Briscoe returns to Southern 500 facing different m...

This would be the third time that Chase Briscoe has raced within the NASCAR Cup Sequence Playoffs however this time is totally different.

He’s anticipated to compete and contend for a championship.

His first two playoff appearances got here with the embattled remnants of Stewart-Haas Racing in 2022 and 2024. This was not the group that dominated a decade with Tony Stewart and Kevin Harvick however the model that crumbled and ultimately folded.

That Briscoe even made the playoffs was one thing to rejoice, particularly final yr as a consequence of so many staff departing as soon as the closure information was made public, however the requirements are a lot totally different at Joe Gibbs Racing.

“I used to be telling my spouse that couple weeks in the past, that that is actually the primary time I’ve ever legitimately thought I might win a Cup championship,” Briscoe stated throughout NASCAR Playoff Media Day in Uptown Charlotte on Wednesday. “Previously, you make the Playoffs and it’s thrilling, however down deep you sort of know that the chances of you profitable are fairly slim, proper?

“Whereas now, to not say that I’m the favourite by any means, however I really feel like I’ve a official likelihood to go do it, the place at SHR, you by no means actually felt such as you had a official shot to do it. Undoubtedly feels totally different this time round figuring out that you’ve got a shot and I’d say this Playoffs feels totally different due to that.”

Briscoe completed the common season eighth within the standings, together with his victory at Pocono locking him into the playoffs, beginning the 10-race gamut because the No. 9 seed and 4 factors above the cutline. There have been 10 total top-5s within the first 26 races and three runner-ups at Sonoma, Dover and Iowa.

“We’ve completed second loads, however the one was to (Shane Van Gisbergen, Sonoma) and that one, I don’t suppose I might have received except one thing loopy occurred to him,” Briscoe stated. “The Dover race, I undoubtedly suppose I might have doubtlessly received, nevertheless it was very excessive danger of wrecking myself and I don’t bear in mind the place the opposite one was the place we completed second (Iowa) however I’m positive there’s a likelihood to win that one doubtlessly too.

“Yeah, don’t know. If you happen to preserve placing your self in these positions, you’re going to win extra races. And the great factor is, we’re in place. It’s only a matter of placing all of it collectively there on the finish. I be ok with it. Hopefully we are able to proceed to place ourselves in these positions and so they’ll ultimately go our approach.”

However once more, that can also be a mirrored image of the altering atmosphere Briscoe finds himself in, as a result of a runner-up would have been one thing to begrudgingly rejoice at Stewart-Haas nevertheless it’s now not adequate within the massive image.

By his personal admission, Briscoe stated he wanted to win at Gibbs or discover one thing else to do on Sundays, and he has no less than received by this level of the marketing campaign. Now, perhaps a championship isn’t completely the expectation however he desires to nonetheless be lively within the hunt come the penultimate race at Martinsville.

“Yeah, I imply we have to go and carry out within the Playoffs, proper,” Briscoe stated. “That’s the distinction now’s that (at) SHR, did you need to get knocked out of the Spherical of 16? No, however when you did like there was no person like, ‘man, that was a disappointing season.’ They had been nonetheless excited they made the Playoffs.

“The place right here (Joe Gibbs Racing), it’s nearly like when you don’t make the Spherical of 8, that’s sort of a failure on the yr and actually the ultimate 4 even, proper? It’s only a totally different mentality. For me, suppose we’re totally able to making it to the ultimate 4. From a pace standpoint, I’d say arguably we’re one of many higher automobiles sort of week in and week out, it’s only a matter of placing the entire race collectively.”

Briscoe stated he has the potential of Denny Hamlin and Christopher Bell nevertheless it’s only a matter of executing the best way their groups do.

“They’re doing a greater job proper now placing the entire race collectively than what we do, and lots of that falls on myself going again to what I used to be simply saying with the chance versus reward,” Briscoe stated. “I feel as I get higher in understanding and getting extra expertise, that’ll be higher for me. However yeah, I’m glad we had been capable of win a race and make the Playoffs, however now that we’re right here, we have to do one thing about it.”

If Briscoe is to make the ultimate 4, it’s greater than probably going to require a win, he surmises. He’s 4 factors above the cutline now but when he advances on factors into the Spherical of 12, he’ll begin that spherical beneath the cutline after which faces an excellent bigger margin ought to he advance on factors into the Spherical of 8.

Come a sure level, Briscoe goes to must win.

“I’d like to have extra Playoff factors,” Briscoe stated. “I’m assured that we are able to get to that Spherical of 8, however when you get to the Spherical of 8, at our factors deficit, there’s an opportunity you’re going to nearly must win the race. Anyone’s going to have the ability to level their approach into the ultimate 4, however realistically for us, it’s in all probability not going to be an choice.

“We’re already beginning 20-30 factors behind, in order that’s the massive factor I feel for us is we have now to have the ability to execute in these first two rounds and hopefully win a race or two. If we are able to do this and shorten that hole Playoff points-wise, I feel it places us in a greater spot.”

Happily for him, the playoffs this yr begin with the crown jewel race that he received final yr when it was the common season finale within the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway. And actually, the extra issues change, the extra they keep the identical as a result of Briscoe looks like he must win this race simply as a lot as he wanted to final yr.

“I really feel like we have to go win it simply to lock into the subsequent spherical,” Briscoe stated. “It’s totally different (as a result of) your again was up towards the wall when it’s the final race of the common season and also you’re not going to race for a championship when you don’t win however being within the playoffs this yr, it’s the identical feeling — that you need to go carry out. …

“It’s not a must-win and if I’m working sixth, I don’t have to do something making an attempt to win the race and go wreck. However when you can win the race, we have to do it for the playoff factors that include it.

“Hopefully, I can go there and again up what we had been capable of do final yr nevertheless it’s going to be totally different. Every part modifications all year long. Setups are totally different, tires are totally different, observe will age, and it’ll be a problem for positive.”