Joe Gibbs Racing’s Chase Briscoe is feeling the intense pressure of securing Chase Briscoe playoff points as he prepares for the first Round of 12 race on Sunday, September 21, at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. The No. 19 Toyota driver qualified in 18th place for the Mobil 1 301 but acknowledged that many drivers ahead of him have already locked in valuable points through strong qualifying performances.
Currently sitting sixth in the playoff standings, 10 points above the cutoff, Briscoe managed to maintain his position after finishing in the top ten at the previous Cup Series race held at Bristol Motor Speedway. Despite this, the middle-of-the-pack starting position at New Hampshire presents a tough challenge for the driver, who understands the crucial role stage points play in advancing through the playoffs.
Challenges of Starting Mid-Pack in Playoffs
Briscoe spoke candidly with NASCAR reporter Dustin Long about the difficulties of starting outside the front rows. With six pole positions already secured this season, the 18th-place qualifying result was a significant drop compared to his usual performances. His lap time of 29.511 seconds, at an average speed of 129.064 mph, fell well behind top qualifiers like Ryan Blaney, who holds the fifth spot in points and earned the pole alongside teammate Joey Logano from Team Penske.
“The hard thing is just the playoffs are all about stage points, man. It’s really where you make or break it. And a lot of those guys that we’re already ahead of in points, they all qualified up front. So the odds of them getting stage points are pretty extreme. So, yeah, I don’t know, we just gotta try to go forward,”
Briscoe admitted. He knows overcoming this placing will require a strategic approach during the race.
Briscoe also reflected on the challenge of navigating through the field starting at 18th, an experience he had not faced before at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. He added,
“I don’t know what the key is of driving through the field starting 18 cuz I’ve never truthfully done it here before. … I know our car will be better. It’s just a matter of trying to see what guys do. And as the lanes kind of progress and widen out, just trying to find a place where your car works.”
Notably, several playoff contenders positioned ahead of Briscoe qualified better, including William Byron in fifth, Denny Hamlin in ninth, and Kyle Larson in 16th place. These competitors have an advantage in collecting Chase Briscoe playoff points through their leading race positions, highlighting the uphill battle Briscoe faces in earning critical stage points.
Briscoe’s Past Success and Hope for Rain at New Hampshire
Briscoe’s record at New Hampshire Motor Speedway offers some hope amid qualifying struggles. On the 1.06-mile oval in New England, he has secured two top-10 finishes, including a second-place start and finish last year behind teammate Christopher Bell. That race was notably interrupted by rain delays exceeding two hours, forcing the field onto wet-weather tires, a condition Briscoe handled with skill.
Given his experience in wet conditions, the 30-year-old driver expressed hope for rain during the upcoming race, which could level the playing field and play to his strengths.
“So hopefully it’ll rain tomorrow. … If it rained, I feel really good about it,”
Briscoe said.
This season, Briscoe has earned two victories and entered the playoffs with a strong momentum, posting three consecutive top-10 finishes in the first three playoff races held at Darlington, Gateway, and Bristol. At Darlington, he not only won but also held the second position towards the end of the race, while at Gateway he qualified third and finished runner-up to Hamlin.
Implications for Playoff Progression
Chase Briscoe’s situation highlights the fine margins between contenders as the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs continue. With stage points playing a pivotal role in determining who remains in contention, his 18th-place start could put him at a disadvantage versus drivers like Ryan Blaney, Joey Logano, Denny Hamlin, William Byron, and Kyle Larson, who start near the front and have better opportunities to score crucial points early in the race.
His hope for rain suggests an awareness that changing track conditions might offer an unexpected advantage, allowing him to make up ground despite the tough starting position. As the Round of 12 unfolds, Briscoe’s performance at New Hampshire could significantly influence his playoff journey, where every point counts in the battle to move toward the final rounds.
#NASCAR … Chase Briscoe starts 18th today and talks about the challenge he will face at New Hampshire. pic.twitter.com/50NsFPBUAU
— Dustin Long (@dustinlong) September 21, 2025
