Chase Briscoe has a date with Darlington history

gettyimages-2293712852 — DARLINGTON, SOUTH CAROLINA - SEPTEMBER 05: Chase Briscoe, driver of the #19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota, looks on during practice for the NASCAR Cup Series Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway on September 05, 2026 in Darlington, South Carolina. (Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images)

Chase Briscoe smiled and conceded he never really had held a specific love for Darlington (S.C.) Raceway, the track nicknamed “Too Tough to Tame.” But a 2020 win in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series capped with back-to-back trips to Victory Lane for winning the last two Southern 500s, certainly solidified the historic track as one of his all-time favorites.

This Sunday, Briscoe can tie NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon as the only drivers to win the Southern 500 for three consecutive years. And he’s very aware of what a victory in Sunday’s Cook Out Southern 500 (5 p.m. ET, USA Network, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) would mean – for prosperity and for his current championship run.

“To do that three times in a row would be something really, really special,’’ Briscoe said. “So definitely it’s on the radar. One of my favorite races of the year, but certainly, also still aware, just of the situation: you can’t wreck trying to win this deal, just with the points and the Chase and everything else.”

Briscoe led four laps and finished 12th here in the Spring. The driver of the No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota goes into this opening race of the 16-driver, 10-race 2026 championship run ranked fifth, 45 points behind leader and JGR teammate Denny Hamlin. He is only 20 points behind second place, Team Penske’s Ryan Blaney.

“Just something about this place has always just kind of fit my driving style, I guess,’’ Briscoe added. “I think the first time I ran here was like 2018 or ’19 in the Xfinity car, and I just remember coming here in my first five laps on the racetrack, thinking man, this place is awesome.

“Like it just fit how I drive for whatever reason. So, I’ve always just loved this place and yeah, it’s been probably the best track for me statistically in my career, I would say, definitely across the Cup Series.