Facing 32-Point Deficit, Chase Briscoe Finds Focus: ‘It’s Win or Go Home

CONCORD, NORTH CAROLINA - OCTOBER 12: Chase Briscoe, driver of the #14 Ford Performance Racing School Ford, looks on during practice for the NASCAR Cup Series Bank of America ROVAL 400 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on October 12, 2024 in Concord, North Carolina. (Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images)
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It might seem strange, but Chase Briscoe asserts he’d rather be 32 points below the cut line for the next round of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs than 15.

Why? Because it provides clarity in his approach to Sunday’s Bank of America Roval 400, the Round of 12 elimination race at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course (2 p.m. ET on NBC, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

The 32-point deficit isn’t hypothetical. It’s the unfortunate reality for the driver of the No. 14 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford, who enters Sunday’s race 12th in the Playoff standings. Only the top eight drivers will make the cut for the next round.

“I think, for us, it’s honestly better that we’re kind of in the position that we are, being 32 out, or whatever it is, versus 15, just because if you’re 15 to even 20, that is doable,” Briscoe explained. “Where we’re 30, at least for us, we’re just looking at it as a must-win. You could maybe point your way in, but a lot of things would have to go your way.

“I think it honestly opens up a lot for us from a strategy standpoint of just going in with the approach of flipping the track position and everything else. So, yeah, to be below the cut line is obviously unfortunate, but honestly, I would much rather it be 30-something points than 15, just because I think it makes it a little clearer of what you need to do from a strategy standpoint.

“And out of all the tracks in this round, this is the one where I feel the most confident to come and battle for the win, so hopefully we can do that.”

Briscoe can be forgiven if his mind hasn’t been focused on racing this week. On Wednesday, he announced that wife Marissa had given birth to twins—Cooper Banks Briscoe and Collins Ivy Briscoe.

And how much sleep has Briscoe gotten?

“More than Marissa, for sure,” he said. “I would say four or five hours a night maybe. That’s being generous though.”