As the Chase Briscoe NASCAR In-Season Tournament begins during Saturday night’s NASCAR Cup race at Echo Park Speedway, the battle for $1 million intensifies for 32 drivers. Although some have already qualified for the 16-driver, 10-race NASCAR Cup playoffs and may be downplaying the tournament, competitors like Chase Briscoe, who recently secured his playoff spot with a victory at Pocono, are taking the new format seriously.
Briscoe is scheduled for a direct head-to-head matchup in the first round of the Challenge with Noah Gragson, who enters as the 31st seed out of 32. Gragson, still seeking his first Cup playoff appearance, must win one of the remaining regular season races to secure a berth, heightening the stakes for both drivers.
Briscoe’s focus is on outperforming Gragson, knowing that if he finishes behind Gragson on Saturday, his path to the $1 million prize ends there. This single-elimination format means that even a marginally worse performance, such as Briscoe placing 15th if Gragson finishes 10th, results in immediate elimination for Briscoe and advancement for Gragson to the next Challenge round at the upcoming Chicago Street Race.
Even if Gragson places near the back, as long as Briscoe finishes one spot below, Gragson advances, and Briscoe is knocked out. The pressure is on Briscoe to constantly monitor his rival and maintain an advantage through the checkered flag.
“It definitely is going to be a unique complexion to the race,”
—Chase Briscoe, NASCAR Cup Series Driver
“I’ve never really been where it is head-to-head with one other guy.”
—Chase Briscoe, NASCAR Cup Series Driver
While most playoff battles involve group dynamics, this tournament creates unique tension by forcing direct competition between two drivers. The level of intensity in such a one-on-one battle, especially if the outcome hinges on small differences, adds another layer of complexity to the race strategy.
“Maybe it could cause chaos at the end. I don’t know how desperate people will be in the first round, but if you get knocked out the first round, you can’t move on. I’ve looked — not only at the matchup with Noah (Gragson) — but kind of who I will go up against every round.”
—Chase Briscoe, NASCAR Cup Series Driver
Briscoe also commented on his team‘s focus, highlighting that their primary concern is winning races, knowing that victory guarantees advancement in the Challenge regardless of the tournament bracket.
“The team, I don’t think, truthfully, really cares. They are more worried about winning the race, and obviously, if you win the race, you are going to move on anyways,”
—Chase Briscoe, NASCAR Cup Series Driver
Briscoe’s Playoff Security Offers Contrast to Gragson’s Urgency
With his recent Pocono victory, Briscoe is already locked into the NASCAR Cup playoffs. Gragson, on the other hand, faces more pressure: he needs to win one of the nine remaining regular season events, as he is too far behind in points to secure a playoff position through consistency alone.
Briscoe noted that while the teams themselves might not drastically alter their strategies based on head-to-head matchups, the final rounds of the Challenge could see shifts in approach, especially when playoff status influences decisions.
“I don’t think the teams are going to change their strategy based on who you are racing, because based on the Playoff standpoint, it doesn’t really do anything,”
—Chase Briscoe, NASCAR Cup Series Driver
“I do think when you get to the final round, or even the final four, I think there is maybe a chance that maybe teams will call a different strategy based on the Playoff situation.”
—Chase Briscoe, NASCAR Cup Series Driver
Renewed Rivalry Between Briscoe and Gragson Raises the Stakes
Adding to the storyline is the revived rivalry between Briscoe and Gragson, who were teammates last year at Stewart Haas Racing before the team‘s closure. This dynamic injects an added level of competitive energy into their direct Challenge matchup, with both drivers openly acknowledging the tension and mutual motivation.
“Noah and I trash talked each other for a little bit this week, so it will be fun to kind of have that competition, and certainly, out of all of the tracks, I would say, in this matchup deal, I’m by far the most nervous about this one — especially going up against Noah,”
—Chase Briscoe, NASCAR Cup Series Driver
“(Atlanta) is a place where you can come and run really, really well, so it will be a tough challenge for sure.”
—Chase Briscoe, NASCAR Cup Series Driver
Briscoe faces a personal challenge as well, given that his son is an avid fan of Gragson. This friendly family rivalry adds yet another dimension to an already intense competition.
“My son’s favorite driver is Noah,”
—Chase Briscoe, NASCAR Cup Series Driver
What the Tournament Format Means for the NASCAR Cup Series
The new in-season tournament format brings an unprecedented level of suspense and direct competition to the series. With $1 million on the line and drivers forced into head-to-head matchups, both established playoff contenders like Chase Briscoe and determined hopefuls such as Noah Gragson must adjust to the tournament pressures. Each stage of the Challenge places fresh emphasis on individual performance rather than team points, promising closer battles and potentially unexpected outcomes as the field narrows.
This direct competition structure is likely to keep fans and teams on edge, especially as strategic decisions and on-track maneuvering become critical with every race. Whether Briscoe maintains his edge or Gragson capitalizes on his opportunity, the outcome will not only impact their Championship aspirations but also set a precedent for future NASCAR in-season challenges.
