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Briscoe Nets Round of 8 Spot After Roller Coaster ROVAL Race

Chase Briscoe experienced a roller coaster of emotions during Sunday's race at the ROVAL. (Photo: Stephen Conley | The Podium Finish)

Chase Briscoe experienced a roller coaster of emotions during Sunday’s race at the ROVAL. (Photo: Stephen Conley | The Podium Finish)

CONCORD, N.C. – It was not a flashy, pretty nor elegant race at the Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL for Chase Briscoe.

However, it was gritty and enough for the 27-year-old Mitchell, Indiana native to continue his championship pursuit.

The path toward a Round of 8 spot was not slim pickings for the sophomore sensation. After all, he started 17th, a somewhat tall task at the 2.28-mile, 17-turn hybrid course.

Sunday’s Bank of America ROVAL initially played out like Briscoe’s demeanor – cool, calm and restraint.

A debris caution on Lap 105 changed the complexity of a tame, chill NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs race. Prior to the caution that shook up the standings and race order, Briscoe nabbed seventh in Stage 1 and eighth in Stage 2.

In Stage 3, Briscoe had to feel like he was more like in a bumper car versus his familiar No. 14 Ford Performance Racing School Ford Mustang ride. Some of the paint trading shenanigans put Briscoe in a compromising position with his Playoff efforts.

“That was a roller coaster of emotions,” Briscoe said. “To be easily in and then that caution came out and the 3 just dumped me.  Thinking we were out again.  I knew at the end there it was gonna be chaos.  I feel like all respect goes out the window every time we have a caution at the end of one of these things.”

Given how intense Cup races become in the final laps, Briscoe can thank his team for putting him back in position into the Playoffs.

As the race wound down, Briscoe pitted for fresh tires, a pivotal element with staging a potential comeback.

“Johnny (Klausmeier, crew chief) just did a really good job of giving me the ball there at the end and letting me have tires and just trying to go for it,” he remarked. “I’m sure I made a couple people mad there at the end, but I had no idea – they just kept telling me every point is gonna matter here, so I just kept trying to pass everybody I could and got lucky that a couple of those holes opening up, but I’m just proud of my team.”

While some may have Briscoe off their Playoff prediction grids, it’s safe to say that the man and his Stewart-Haas Racing team did not count themselves out.

As Ford had a believer in Alan Kulwicki in 1992, Briscoe channeled some of the late champion’s unbridled confidence.

Perhaps Briscoe will make believers out of more fans after his ROVAL rally. (Photo: Stephen Conley | The Podium Finish)

Perhaps Briscoe will make believers out of more fans after his ROVAL rally. (Photo: Stephen Conley | The Podium Finish)

“Nobody believed we were gonna get past the Round of 16 and here we are in the Round of 8 and three really, really good racetracks for me coming up, so I’m looking forward to them,” he said earnestly.

Like fantasy football players who hope for the best during a late Sunday and Monday night game, Briscoe was aware of the deficit he needed to make up.

By all means, Briscoe channeled a bit of his best Charmander by firing his way back up the scoring order to place ninth.

Briscoe’s finish was good enough to make the Round of 8 and eliminating reigning Cup champion Kyle Larson.

“My team came over the radio and told me I was one point out and that was the 43 car (Erik Jones) that I needed to pass, so I kind of shoved him out of the way and then the 3 (Austin Dillon) got by both of us and then I had the back straightaway to do a Hail Mary and luckily somebody caught it and I was able to move on,” he recalled.

As Briscoe continues his championship dreams, he can reflect on his season, thus far, with pride. Yes, he tallied his maiden Cup win at Phoenix in March.

For sure, the Hoosier State native keeps Stewart-Haas Racing’s dreams alive.

Moreover, he feels more elation from his ninth place result at the ROVAL than any win. Indeed, that is how important Sunday’s race was for Briscoe, the pride of Reddit NASCAR.

If Briscoe can make it to the Championship 4, it may be bad news for his competition. (Photo: Stephen Conley | The Podium Finish)

If Briscoe can make it to the Championship 4, it may be bad news for his competition. (Photo: Stephen Conley | The Podium Finish)

“I feel happier than I ever have when I’ve won a race before, truthfully,” he said. “I know what this team is capable of, especially in this next round.  Homestead, I feel like, is by far my best racetrack.  Vegas, I’ve been able to have a lot of success there and Martinsville we were really fast.

“If we can get to Phoenix, we know we have a good car there, too.  To have a one in eight chance to win a NASCAR championship is an unbelievable feeling and I think that’s why it feels even bigger than a win.”

Rob Tiongson is a 30-something motorsports journalist who enjoys sports like baseball, basketball, football, soccer, track and field and hockey. A Boston native turned Austinite, racing was the first sport that caught his eyes. From interviews to retrospective articles, if it's about anything with an engine and four wheels, it'll be here on TPF, by him or by one of his talented columnists who have a passion for racing. Currently seeking a sports writing, public relations, or sports marketing career, particularly in motorsports. He enjoys editing and writing articles and features, as well as photography. Moreover, he enjoys time with his family and friends, traveling, cooking, working out and being a fun uncle or "funcle" to his nephew, niece and cat. Tiongson, a graduate of Southern New Hampshire University with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication, pursues his Master of Arts in Digital Journalism at St. Bonaventure University. Indeed, while Tiongson is proud to be from Massachusetts, he's an everywhere kind of man residing in Texas.

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