In a stunning turn of events, Chase Briscoe finds himself in an almost unimaginable position—negative points in the NASCAR Cup Series standings. Following a massive penalty issued to Martin Truex Jr.’s No. 19 team, Briscoe’s total has plummeted to -67, leaving fans and analysts in disbelief.
How Did This Happen?
While Briscoe himself was not the recipient of the penalty, the No. 19 team’s infraction had a domino effect on the standings. NASCAR has been cracking down on rules violations, and this latest punishment drastically altered the championship picture.
Briscoe, driving for Stewart-Haas Racing, has already had a difficult start to the season. But to see a driver in the negatives—especially this deep into the year—is almost unheard of. Penalties involving hefty point deductions are rare, and when they do happen, they usually don’t send a driver’s season total below zero.
What Happens Now?
Sitting at -67 points, Briscoe is essentially in a deeper hole than any driver could have anticipated. To recover, he would need multiple strong finishes just to reach zero and begin accumulating points in a meaningful way. At this point, his best path to the playoffs may be an outright win, as a points-based entry seems nearly impossible.
With the NASCAR season still unfolding, all eyes will be on Briscoe to see if he can claw his way back from this unprecedented deficit. For now, though, he’s not just fighting for a playoff spot—he’s fighting to get out of the red.
