Chase Briscoe left Martinsville Speedway looking for more speed. After a 14th-place finish in the NASCAR Cup Series race at Martinsville, Briscoe sits 21st in the point standings with a 36-point deficit to the Chase bubble. While the No. 19 car has been prone to mechanical issues, the speed hasn’t been on the same level as in 2025.
Granted, Briscoe hasn’t been very strong with Joe Gibbs Racing at Martinsville, but he was lapped by his teammate Denny Hamlin at one point in the event. Meanwhile, Ty Gibbs and Christopher Bell came home with top 7 finishes. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver desperately needed an off weekend.
Briscoe still has time to right the ship, but he will be in a tough spot moving forward. The No. 19 team shouldn’t have trouble making the Chase, but he will have plenty of work to do over the next 19 races. Briscoe needs to be in the best position possible for the eChase, and hte current performances won’t get it done.
This article originally appeared on Motorsports Wire: Chase Briscoe leaves Martinsville with large gap to Chase bubble