Chase Briscoe looked like one of NASCAR’s hottest drivers just weeks ago, but a disastrous afternoon at Talladega has put his championship hopes in serious danger. With only two races remaining in the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season, Briscoe faces an uphill battle if he wants to get back into contention.
However, completely counting out the No. 19 team could be a huge mistake.
Talladega Setback Changes Everything
Briscoe entered Talladega hoping to continue his championship push after winning back-to-back races at Las Vegas and Charlotte. Those victories put him right back in the conversation, but everything changed during the closing laps at Talladega.
Briscoe was caught in a major wreck that left significant damage to his Toyota. He finished outside the top 30 and dropped to fourth in the championship standings.
He now sits 79 points behind Kyle Larson with just two races remaining. That is a massive deficit, especially with Larson holding the strongest position in the championship battle.
Martinsville Is a Must Win Situation
The next stop is Martinsville Speedway, and Briscoe needs a massive performance.
He must outscore Larson by at least three points at Martinsville just to remain eligible for the championship entering the season finale at Homestead.
Unfortunately, Martinsville has not been particularly kind to Briscoe recently. He will need to overcome that history and deliver one of his strongest performances of the season.
Can Briscoe Shock NASCAR?
The odds are certainly against him, but Briscoe has already shown that he can win multiple races in a row.
If he can put together another incredible stretch, the championship picture could get interesting in a hurry.
Could Chase Briscoe pull off one of the biggest comebacks in NASCAR history, or did Talladega officially end his championship hopes?