Chase Briscoe is striving to secure his place in the next stage of the NASCAR Cup Playoffs, entering the pivotal Bank of America ROVAL 400 at Charlotte Motor Speedway this Sunday with significant pressure on the line. As the only driver to achieve top-10 finishes in each of the first five postseason races, Briscoe’s performance has been consistent, yet the tight standings mean his advancement is far from guaranteed, making the Chase Briscoe NASCAR Cup Playoffs journey especially compelling.
Consistent Finishes Bring Little Comfort Heading Into the ROVAL
Sitting seventh in the standings, Chase Briscoe finds himself 21 points above the elimination threshold as the field narrows from 12 to eight contenders. He maintains a slim eight-point lead over defending champion Joey Logano in eighth position, and is 21 points ahead of ninth-place Ross Chastain. Despite his impressive postseason results for Joe Gibbs Racing’s No. 19 Toyota, Briscoe knows the competitive nature of the NASCAR Cup Series means there’s little margin for error as the playoffs intensify.
Reflecting on the challenge, Briscoe stated,
I think this weekend, we’re obviously really just racing the 22 (Logano) and the 1 (Chastain),
Chase Briscoe, driver.
If he can outperform Logano and Chastain throughout the stages and the race, Briscoe stands a great chance of advancing regardless of other outcomes. However, he acknowledged the difficulty ahead, continuing,
But it’s obviously not that easy either. It’s tough knowing that we’ve been as good as we have, and there’s the potential to be knocked out.
Chase Briscoe, driver.
Strategic Decisions Are Set to Shape the Playoff Fate
The Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course, known as the ROVAL, poses significant strategic dilemmas for Briscoe and his crew chief, James Small. Among the most critical decisions is whether to pit early in order to preserve track position, or gamble for stage points by staying out, which risks being shuffled to the back at key moments. Briscoe, who claimed a notable win here in the 2018 NASCAR Xfinity Series event, explained the precariousness of these decisions, saying,
All the Playoff guys are going to stay out to get stage points, and we’re going to get put to the back, and you’re going to be restarting 20th to 30th,
Chase Briscoe, driver.
He elaborated on the volatility of the ROVAL,
That’s where all your Playoff hopes and dreams can change really, really quickly.
Chase Briscoe, driver.
Briscoe also remarked on how the current points buffer helps, but does not guarantee safety,
That’s where I think you have to be really smart and conscious about the decisions that you’re making. It’s a little bit easier, I guess, having a little bit of a buffer.
Chase Briscoe, driver.
Competitive Field and Standout Performers
The race features formidable competition, with Shane van Gisbergen of Trackhouse Racing considered a heavy favorite thanks to his domination of the road course events this season. The New Zealander has claimed victory in the past four road course races, making him a benchmark for other contenders. Ross Chastain, currently just below the cut and fighting to surpass Briscoe and Logano, stated his intentions to closely measure his speed against van Gisbergen,
(Crew chief) Phil Surgen and the guys get to figure out how to get stage points and set ourselves up for the end of the race,
Ross Chastain, driver.
He summarized the significance of outright speed,
A lot of it depends on speed. If we’re fast enough to battle with SVG, then we don’t care as much about stage points because we’re fast, and we just go win the race.
Ross Chastain, driver.
Pressure Mounts for Drivers Near the Cut Line
While Briscoe faces direct competition from Logano and Chastain, other drivers are in even more precarious positions. Bubba Wallace and Tyler Reddick, teammates at 23XI Racing, are 26 and 29 points behind the cutoff. Austin Cindric of Team Penske trails by 48 points and realistically must secure a victory to advance, given his best ROVAL result is a fourth-place finish from last year.
Success at the ROVAL is not new for Playoff contenders. Current championship hopefuls like Ryan Blaney, Chase Elliott, Kyle Larson, and Christopher Bell have all secured wins on the Charlotte Road Course in recent seasons. Notably, Blaney and Elliott have already clinched places in the Round of 8 by winning at New Hampshire and Kansas, respectively. Larson and Bell are also well-positioned, with 54- and 44-point cushions over the cutoff line.
Historic Precedents Add Intrigue to the Elimination Battle
The high-stakes nature of the playoff elimination was best illustrated at last year’s ROVAL race. Joey Logano narrowly avoided elimination due to Alex Bowman’s post-race disqualification, which led to Logano continuing his campaign and ultimately claiming his third Cup Series title. Such dramatic twists highlight the unpredictability of playoff races like the Bank of America ROVAL 400, where a single moment can alter the championship landscape.
As Chase Briscoe and his competitors prepare for Sunday, the combination of strategic gambles, track challenges, and pressure-packed scenarios ensures that their fight for a spot in the next playoff round will be intense. The outcomes at Charlotte Motor Speedway will not only determine who moves forward but may also set the tone for the rest of the 2024 NASCAR Cup Playoffs.
