weeks we could do, and we got a legitimate shot at this thing. But other than that, that’s about the only pep talk that we’ve had.”
—Chase Briscoe, NASCAR driver
Strategic Adjustments in Mindset and Performance
Briscoe also revealed that evolving his mindset was critical when it comes to handling the unpredictable playoff environment.
“Understanding that and knowing the risk vs reward, knowing that even on a bad day, we should still run right around the 10th, and that’s an adjustment for me to kind of be able to realize that in the moment and comprehend what’s going on because in the past, 10th was still a pretty good day,”
he explained. —Chase Briscoe, NASCAR driver
He continued,
“Especially during these Playoffs, that’s going to be something to realize is, ‘hey, don’t panic. If you just do your job, you’re probably going to run top 10-ish, for sure top 15-ish even on a bad day.’ That’s been something for me, I’ve had to really adjust my mind too, is I don’t have to try as hard. It sounds weird, but I don’t have to take these huge risks, I don’t have to do all these things because the car’s capability is going to help me a lot of the time compared to what I’m racing against, so that’s definitely been something for me that’s been a mentality shift.”
—Chase Briscoe, NASCAR driver
Thriving Under Adversity Near Playoff Cutoff
Heading into the Cook Out Southern 500, Briscoe is seeded eighth in the playoff standings, just four points above the cutoff line. This tight margin adds tension, but it is a scenario where he says he performs well.
“Just because you have a points deficit doesn’t mean you’re out of it, necessarily,”
Briscoe noted. —Chase Briscoe, NASCAR driver
He said further,
“We’ve seen that time and time again, so hopefully, we’re not in that position come after Sunday night, but if we are, it’s definitely a position I feel comfortable in, as crazy as that sounds. I’ve been under the cutline a lot my entire career in the Cup Series, and I feel like I almost perform better when I’m in that position. I’m not worried if adversity does happen. Hopefully it doesn’t, but if it does, it’s certainly somewhere I feel comfortable.”
—Chase Briscoe, NASCAR driver
Starting Strong at the Cook Out Southern 500
Briscoe will start Sunday’s Cook Out Southern 500 from the second position, just behind his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Denny Hamlin, who secured the pole position. Briscoe came close to making history by nearly sweeping pole positions in all four crown jewel events this NASCAR Cup Series season, demonstrating his speed and consistency on the track.
The race will be broadcast on USA Network starting at 6:00 PM ET, with radio coverage provided by the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, offering fans multiple ways to follow the high-stakes competition.
Significance of Briscoe’s Championship Run
Chase Briscoe’s emergence as a credible championship contender in 2024 highlights his rapid development and adaptability, moving from a talented yet overlooked underdog to a driver who can realistically compete for NASCAR’s most prestigious trophy. His mental shift to a more composed, risk-aware mindset, along with Joe Gibbs Racing’s superior equipment, sets a foundation for a lasting impact on the series.
As the playoff races unfold, Briscoe’s ability to maintain focus under pressure will be tested. His progress this season signals a promising future where he could become one of NASCAR’s standout champions, confirming that last year’s surprise was no fluke but the beginning of a new era in his racing career.
