Chase Briscoe’s dream of a NASCAR Cup Series championship officially went up in smoke at Martinsville Speedway on Sunday, with his 14th place finish in the Xfinity 500 sealing his fate. The driver of the No. 19 just couldn’t find the speed he needed, failing to score any stage points, and that tough outing has mathematically knocked him out of contention for the 2026 title.
“The Paperclip” Strikes Again: A Day to Forget for Briscoe
Talk about a brutal day at “The Paperclip.” Martinsville took its toll on Briscoe, making the Xfinity 500 a grueling 500-lap slog for the Joe Gibbs Racing team. They tried everything to dial in the No. 19, but it was just a long day in Martinsville, Virginia. Briscoe himself didn’t mince words after the race, saying, “It was definitely challenging. It was a long race. Just could never get the balance. I don’t know. We just kinda hovered around 15th place kinda all day long.” This track has been a real headache for Briscoe ever since he linked up with JGR before the 2025 season. It’s wild, because he actually felt like he had Martinsville figured out when he was wheeling the No. 14 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford. What gives?
Three Wins Weren’t Enough to Keep the Dream Alive
It’s a tough pill to swallow, especially when you consider the season Briscoe’s had. He’s stacked up three wins in 2026, all of them on 1.5-mile tracks. Remember that victory at Chicagoland Speedway in July, NASCAR’s first race there since 2019? That was huge! Then he went on a tear in the Chase, grabbing back-to-back Ws at Las Vegas and Charlotte. Those wins definitely put him in the championship conversation, but ultimately, it wasn’t enough to stay alive heading into the final race. He’s currently ranked fourth in the Cup Series standings, but with points leader Kyle Larson holding an 84-point lead, Briscoe is officially out of the running.
Now, he’s bummed, no doubt, about not competing for the championship. But there’s still one more shot to go grab a trophy. Briscoe is already looking ahead to the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway. He’s hoping to finish strong, maybe even snag second in points, especially since he’s been “extremely strong” on those 1.5-mile tracks all season. You gotta love that fighting spirit!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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