By Luis Torres, Staff Writer
The Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval has brought positive memories for Chase Briscoe in his NASCAR career. Back in 2018, Briscoe scored his maiden Xfinity Series win at the circuit. Fast forward to 2022, the Roval became the site of his playoff hopes staying alive.
During Sunday’s Bank of America Roval 400, Briscoe was among four drivers who were below the cutoff line. He was ninth in points, trailing eight-place Daniel Suarez by 12 points.
Due to the Roval’s wild characteristics, survival was paramount for the Stewart-Haas Racing driver.
As the race came to a close, it appeared the game of survival wouldn’t favor Briscoe who got turned by Austin Dillon.
It was at this point where Briscoe ultimately credited his crew chief Johnny Klausmeier for allowing him to keep fighting. Even if it meant rubbing people the wrong way in order to advance into the next round of the playoffs.
“Johnny 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,” Briscoe on Klausmeier. “I’m sure I made a couple people mad there at the end, but I had no idea. Hey 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.”
The main talk may be focusing on Christopher Bell’s clutch win to move onto the Round of 8 after being below the cutline entering the race. As for Briscoe, the rollercoaster afternoon ends on a high note as he crossed the line in ninth. Good enough to dethrone defending Cup Series champion Kyle Larson out of next round by two points.
“That was a rollercoaster of emotions,” said Briscoe. “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.
“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.”
Another benefactor to Briscoe moving onto the next round was his teammate Cole Custer. That’s a result of channeling his inner Sergio Perez at Abu Dhabi last year by playing the blocking game that propelled Briscoe to a top-10 finish.
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