NASCAR Cup Series star Chase Briscoe has been labelled a 'weird dude' by his crew chief after winning Sunday's race at Talladega Superspeedway.
Despite being the only driver in the Round of 8 this season that hasn't been to the Championship 4 before, it certainly didn't show in Alabama, with Briscoe producing a stunning late charge in the No. 19 Toyota to take his first superspeedway win and with it, advance to Phoenix.
Briscoe will now compete with teammate Denny Hamlin - also locked into the Championship 4 courtesy of his win at Las Vegas this month - and two other drivers, set to be determined at this Sunday's elimination race at Martinsville, for Cup Series glory on November 2nd.
Crew Chief: Nothing fazes 'weird dude' Briscoe
Whatever happens from hereon in, it has been an excellent debut campaign as a Joe Gibbs Racing driver for Briscoe, having already won three races and gone further than ever in the playoffs having switched to the team from Stewart Haas Racing at the end of 2024.
Speaking after the race on Sunday, Briscoe's crew chief, James Small, labelled his driver as a 'weird dude', hailing him for taking everything in his stride this year and not feeling the pressure.
"I think Chase, nothing fazes him," Small told the media at Talladega.
"His personality. He’s cool under pressure. He’s a weird dude. I’ve never met anybody like him.
"To be a racecar driver, that’s a great quality to have."
Small preview Championship 4 appearance
Reflecting on Briscoe's chance to race for a title, Small added: "For him, it’s going to be a great experience. I just expect him to treat it like another race.
"There’s not really any added extra pressure, in my opinion. We just got to go out there and try to win the race. Try to do the same thing we do every week.
"It’s all going to be about the preparation, putting the work in, making sure we go there with all our ducks in a row.
"I have full faith that he has the ability to do it, and the occasion won’t be too much for him at all."
