With the top of Stewart-Haas Racing drawing close to, nobody anticipated the four-car group to have a automobile within the playoff combat. After which Chase Briscoe pulled off an spectacular upset within the common season finale, profitable the coveted Southern 500. It utterly modified the outlook inside the group and for its 320+ staff who face an unsure future.
“One among my guys stated it greatest the opposite day, ‘If we didn’t win that race, all people was already counting down the times to the top of the season.’ Now, they’re so excited and we’re simply counting down the times to the following race. It’s modified the complete environment on the store, the morale, persons are excited once more, and that’s one thing that as an organization we hadn’t had in a few years, so it’s fairly cool to be the man who will get to carry that to the store,” stated Briscoe within the weekly group advance.
Race winner Chase Briscoe, Stewart-Haas Racing, Ford Mustang
Picture by: Danny Hansen / NKP / Motorsport Pictures
The SHR driver was not a favourite coming into the playoffs, however he “knew we may win” — even earlier than Darlington. It appeared like his title shot was going to be over reasonably rapidly after crashing within the playoff opener and ending final, scoring just one level at Atlanta. However as soon as once more, Briscoe and the No. 14 Ford confirmed they aren’t to be underestimated. He got here again stronger than ever at Watkins Glen, amassing 12 stage factors and ending greater than another playoff driver with a sixth-place end result. Actually, he managed to remain away from all the difficulty that ensued on monitor final Sunday, crossing the end line as the one playoff driver inside the highest ten.
He had entered Watkins Glen on the very backside of the standings, 21 factors out and going through a tough climb. However in a single race, he jumped 5 drivers together with the likes of Martin Truex Jr. and Denny Hamlin. That displaying pushed him again above the cut-line, six factors up coming into Bristol. Now, the Darlington winner is taking that confidence to Bristol as he seeks to advance into the Spherical of 12.
“The boldness that comes together with that, realizing if we are able to win the Southern 500, then why can’t we win this week at Bristol? I positively really feel like our group as a complete has far more confidence. We sort of stroll with extra swagger. We simply really feel higher about it. And to do it the best way we did it, beating Kyle Larson, beating Kyle Busch, it’s not like we lucked right into a win. We actually ran top-three from mile one to mile 500. Simply all that sort of combines itself into having loads of confidence, and I definitely really feel like now we have that proper now.”
“There is a completely different feeling within the air” at Bristol
With swagger and confidence they march onward, seeking to beat the percentages but once more and provides SHR a storybook ending. 4 drivers will likely be reduce from the title combat this weekend on the iconic quick monitor, and like Watkins Glen, avoiding the chaos will likely be key.
“Going into Bristol, it’s an elimination race — and actually, any elimination race, whether or not it’s Bristol or one other spherical, or for us prefer it was at Darlington — you simply know that it’s a must to do every part completely,” stated Briscoe. “You may’t have any huge mishaps, you possibly can’t have a nasty night time on pit highway, and you may’t make a giant mistake on the racetrack.
“On the finish of the day, you’re in all probability not going to win each elimination race, even should you do every part completely. However should you do every part completely that night time, you possibly can go to mattress and cling your hat on the truth that you probably did every part you could possibly and the factors simply weren’t sufficient. I believe that’s the largest factor going into an elimination race — not eliminating your self and simply placing collectively essentially the most stable night time you possibly can from begin to end.”
Corey LaJoie, Spire Motorsports, NEGU Chevrolet Camaro, Harrison Burton, Wooden Brothers Racing, Motorcraft / Fast Lane Ford Mustang, Joey Logano, Crew Penske, Shell Pennzoil Ford Mustang, Ty Dillon, Spire Motorsports, Gainbridge Chevrolet Camaro, Ryan Newman, Rick Ware Racing, Biohaven/Jacob Co. Ford Mustang, Justin Haley, Kaulig Racing, Mountain Dew Chevrolet Camaro, JJ Yeley, Rick Ware Racing, Steakhouse Elite Burgers Ford Mustang, Chase Briscoe, Stewart-Haas Racing, Rush Truck Facilities / Cummins Ford Mustang, Kevin Harvick, Stewart-Haas Racing, GEARWRENCH Ford Mustang
Picture by: Lesley Ann Miller / Motorsport Pictures
Bristol Motor Speedway by no means lacks for drama, however the pressure solely intensifies within the cutoff race below the lights on a Saturday night time.
