Chase Briscoe clinches 2026 NASCAR playoff spot with 104-point cushion

Chase Briscoe secures playoff spot after Chicagoland win

Chase Briscoe locked in his spot in the 2026 NASCAR playoffs on 15 Jun at Chicagoland Speedway, where his victory vaulted him 52 points clear of the cutline.

How Briscoe moved into safety

Briscoe’s win at Chicagoland pushed him into the “in good shape” category with a 104-point cushion over the playoff cutoff. Even after a last-place run at Atlanta on 8 Jun-where he finished 36th-his buffer held strong. Only three drivers lost more than 17 points to the cutoff at Atlanta: Briscoe (-27), Bubba Wallace (-22) and Kyle Larson (-20).

Where Briscoe stands now

At 104 points above the bubble, Briscoe ranks eighth among drivers safely in the 16-driver Chase field. His closest rivals in the cushion race include Christopher Bell (+113), Carson Hocevar (+125) and Chris Buescher (+130). Briscoe’s consistency-no DNFs this season-helps offset his lack of stage points in some races.

What’s next for Briscoe

Six races remain in the regular season: North Wilkesboro, Indianapolis, Iowa, Richmond, New Hampshire and Daytona. The top-16 drivers reset to 2,100-2,000 points for the 10-race Chase mini-season. Briscoe will carry his 104-point cushion into the finale, needing no heroic runs to stay locked in.

Playoff implications

Briscoe’s spot means Joe Gibbs Racing fields two drivers in the Chase: Briscoe and Bell. With Denny Hamlin and Tyler Reddick already clinched, the focus shifts to the battle for the regular-season title between Hamlin and Reddick, who leads the series with five wins. Briscoe, meanwhile, can focus on fine-tuning his setup for the playoff opener.