“We’re legitimate championship contenders”: Chase Briscoe beaming with confidence after advancing to Round of 12 in playoffs

Chase Briscoe secured a spot in the Round of 12 with an eighth-place finish in the Bass Pro Shops Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway on Saturday, September 21. Following the race, he expressed confidence, countering the perception of him being an underdog by affirming his and his #14 team's status as genuine championship contenders.

Despite facing multiple challenges, including a malfunctioning rear-view mirror, a brake fan fire, and a less-than-ideal final pit stop, Briscoe adeptly navigated the track, finishing Stage 1 in P7 and Stage 2 in P8. He even escalated up to the P2 position during Stage 3, vying closely with Martin Truex Jr. However, a visible spark during a pit stop caused him to lose over 10 positions.

Undeterred, Briscoe managed the subsequent restarts, regaining lost ground but ultimately settling for eighth by the end of the race. Briscoe shared his insights and emotions (via journalist Matt Weaver on X):

"I feel like I got two tetanus shots in my arms, but other than that I feel good. [...] Winning the way we did and just the competitive side of how good we have been the last four weeks doesn't surprise me at all. I feel like we're, nobody believes me, but I feel like we're legitimate championship contenders."

"Tonight we should have arranged there probably if it wasn't for the bad pit stops and just even there at the end, I was just kind of riding around just trying to survive," he added.

Chase Briscoe also mentioned that his #14 car possesses good speed and competitive potential, asserting:

"We can run with anybody and I think we've proven that a lot of last three or four weeks."

Briscoe's playoff season challenges started with an early crash with Kyle Larson at Atlanta Motor Speedway, which relegated him to a last-place finish. However, he rebounded effectively, leveraging the playoff drivers' difficulties at Watkins Glen to secure a P6 finish and accumulate 43 points, giving him a six-point cushion entering the Bristol race.

Following his performance at Bristol, Chase Briscoe now finds himself at P12 in the playoff standings, having gained 36 points from the elimination race.

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Noah Gragson wants Chase Briscoe to win the championship

Noah Gragson recently expressed support for his teammate Chase Briscoe and talked about his commitment to aiding Briscoe's quest for the 2024 NASCAR Cup championship. During an interview with Frontstretch (via X/Twitter), Gragson articulated his support for his SHR teammate, noting:

"I want Chase [Briscoe] to win the championship and we're gonna help him as much as we can reasonably. But at the same time super proud of them [Chase Briscoe and Co.] and their efforts. If I can help him on a restart lane, race him easy, that's what I'm going to do. I'm here for him, I'm proud of him, I'm super happy for him and his group." [at 0:18]

Gragson, who himself secured a P12 finish at Bristol, is currently positioned at P25 in the driver standings.