Noah Gragson defeated Chase Briscoe in an unexpected result during Round 1 of the NASCAR In-Season Tournament at EchoPark Speedway in Atlanta, bringing new attention to Chase Briscoe’s NASCAR tournament loss. This dramatic outcome not only pushed Gragson into the next round but allowed him to claim Briscoe’s race-worn gloves, which were signed by Dale Earnhardt Jr., in a lighthearted auction twist between the competitors.
Unexpected Matchup Turns into Notable NASCAR Upset
The tournament‘s first round matched close friends Noah Gragson and Chase Briscoe, with Briscoe entering as the No. 2 overall seed and clear favorite. Gragson, however, not only managed to pull off the upset by finishing 25th amidst a turbulent 400-mile race, but outlasted Briscoe, who was eliminated with a 35th place result due to involvement in a multi-car crash referred to as the “Big One” at Lap 69.
Briscoe’s son, Brooks, is a notable fan of Gragson, adding extra intrigue to the race’s story. Following his elimination, Briscoe decided to auction off his gloves from the race, which he had previously had signed by Dale Earnhardt Jr., a NASCAR legend and fan favorite.
Gragson Acquires Briscoe’s Gloves Amid Friendly Banter
After Briscoe listed his gloves to be auctioned, Gragson joined the auction and ultimately emerged as the winning bidder. He described his victory and intentions regarding the memorabilia:
“Look what I won last night. Got [Briscoe] gloves from the race that he got knocked out of the bracket challenge lol,”
—Noah Gragson, NASCAR Driver
“Gonna make him sign both sets and get them framed.”
—Noah Gragson, NASCAR Driver
The lighthearted rivalry reached another level when Briscoe replied to Gragson with a playful admission:
“Jokes on you I was the one running the price up after I saw you posting about them.”
—Chase Briscoe, NASCAR Driver
Intense Competition and Costly Elimination in Atlanta
The Atlanta race was marked by tenacity and mishaps. Although Briscoe arrived with confidence after a recent win at Pocono Raceway, his tournament hopes faded after being caught up in the major incident, damaging his car and forcing his team and NASCAR officials to make a difficult decision about his ability to finish the race. Following the event, Briscoe shared his frustration:
“We were about ready to go. I guess NASCAR came over there and saw our chassis was bent or broke, so they’re like, ‘Yeah, you guys can’t go back out.’ So kind of wasted 30 minutes working on it. Just unfortunate,”
—Chase Briscoe, NASCAR Driver
“The No. 19 Toyota missed the balance at the beginning and put us behind, and obviously, that big wreck, there was just nowhere to go. Looking forward to two road courses coming up and hopefully a JGR or Toyota car can win. Just an unfortunate day for us.”
—Chase Briscoe, NASCAR Driver
Looking Ahead: Gragson Continues His Tournament Run
Although his wallet is now lighter from the auction, Gragson remains in strong contention for the $1 million prize as part of the NASCAR In-Season Tournament. His next challenge is set for Sunday at the Chicago Street Race, where he will compete against Ryan Preece in the second round.
This win not only added to Gragson’s momentum but also intensified the competitive spirit among drivers in this unique tournament format. Chase Briscoe, meanwhile, shifts his focus to upcoming road courses, aiming to put Atlanta’s misfortune behind him and representing both JGR and Toyota in future races. For fans and drivers alike, the dramatic exchanges and ongoing tournament promise further unpredictability and excitement in the NASCAR season.
