Chase Briscoe faces a critical moment in Sunday’s NASCAR Cup race at the Charlotte Roval, where a victory would secure his place in the Round of 8 starting next week in Las Vegas. Briscoe’s playoff strategy focuses less on overall points and more on direct competition with the two drivers closest to him in the standings, which could be key to keeping his championship hopes alive.
Current Standings and Critical Rivals
Before the Charlotte race, Briscoe sits seventh, holding a 21-point lead above the cutoff line. Joey Logano is trailing closely behind in eighth place, 13 points above the cutline, while Ross Chastain, Bubba Wallace, Tyler Reddick, and Austin Cindric lie beneath the threshold, with Cindric requiring a win to advance. Briscoe believes that simply finishing ahead of Logano and Chastain would almost guarantee his progress to the next round.
I think this weekend, we’re obviously really just racing the 22 (Logano) and the 1 (Chastain),
Briscoe said during a media session.
If we can just go and outrun them in both stages and the race, then we’ll move on no matter what.
— Chase Briscoe, Joe Gibbs Racing driver
Challenges of the Charlotte Roval for Briscoe
Despite his playoff successes, the Charlotte Roval has not been favorable to Briscoe’s past performances. Over four Cup Series starts on the 2.28-mile road course, his average finishing position stands at 23.8, with a top result of ninth place. While he earned a win at Darlington earlier in the playoffs and followed with strong finishes at Gateway and Bristol, his inconsistency at Charlotte presents a concern.
Briscoe has managed top-10 finishes at New Hampshire and Kansas in this playoff stage, yet the threat of elimination looms. A wreck could quickly dash his hopes, emphasizing the importance of a cautious yet competitive approach on Sunday.
Crazy, we’re averaging a top-five finish in the playoffs, and we’re only (21) points above (the cutoff line),
Briscoe told The Tennessean.
Never feel safe at the Roval, but go there and try to do our job. Our road course stuff is pretty good there. See what we can do.
— Chase Briscoe
Implications of Sunday’s Race on Playoff Outlook
The stakes at the Charlotte Roval highlight how tightly contested the NASCAR Cup playoffs remain, especially among drivers jockeying near the elimination line. Briscoe’s ability to outperform Logano and Chastain could secure his advancement and provide momentum heading into Las Vegas. However, the circuit’s notorious unpredictability means that risk management will be as essential as speed.
As the playoffs progress, the outcomes of this race will shape which drivers continue their championship pursuit and which face early exits. Briscoe’s focus on outperforming his closest competitors reflects a strategic mindset aimed at navigating these high-pressure conditions successfully.
