Making the NASCAR playoffs is not Chase Briscoe’s toughest battle

Briscoe, who drives the No. 14 Ford for SHR, is the one one of many group’s 4 drivers who has run constant sufficient to this point this season to have a shot at making the 2024 Cup playoffs and not using a victory.

His team-mates – Josh Berry, Ryan Preece and Noah Gragson – will all want a win within the subsequent 10 races to realize a berth. Briscoe would love a win as effectively however nonetheless has a believable path by way of factors to make the 16-driver area.

“We’re attempting to determine how we’re going to offer for our households subsequent yr” – Chase Briscoe

Coming into this weekend’s first-ever Cup race at Iowa Speedway, Briscoe is seventeenth within the standings however 27 factors behind Bubba Wallace, who at present holds the ultimate playoff spot on factors.

It was by no means going to be straightforward, however the distinctive timing and circumstances of the SHR announcement have added a number of extra challenges to Briscoe’s path to compete for a collection championship.

First, is the uncertainty of Briscoe’s personal driving profession.

The tip of SHR

Whereas nonetheless competing every week and almost two-thirds of a season nonetheless to go, the 29-year-old native of Mitchell, Ind., should now additionally start the method of securing a brand new residence with which to proceed his NASCAR profession.

He solely was capable of begin that effort on Might 28 – the day he was knowledgeable of SHR’s future by group co-owner Tony Stewart.

“That was the very first thing I truly requested when Tony sat all of the drivers down and requested if we had any questions,” Briscoe defined. “I stated, ‘What does this imply for us so far as having the ability to discuss to different groups?’ And he stated, ‘You guys are free to do no matter you need.’

“So, actually whereas I used to be sitting within the room, I began texting totally different folks simply letting them know, ‘Hey, I’m going to be obtainable and have to attempt to discover one thing.’

“I believe you continue to are attempting to place your self on the market and let folks know that you simply’re obtainable and go discuss to them and meet them and do no matter you need to do whereas additionally attempting to carry out on the race monitor and present your value.”

However therein lies a probably far tougher drawback Briscoe – and his team-mates for that matter – now face.

Their finest hope to safe new rides is available in acting at their finest. Acting at their finest requires the members of their respective groups to do the identical.

The issue? Each member of SHR’s NASCAR groups now is aware of they want a brand new job by early November.

How do you carry out at your finest whereas additionally trying to safe your future? Even worse, how attractive is it to go away for a job now moderately than wait 5 extra months and hope for one of the best?

SHR is within the strategy of navigating that dynamic and Briscoe stated it’s already evident it is going to check the group’s resolve.

“I’d be mendacity if I stated we’re not at an obstacle once we present up on the race monitor,” Briscoe stated. “Each different group that we’re racing towards, all they give attention to week in and week out is learn how to make their race automobile go quick that weekend.

“At our place, we’re attempting to determine how we’re going to offer for our households subsequent yr, the place we’re going to work subsequent yr, and on prime of all that, how am I going to get a quick race automobile to the race monitor.

“It’s 100% an actual factor.”

Chase Briscoe, Stewart-Haas Racing, Ford Efficiency Racing College Ford Mustang

Photograph by: John Harrelson / NKP / Motorsport Photos

Simply two weeks faraway from SHR’s choice Briscoe stated each member of his No. 14 group has already taken interviews for brand spanking new positions.

Whereas SHR is providing monetary incentives for workers to stay by way of the tip of the season, there will probably be some who determine to go away early – or have already got.

“I used to be actually over on the store an hour in the past and one of many guys instructed me that is his final week,” Briscoe stated throughout a Zoom name with reporters on Tuesday. “He’s going to work some other place, so it’s actual.

“I believe if we are able to survive that first 4 or 5 week stretch, I believe in the event that they keep these first 5 weeks after, then they’re in all probability in it for the lengthy haul. However then I believe in the direction of the tip of the season it’s going to sort of ramp again up and guys are going to be attempting to ensure they’ve one thing.

“I might be mendacity if I stated it wasn’t a priority that I do suppose it’s going to be actually onerous for us to probably get automobiles to the race monitor how we wish to, simply from a folks standpoint.”

Embracing the problem forward

There may be, nonetheless, one factor might assist – the one factor that typically helps remedy most issues in racing – success on the monitor.

Profitable a race would lock Briscoe within the playoffs – the identical goes for his teammates – and doing can produce work bonuses and success additionally reveals potential new employers the worth of these on the group, which finally ends up higher for all concerned.

“That’s what I instructed our guys when all of this went down,” Briscoe stated. “I stated, ‘Look, on the finish of the day we are able to pout and whine about it, however the circumstances aren’t going to alter. All that we are able to do is management what we are able to management.

“I can guarantee you that if we’re profitable races and working up entrance, it’s going to be manner simpler to discover a job than the blokes that aren’t profitable races and working up entrance.’ That’s sort of what we’ve been attempting to give attention to.

“In truth, the final 5 or 6 weeks has been a wrestle for us, however hopefully we are able to flip that round these subsequent couple of weeks and sort of get again on monitor.”

Learn Additionally: