Chase Briscoe competing fiercely in the Las Vegas race. [Image Source: TOWNNEWS]
Chase Briscoe made a daring strategic call during the NASCAR Cup SeriesSouth Point 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Sunday, but his attempt to steer the race on older tires ultimately left him just shy of victory. The Chase Briscoe Las Vegas race was marked by decisive pit strategy and late-race drama, as Briscoe’s two-tire gamble nearly paid off in a crucial playoff round.
Late-Race Decision Defines Briscoe’s Day on the Track
For the second time in his Cup career, Briscoe found himself at the front of the field with older tires in a vital playoff race, recalling a similar scenario at Martinsville Speedway in 2022. As the race wound down, a caution with 30 laps remaining set the stage for a make-or-break pit decision. Briscoe, running seventh and facing right rear damage, saw his crew chief James Small opt for a two-tire stop to vault him ahead of the competition.
James Small explained the potential outcomes of their move:
“The other option was four (tires) and put us back where we were,”
Small, Crew Chief. He continued,
“And at that point, we’d lost some of our car potential I feel, and I didn’t know if we’d have the ability to come back through.”
This measured risk was intended to give Briscoe the track position needed for a possible win, a critical advantage in a playoff race where every point can affect championship opportunities.
The Pivotal Shootout: Battling Against the Odds
The restart after the final pit stops sent the field into a 14-lap sprint. Briscoe executed the restart with precision, pulling out ahead while competitors regrouped. Small acknowledged Briscoe’s clutch move, stating,
Image of: Chase Briscoe
“Thankfully we got the lead there, and that’s the key,”
Small, Crew Chief, adding,
“If you don’t, you’ve got a parachute out and you’re going backwards in a hurry.”
However, Briscoe’s advantage proved fleeting as Denny Hamlin, driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, surged forward on four fresh tires.
With just four laps remaining, Hamlin overtook Briscoe and secured his place in the Championship 4. Kyle Larson and Christopher Bell, both on four-tire strategies, followed suit, getting past Briscoe as he managed his fading grip.
Briscoe Reflects on the Outcome and Playoff Implications
Crossing the line in fourth position, Briscoe commented on his car’s condition in the closing moments:
“I was so loose at the end; I just had nothing left,”
Chase Briscoe, Driver. Despite falling short of victory, he remained philosophical about the result, stating,
“… I wish we would have won, but for us to finish fourth, that was probably a spot or two better than what we were probably going to finish. Like I said, it could have been a lot worse, and we’re on the upside of points, which is not something to be mad about.”
Chase Briscoe, Driver.
Briscoe now sits 15 points above the playoff elimination line as the series advances, positioning himself for a potential first-ever Championship 4 appearance in his initial season with Joe Gibbs Racing. While three spots remain to be claimed for NASCAR’s season finale, Briscoe’s calculated gamble showcased both the thrill and heartbreak of playoff racing, and set the stage for a tense run to the championship decider.
As the NASCAR Cup Series heads deeper into the playoff rounds, drivers like William Byron, Ty Dillon, and Kyle Larson remain pivotal figures in the unfolding narrative, while Denny Hamlin’s 60th career win secures his place in the title fight. All eyes now turn to the remaining contenders vying for the final spots in the coveted Championship 4 lineup.
