In the high-stakes world of NASCAR, the Round of 8 is where legends are made—and this year, all eyes are on Chase Briscoe, the perceived underdog who’s quietly positioning himself as a contender. But here’s where it gets controversial: while seven of the eight drivers have repeatedly clinched spots in the Championship 4, Briscoe is the outlier—yet he might just be the dark horse ready to shake things up. With two wins this season and a career year under his belt, the 30-year-old from Indiana is proving that consistency and resilience can level the playing field, even against NASCAR’s most seasoned champions.
As the South Point 400 kicks off at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Briscoe’s debut season with Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) has given him a golden opportunity to break through. But don’t be fooled—this isn’t his first rodeo. Briscoe made it to the Round of 8 in 2022 with Stewart-Haas Racing, only to fall short of the Championship 4. Now, with JGR’s powerhouse backing, he’s aiming higher than ever, eyeing a championship fight at Phoenix Raceway, one of his strongest tracks. And this is the part most people miss: even in one of NASCAR’s top-tier organizations, Briscoe knows the road ahead is anything but easy.
“This is probably the strongest Round of 8 we’ve ever seen,” Briscoe admitted during a media scrum in Las Vegas. “The competition is fierce, and the points are tighter than ever. You can’t afford mistakes now—it’s all about performance.” With only three organizations—JGR, Team Penske, and Hendrick Motorsports—dominating the last decade of championships, the pressure is on. Yet, Briscoe remains unfazed, insisting no driver has a true edge over the others.
What makes Briscoe’s journey even more intriguing is his ability to stay above the fray. While teammates like Denny Hamlin and Christopher Bell have faced emotional highs and lows, Briscoe’s No. 19 team has kept a low profile, focusing on execution and speed. “We’re as good as anybody in the sport right now,” he confidently stated. But the Round of 8 is notoriously unpredictable, with tracks like Las Vegas, Talladega, and Martinsville each bringing their own wild cards. One wrong move could dash championship dreams.
Qualifying second alongside Hamlin for the 267-lap race, Briscoe’s optimism is palpable. But the question remains: Can the underdog truly rise to the top? Here’s where you come in: Do you think Briscoe has what it takes to make the Championship 4, or will the seasoned veterans outmaneuver him? Let’s debate it in the comments—because in NASCAR, nothing’s certain until the checkered flag waves.
