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Briscoe Takes Maiden Championship 4 Bid from Talladega

Briscoe Takes Maiden Championship 4 Bid from Talladega
Photo Credit to Sean Gardner/Getty Images

NASCAR

Chase Briscoe is Top Dog at Talladega, Toyota now 2-2 in Championship 4

TALLADEGA, Ala. – Toyotas reigned supreme as the top manufacturer at Talladega, despite a detrimental lack of drafting numbers. Chase Briscoe earns his third win of the season and punches a career-first Championship 4 ticket after an electric last lap. Only taking command of the race in turn three, the 19 delivers Joe Gibbs Racing a perfect finale record so far.

Both stages would be swept by Joe Gibbs Racing teammates Ty Gibbs and Playoff contender Chase Briscoe. The only major incident across either stage saw Noah Gragson turned from the lead, collecting Chase Elliott and many other cars on lap 52.

What appeared to be a Penske-dominant Stage 3 soon turned in favor of Hendrick Motorsports. Kyle Larson and William Byron both took turns leading after shuffling back Ryan Blaney and Joey Logano. Byron’s aggression would see Chris Buescher spin off the 24’s bumper, sending Talladega into overtime.

Larson and Byron surprisingly chose opposite lanes for the two-lap dash, splitting up their winning efforts. Larson would stumble and run out of gas on the last lap, while Bubba Wallace surged ahead. Thanks to the hole left by Larson, Briscoe was able to squeeze back in and take a first superspeedway triumph with Ty Gibbs’ help. A bad trioval bump from Carson Hocevar also sent Byron spinning while coming to the checkers. At least half of 2025’s Championship 4 is now represented by Joe Gibbs Racing teams.

“Ty Gibbs, incredible teammate there,” Briscoe said. “I mean, I honestly would not have won that race without Ty. An amazing team effort. I can’t believe I won a superspeedway race. I haven’t done it at any level.”

“Thank you guys so much. Every time we come to Talladega, this place is sold out. Johnny Morris is here from Bass Pro Shops. It’s not hit me. We’re going to Phoenix.”

“So thankful that the Lord has blessed me opening doors, even closing doors at times. Opening an incredible door here with Joe Gibbs Racing. I say it all the time, even today, I had such a peace. Normally I’m scared to death, nervous wreck around this place. I had such a peace that regardless of the finish He was going to use it somehow for His glory. Ends up in Victory Lane.

Ty Gibbs would be passed in the final stretch by Todd Gilliland, who earns a new career-best Cup finish. They both just edged out Bubba Wallace and Cole Custer. The rest of the Talladega top-10 were: Carson Hocevar, Tyler Reddick, Christopher Bell, Zane Smith, and Brad Keselowski. Hear from a few of these drivers below.

Thanks to some costly on-track errors from other contenders, everyone else’s points gaps grow significantly. Next week’s cut race pins four drivers in effective must-win mode if they are to make the Championship 4.

Martinsville Speedway on Sunday has the chance to be the most pressure-packed race yet this season. The Xfinity 500 will determine the final two suitors for Phoenix Raceway, with six drivers gunning for these two seats. The Half-Mile of Mayhem will go green at 2 p.m. ET on NBC, MRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. Martinsville has a knack of delivering highlight reel moments year in and year out. What does 2025 have in store around The Paperclip?

Written by Peter Stratta

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Photo Credit to Chris Graythen/Getty Images

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