Against All Odds: Chase Briscoe’s Shocking Playoff Surge as Stewart-Haas Racing Faces Final Curtain

Chase Briscoe has defied the odds. After finishing dead last at Atlanta Motor Speedway, few would have expected the Stewart-Haas Racing driver to advance into the playoff Round of 12. Yet, the 29-year-old has turned his season around with two top-ten finishes at Watkins Glen International and Bristol Motor Speedway, keeping his championship dreams alive. Full of confidence, the future Joe Gibbs Racing driver is now eyeing a deep playoff run, with hopes of contending for the title at Phoenix Raceway.

Despite Stewart-Haas Racing shutting down at the end of the 2024 season, Briscoe’s No. 14 team has plenty to feel good about. If his recent performances are any indication, Briscoe has shown that he can go toe-to-toe with any driver on the track. This momentum is critical as he heads into the 2024 Hollywood Casino 400 with his title aspirations still intact.

Briscoe’s season has been nothing short of remarkable. Early on, Stewart-Haas Racing’s future seemed bleak after announcing its closure, creating a cloud of uncertainty over the team. With personnel moving on and resources stretched thin, few expected their drivers to make much of an impact. However, everything changed when Briscoe secured a dramatic victory at Darlington Raceway—his first Cup Series win since Phoenix Raceway in 2022.

Commenting on Briscoe’s unexpected success, NASCAR YouTuber Eric Estepp remarked, “Chase Briscoe’s playing hero ball right now. He won at Darlington, we won’t talk about Atlanta. Back-to-back top-10s. What a month! Everyone dismissed this team. Drivers are leaving, crew members too. Ford’s pulling back. But Briscoe’s through to the Round of 12. Huge respect and credit to him and the No. 14 team for that performance.”

Briscoe’s journey through the first playoff round has been a rollercoaster. The opening Round of 16 race at Atlanta was disastrous, with an early crash involving Kyle Larson leaving Briscoe with a 38th-place finish. He entered the second playoff race at Watkins Glen needing a miracle, trailing 21 points below the cutline. Embracing a nothing-to-lose mentality, Briscoe delivered a stellar sixth-place finish, the best result among playoff drivers on the road course.

The pressure was still on, though, as Briscoe knew he needed a strong result at Bristol Motor Speedway to stay in the hunt for the title. Despite a series of setbacks, including a malfunctioning rear-view mirror, a brake fan fire, and a poor pit stop, Briscoe battled through and finished eighth. His ability to take advantage of race restarts and maintain composure under pressure kept his championship hopes alive.

With standout results at Darlington, Watkins Glen, and Bristol, the atmosphere at Stewart-Haas Racing has shifted. The team now believes they can make a serious run at reaching the Championship 4 at Phoenix Raceway.

Teammate Noah Gragson has pledged his support, ready to help Briscoe in the coming races as he pushes for a title. Expressing his enthusiasm, Gragson said, “I want Chase to win the championship, and we’re going to support him in every way we can. I’m proud of him and his team. If I can help him on restarts or race him clean, that’s what I’m going to do. I’m here for him.”

With seven races left in the season, Gragson will have plenty of opportunities to lend a hand. Briscoe is determined to fight for the championship but knows he’ll need all the support he can get. If he manages to pull off the win, it would be one of NASCAR’s greatest underdog stories—a perfect way to cap off Stewart-Haas Racing’s final chapter in the sport. Though the odds are long, Briscoe has proven time and again that anything can happen in motorsports.