Chase Briscoe and Denny Hamlin have done what every driver dreams of. Both Joe Gibbs Racing drivers have punched their tickets to the Championship 4 early. With Briscoe’s clutch win at Talladega and Hamlin’s dominant run in Las Vegas, both find themselves in rare territory: heading into Martinsville without the usual cloud of playoff pressure hanging over them. But here’s the thing: if you think that means Briscoe’s planning to take it easy, think again.

Chase Briscoe set a clear goal heading into the crucial NASCAR race at Martinsville Speedway: “I think it’s trying to just go there and win again, truthfully. I mean, all of us want a grandfather clock, right? And, you know, I feel like that’s a place where I’ve always ran really, really good. I just haven’t been able to win all the way.”

Briscoe’s history at Martinsville backs up his confidence. He has two top-five finishes, six top-tens, and consistent, strong runs, with an average finish of 8.7, which have made him a contender on this tricky short track. However, a win has so far eluded him at the paperclip oval.

His ambitions extend beyond personal glory. “If me or Denny can go win the race, it essentially locks Bell in no matter what. So, yeah, our focus is trying to go there and win,” Briscoe explained on the Dale Jr Download podcast. With the current playoff picture tight, a victory for Christopher Bell would secure his spot in the Championship 4.

Simultaneously, it will also keep formidable Team Penske drivers Joey Logano and Ryan Blaney out of contention for the Phoenix finale. Given Penske’s recent dominance at Phoenix, this would be a strategic win for Joe Gibbs Racing. Demonstrating his commitment, Briscoe shared, “I’m still going to go run sim for Martinsville, just trying to be as best we can this weekend. So, yeah, for us it’s no different than any other week.”

This preparation highlights his focus on maintaining momentum and confidence as the playoffs reach their critical stages. Although Briscoe feels less pressure, knowing he’s heading to Phoenix, he acknowledges the importance of a strong Martinsville performance to carry positive energy into the season finale. For Briscoe and JGR, Martinsville isn’t just a race. In fact, it’s a stepping stone to championship glory.

Chase Briscoe is not bothered about facing teammates

If the stars align during the Martinsville race, Chase Briscoe will be facing not only Denny Hamlin but also Christopher Bell in the championship race at Phoenix. And Briscoe is showing no apprehension about competing against his own stablemates. Speaking candidly after his victory at Talladega, Briscoe said, “Truthfully, I hope that happens [Bell qualifying for Championship 4]. It would be tough because I feel like they’re my biggest competition for it.”

He explained that intra-team competition is nothing new at JGR. “At JGR, you compete for wins against your teammates all the time. It’s not really like it’s unchartered territory for us.” And he’s absolutely right. The competition between the teammates was recently seen at New Hampshire, where Denny Hamlin and Ty Gibbs got into a rather unwanted battle. Briscoe views the potential clash as simply raising the stakes with a championship belt on the line for the contending JGR drivers.

“Obviously, there’s more on the line when you’re racing for a championship. If I’m going to go against anybody, I hope it is them because I feel like at the end of the day, if one of us can’t win, we hope the other guy wins,” he further added. That camaraderie shows a mature, strategic mindset aimed at maximizing JGR’s championship odds – a “three-in-four shot” the team is excited to pursue.

Far from being intimidated by the prospect, Briscoe embraces it, knowing that the ability to compete head-to-head with top teammates signals his arrival among NASCAR’s elite. Having learned to thrive within JGR’s competitive environment over the past season, he’ll enter Phoenix confident, focused, and ready to battle not just his rivals from other teams but the talent right in his own pit box.

Lastly, Briscoe acknowledged that storylines won’t be in short supply. From his own first championship bid to Hamlin’s two-decade quest for a long-overdue title, and Bell’s consistent presence among the contenders, the Phoenix race will have something to talk about. Whoever claims that final spot, Briscoe added, will add another compelling chapter to the mix.

The Championship 4 showdown, featuring multiple JGR stars, promises intense racing that could redefine the team’s legacy for years to come. Briscoe’s mindset encapsulates competition and unity in the quest for NASCAR’s ultimate prize.