Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) is making a bold move ahead of Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway by swapping pit crews to boost Chase Briscoe’s chances in the playoffs. Briscoe, the only SHR driver still in the championship hunt, will now be pitted by the crew that previously worked on Josh Berry’s No. 4 Ford Mustang. Briscoe’s former pit crew will switch to Berry’s car.
Briscoe, who drives the No. 14 Ford Mustang, expressed gratitude for the team’s support and the company-wide commitment to his championship bid. “It’s been humbling,” Briscoe said. “The whole company is embracing the 14 car and doing everything they can to give us the best potential to win the championship.”
This change isn’t entirely new for Briscoe. In 2022, Stewart-Haas Racing made a similar move, placing some of Briscoe’s crew on Kevin Harvick’s car as Harvick fought to make the postseason. Now, those same crew members will be reunited with Briscoe as he continues his playoff journey.
The crew pitting Briscoe’s No. 14 car will include Daniel Smith (rear changer), Daniel Coffey (front changer), Evan Marchal (fueler), and Mason Flynt (tire carrier). The decision was made by SHR leadership, and Briscoe was informed of the switch on Monday. Despite the shake-up, Briscoe reassured his former crew of their continued importance to the team. “I texted them all—‘You guys are just as much a part of the 14 team as you were last week.’”
Briscoe’s playoff performance has been solid, with two top-10 finishes in the first round and an average finish of 16.7. As he heads into the second round, he sits seven points below the transfer line. With all SHR resources now focused on him, Briscoe is optimistic about his chances, especially with teammates fully committed to supporting his playoff push.
The Kansas race marks the start of the Round of 12, where Briscoe will need every advantage to advance. This crew swap could be the key to gaining the extra edge he needs in his pursuit of the NASCAR Cup Series championship.