“…There’s a distinct feeling within the air, a distinct depth, and that’s what makes the Bristol Night time Race even cooler,” added Briscoe. He is by no means gained a Cup race at BMS, however he has completed each race he is run there, which is its personal accomplishment. Briscoe has accomplished 1,991 of two,000 attainable laps on the action-packed half-mile within the Cup Sequence. Victory Lane at Bristol is not precisely unfamiliar to him both, having gained there within the Xfinity Sequence throughout the 2020 season. Regardless of that, he isn’t about underestimate the risky quick monitor.
“I really feel like Bristol is a kind of locations you by no means actually really feel like you could have it conquered, by any means,” he cautioned.”I’ve been capable of have pace there previously. The Xfinity automobile and the Cup automobile positively race completely otherwise round Bristol. However I really feel like I’ve at all times had pace at Bristol, I simply haven’t been capable of put the entire race collectively, particularly on the Cup aspect. I positively have struggled to get a very good end there even after we’ve had pace. Bodily, it’s in all probability essentially the most demanding race of the 12 months. However I really feel prefer it’s certainly one of my extra favourite racetracks that we go to. I at all times stay up for going there and having loads of enjoyable once I’m there. I simply must clearly discover that little bit extra. I really feel like I perceive it 90 %, I simply have to seek out that different 10 %.”
Watch: Briscoe basks in crown-jewel victory after claiming Southern 500, playoff berth
Nothing to lose and every part to realize
Briscoe has an X think about that that is it for the group. Furnishings Row Racing practically gained the Cup title of their final 12 months and GMS Racing got here agonizingly shut within the battle for the Truck Sequence title in 2023 earlier than closing their doorways. It isn’t unheard for a race group to carry out at their greatest because the clock is about to strike midnight.
“No different group can examine to what we’re going via, and no different group has the feelings that we do, so I believe that’s what makes us so scary,” declared Briscoe. “Now we have lots on our shoulders and there’s loads of satisfaction that comes together with that. We’re only a distinctive race group proper now. And each different group within the playoffs, they’re attempting to determine make 4 automobiles quick within the playoffs. Hendrick’s obtained 4 automobiles within the playoffs, JGR has 4 automobiles within the playoffs, our place has 4 automobiles, however solely certainly one of them is within the playoffs, so all the focus is on the 14 automobile, and I believe that makes it somewhat simpler for us.”
“These different four-car groups should give attention to all 4 of their automobiles and convey their greatest to the racetrack each single week,” defined Briscoe.
“And even on the racetrack, they’re all going to be preventing amongst one another, not giving one another a break. With me, I’ve three teammates on the market who’re going to do basically every part they will to assist me on the racetrack, and so they can race the opposite guys somewhat bit tougher than they might race me. Then even simply making ready the racecars, we are able to take every part, the most effective of the most effective from every race automobile, personnel, no matter it might be, and apply it to our automobile. So I positively suppose there’s a bonus to being within the place that we’re in in comparison with them.”
This 12 months makes for Briscoe’s second playoff look, In 2022, he entered this exact same elimination race 9 factors beneath the cut-line. And but, superior, going so far as the Spherical of 8 that 12 months. Then and particularly now, many have a look at him as one of many underdogs, however the 29-year-old does not see it that method.
“I don’t take into account ourselves to be an underdog,” he stated. “Some individuals may’ve already written us off, however for myself and our complete race group, all of us really feel like we are able to win all of it. That’s in all probability loopy from a man who didn’t seem like he was even going to be part of it, however the best way we have a look at it’s if we are able to win the Southern 500, we are able to win in all probability any race all through the complete season. It’s in all probability the toughest race on the schedule to win and, for us, the massive factor was that every one of us thought we may win, however we didn’t know we may win. And now we all know that we are able to win, and to do it the best way we did it, the boldness and the momentum that comes with that’s distinctive and one thing that I don’t suppose another race group can match proper now.”
