Chase Briscoe is set to write a remarkable chapter in the Chase Briscoe NASCAR championship narrative as he competes for the Cup Series title this Sunday at Phoenix Raceway in Avondale, Arizona. With a history rooted in determination and hard-fought opportunity, Briscoe now faces rivals William Byron, Denny Hamlin, and Kyle Larson with everything on the line for his first championship victory.
Briscoe’s Journey from Small-Town Indiana to NASCAR Stardom
Growing up in Mitchell, Indiana, surrounded by a family dedicated to grassroots racing, Chase Briscoe was immersed in motorsports from a young age. By his early twenties, Briscoe packed his hopes and belongings into his car, heading for North Carolina to chase his NASCAR ambitions. Without a safety net, Briscoe relied on perseverance and a bit of fortune to find his place in professional racing.
One pivotal moment came during an unplanned encounter at a restaurant, where Briscoe met a HighPoint.com executive. The meeting led to crucial sponsorship for the 2020 season. That year, Briscoe won nine NASCAR Xfinity Series races, earning a chance to move up to the Cup Series with Stewart-Haas Racing for 2021.
Challenges With Stewart-Haas Racing and Rising Above Setbacks
Joining forces with his racing hero and now team owner Tony Stewart, Briscoe fulfilled a childhood aspiration but encountered tough times as SHR faced a period of struggle. Despite his talents, Briscoe’s progress was hampered by the team’s decline and a costly mistake in 2023. The penalty that resulted was the harshest points loss in NASCAR history, dropping him to a low 30th place in the standings.
But Briscoe’s perseverance shone through adversity. He achieved his first Cup Series win at Phoenix Raceway in 2022 and advanced to the Round of 8 in the playoffs that year. As Stewart-Haas Racing’s operations started winding down in 2024, Briscoe captured the Southern 500 at Darlington, securing his playoff spot and reigniting his championship hopes.
Defying Expectations on the Road to the Championship
Many in the racing community doubted Briscoe would claim any wins this season, yet he defied expectations by securing three victories at legendary tracks: a breakthrough win at Pocono for JGR, another triumph at Darlington, and a critical win at Talladega that locked him into the Championship 4 field. These performances have solidified his place among the season’s standout drivers.
Briscoe’s impressive summer and fall run has not gone unnoticed. Over the most recent 19 races, he has achieved three wins, 12 top-10 finishes, 16 top-10 starting positions, and 789 laps led. Discounting two races affected by DNFs, his average finish stands at a strong 7.88, proving his consistency at the sport’s highest level.
The Advantage of a Strong Start at Phoenix Raceway
Briscoe’s capacity to start races near the front has been key to his recent results. At Phoenix Raceway, which hosts Sunday’s finale, starting position is especially vital. Since the start of NASCAR’s NextGen era, winners at Phoenix have begun the race, on average, from 6.3rd position, and in the championship-deciding race, the average is only 3.7. Briscoe’s qualifying prowess could make the difference in his quest for the title.
Looking Ahead: Briscoe Stands on the Brink of NASCAR Immortality
From his early days in Mitchell, Indiana, to a chance meeting that altered his trajectory, and through multiple career-defining victories, Chase Briscoe has become more than an underdog. With NASCAR’s biggest prize within reach, his persistence and ability to overcome setbacks set him apart from the competition. As he lines up alongside William Byron, Denny Hamlin, and Kyle Larson at Phoenix Raceway, Briscoe has the opportunity to realize his lifelong dream and cement his name among NASCAR’s champions.
