DARLINGTON, S.C. Theres something special about going to Darlington Raceway for Chase Briscoe.

The Joe Gibbs Racing driver, who won last Septembers Southern 500 at the unique 1.336-mile track, has a fondness for the Track Too Tough To Tame.

Briscoe believes its a drivers track.

I feel like of all the race tracks we go to, this (Darlington Raceway) is definitely one as the driver, you feel like you make a little bit more of a difference, he explained. You know, its still very car-dependent for sure, but as a driver, I feel like this is one of those tracks thats kind of similar to Homestead (Homestead-Miami Speedway) where you can carry it multiple positions, because the (pause) what you do inside the race car is constantly changing.

Nobodys car is driving good, theres just things you can do in the car to find more than a tenth sometimes even two tenths, whereas at another tracks, youre just very hand-tied by what youre doing inside the race car. So, this track is definitely one of those tracks where you can do different things in the race car and I feel like this is also track where you see guys that typically run well here their entire career just because theres little things about this race track.

Briscoe says the balance of the race car is important at Darlington.

I would say for me the hardest thing is just been trying to understand the balance of the short run versus long run, and how hard to go at the beginning to not burn yourself up at the end, Briscoe said. Still definitely dont have that figured out but I feel like its always kind of been my biggest challenge here and felt like that especially in the Xfinity Series, I would be extremely fast on the short run, but I would pay for it in the long run. Just trying to do as much as I can to study you know the guys like Denny Hamlin and other guys that are so good, always here on the long run. So thats kind of I feel like my biggest challenge at this place, but you know theres a lot of challenges about this place as well.

Briscoe said returning to Darlington also brought back memories of his Southern 500 triumph last year during his final season with Stewart-Haas Racing.

Honestly, its still like a pinch me moment and one of those things that like I find myself every single week being like, man I cant believe I won that race! Its a major, its a crown jewel, Briscoe said. I was telling somebody the other week, I look at the names on the trophies and like I just feel like Im very undeserving. Theres all these Hall of Famers and like icons and legends of the sport, and then it says 2024, Chase Briscoe. Like the heck? Its weird truthfully.

Yeah, its definitely crazy. I feel like when I came back, like anytime you go when you won somewhere, you just walk in, youre a little more confident, you feel that difference. But I definitely think this place, it changes your confidence level more than anywhere else just because the respect within the garage and within the NASCAR community whenever you want it at Darlington, theres just a different level of appreciation for your talent, he noted. And thats something that I didnt realize until after I won the Southern 500 truthfully.

I remember the next week being on pit road at Atlanta and Dale Jarrett and all these guys come over to me just tell me how incredible it was. You just dont have that at other race tracks after you win a race. It definitely is a place where, when I pull in, especially now being the first time back, its definitely brings back a lot memories.