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Chase Briscoe Explains Puzzling Decision at End of Atlanta Cup Series Race

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Jonathan Howard | Last updated Feb 23, 2026 11:53 AM ET

Last night, Chase Briscoe fans were hoping to see him punch his ticket to Victory Lane. Instead, Briscoe settled for P2 as he pushed Tyler Reddick to the win over a few Chevy rivals. The NASCAR driver explained himself this morning.

Chase Briscoe is one of the drivers who is not afraid to pull up Twitter and respond to things. This morning, he found a fan post, asking him why he didn't take the final run to make the move for the win. Before that, he had diced up the field to make it to that position.

So, why not take the final run? Well, not all runs are created equally, and Briscoe didn't feel like he had enough to clear the two cars he would have needed to clear to pull off the move.

NASCAR Cup Series driver Chase Briscoe (19) is introduced before the start of the Mobil 1 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.Eric Canha-Imagn Images

"My run I had I knew wasn't big enough to clear them both so I woulda been stuck 3 wide on the bottom and the 1 woulda pushed the 77 to the win and I probably run 4th or 5th," Briscoe explained.

To process all of that information at 180 MPH while you're ostensibly still racing for the win is wild. Chase Briscoe could see the race play out in his head, it sounds like, before he ever made the move. So, he stuck behind the 45 car, and pushed his Toyota teammate to the win.

Briscoe has been really great in the 19 car. Since the middle of last season, he has looked the part. Everyone wanted to know if he really had it in him when he was still at Stewart-Haas Racing. Turns out, he just needed a change of scenery.

I'm not sure when Chase Briscoe will win his next race. I do know that we likely won't have to wait too long to see it happen.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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