CONCORD, N.C. — Chase Briscoe has had a phenomenal 2026 playoff run.
Add Charlotte to the list of reasons why.
The driver of the No. 19 car had a dominant Stage 3 run and ultimately took the checkered flag on Sunday at Charlotte Motor Speedway — going back-to-back after his win last weekend at Las Vegas and sustaining his meteoric rise through this playoff field.
This also adds to Briscoe’s recent greatness at intermediate ovals; he nearly won at Kansas the week before Vegas, too.
Briscoe, who led 62 laps, had a 2.5-plus second lead over the rest of the field at one point with under 30 laps to go. Part of that greatness was because of his pit crew, which had another wonderful showing Sunday. But a lot of that is because of Briscoe’s equipment and skill.
That was no more evidenced than in the final lap, when teammate Christopher Bell vied for Briscoe’s spot and took the low line on Turns 3 and 4 and even knocked into Briscoe but couldn’t clear his car. Briscoe told the FOX broadcast that his right rear wheel was “going down” on the last lap — making his finish even more remarkable.
Christopher Bell, who has 14 Top 5s to his name this year, when asked his emotions after such a heartbreaking loss, answered resolutely: “I don’t know.” Bell also finished P2 at Charlotte Motor Speedway in May for the Coca-Cola 600.
Here’s a look at other drivers who had eventful Sundays at Charlotte Motor Speedway:
Denny Hamlin desperation almost enough
The oldest driver in the Cup field who entered the playoffs with a massive lead over everyone hasn’t had a flawless playoff. And on Sunday — despite driving with an impressive desperation (that included a heated Stage 2 exchange with his crew chief over the radio) — a few mistakes followed him.
The two that might haunt him:
— A safety violation in the first stage due to a mistake by his pit crew that sent him to the rear of the field.
— Nearly losing the car with 10 laps to go, saving it, but forfeiting a spot of track position because of it.
He finished P5.
Kyle Larson starts strong
The driver came into Sunday leading the Cup field in the playoff standings by 40 points — a commanding gap. He started on the pole and in the best pit box. The driver of the No. 5 car, going into Stage 3, captured the lead four different times and had led 96 laps.
Larson continued a great day, even if he didn’t take home a checkered flag. He avoided the carnage that always follows Charlotte by running up front and staying in clean air, and he also didn’t fall prey to any of the mistakes that plagued some of his peers. He ultimately finished P6 — and maintained a tight grip on his title hopes.
William Byron, Bubba Wallace, Alex Bowman out early
Bubba Wallace and William Byron were collected in a wreck after Alex Bowman overcorrected on an end-of-Stage 1 issue. This race might have hurt the title chances for Wallace (P37) and Byron (P39), two playoff drivers.