Chase Briscoe, the No. 19 Toyota driver who grew up idolizing Tony Stewart, is once again in the conversation for the NASCAR Cup Series title. Briscoe’s recent victories at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and Charlotte Motor Speedway have vaulted him back into the playoff “Chase” and narrowed the gap to points leader Kyle Larson.
Back‑to‑Back Wins Revive Championship Chances
On Sunday at Charlotte, Briscoe edged out teammate Christopher Bell by just 0.029 seconds, delivering the second‑closest finish in the track’s 66‑year history. The win follows a triumph the previous week in Las Vegas, where Briscoe held off a strong field to claim his second straight playoff victory.
Those two wins have cut Briscoe’s deficit from 123 points to 65 points with four races remaining before the champion is crowned. Denny Hamlin sits 49 points back and Bell 51 points back, so the battle for the title remains tight.
Briscoe’s Outlook and Strategy
“We’re certainly in contention,” Briscoe said after the Charlotte race. “We probably need to win another race or two, but we’ve put ourselves in the ballgame. That’s all you can ask for.” He acknowledged that four laps of the playoffs cost his team 75 points due to miscues, but emphasized that the focus now is on the upcoming race at Phoenix.
Briscoe’s crew chief, James Small, urged the team to keep the momentum going. “We’ve got to step on their throats while we can,” Small said, adding with a laugh that Briscoe is “a silent assassin” when he’s behind the wheel. The driver agreed, noting, “You can be a nice guy outside the race car, but in the race car I think you have to be a killer.”
Ultra‑Aggressive Approach Needed
Looking ahead, Briscoe said the only way to close the points gap is to keep winning. “If you just run second or third and Larson runs second or third with you, you’re not going to gain 65 points in four weeks. You have to win races and be ultra aggressive,” he explained.
Larry’s crew chief, Cliff Daniels, reminded his team that the season is not over. “Sunday was a good reality check for us,” Daniels said, noting Larson’s sixth‑place finish – the first time he has finished outside the top five in the postseason – but also pointing out that Larson added nine points to his lead.
What’s at Stake
With the championship still up for grabs, Briscoe’s recent performances have energized his fan base and added intrigue to the final stretch of the playoffs. The driver’s determination to stay aggressive aligns with the historic comeback of Tony Stewart in 2011, when Stewart captured the title after winning five of ten playoff races.
As the series moves to Phoenix next week, Briscoe and his team will look to translate their recent momentum into another victory, hoping to further close the points gap and keep the title fight alive.
Original reporting: KSAT Sports (San Antonio) — read the source article.
