Chase Briscoe is happy NASCAR didn't give harsher penalties for counterfeit part

Many NASCAR drivers would be upset after a massive penalty like Chase Briscoe and his team received this week, but Briscoe is just glad it wasn’t worse. According to the rulebook, NASCAR could have come down heavy on the No. 14 team of Stewart-Haas Racing. All things considered, Briscoe is probably right to feel a little relieved.

Basically, the folks at SHR remade a part that was supposed to be a single-source supplier part. That is a big no-no on these Next Gen cars. Teams have been penalized this season for messing with parts and modifying pieces. However, this is different.

NASCAR hit Chase Briscoe and his team with 120 driver and owner points as well as 25 playoff points. Crew chief Jonny Klausmeier will serve a six-race suspension and a $250,000 fine. All of those totals could have been even higher.

The sanctioning body could have delivered a 180-point penalty and 50 playoff points as well as a $500,000 fine. Oh, and they could have suspended Briscoe for this week and barred him from this year’s playoffs if they saw fit. Briscoe knows that and is thankful.

“It was frustrating but at the same time, it is what it is,” Briscoe said of the penalty, via Bob Pockrass of Fox Sports. “We can’t change it. Obviously, the penalty was justified. I don’t think that I can sit here and be mad about it or anything like that, it is what it is. Just gotta go on and try to make the most out of this season. The penalty could have been a lot worse. They could have totally taken our playoff eligibility and everything away. So, we still have 11 weeks to try to win a race and that’s what we’ll do.”

Chase Briscoe said the penalty to his team was justified and that it could have been worse. Plus what he said about the fact he was penalized for a part that was on the car in a race where he struggled. pic.twitter.com/BfB4blM18t

— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) June 3, 2023

Chase Briscoe could really use a good weekend in St. Louis.

Chase Briscoe has been struggling

The funny thing about the No. 14 team and how this season has gone, Chase Briscoe performed better when he broke his finger earlier this season. The Ford driver was having trouble getting solid finishes. He was hovering around the mid-teens for most races. Then, he broke his middle finger.

After that injury, Briscoe went on a run of three straight top-5 performances. Bristol Dirt he was P5, Martinsville P5, and Talladega P4. Since then he has had finishes of P30, P32, P17, and P20. You could throw in a P4 finish at the All-Star Rae during that stretch, but it has not been a great stretch for Briscoe.

The massive penalty makes the race for the playoffs even more intense. If Chase Briscoe wants to race for a championship, he is going to have to win a race. That points penalty is likely too much for him to overcome by the end of the year.

So, we will see if this Enjoy Illinois 300 is a turning point for this team. If they can’t get some good finishes under their belt and work towards a win, then it will be a disappointing 2023 for that 14 group.