“Still Mad”: Jimmie Johnson’s Spearhead Unmasks Fiery Dynamic With Chase Briscoe After Phoenix Clash

The Phoenix race was the first short track of 2024 that witnessed new developments. Christopher Bell’s Toyota broke the Chevy winning streak, while the new aero package debuted. However, the modified race track gave a hard time to other Toyotas, including the No. 43 Toyota Camry XSE driven by Erik Jones.

The Legacy Motor Club driver saw his top 10 dreams slipping right under his nose when he got wrecked in the final stage. A fiery feud flared up between him and his named culprit, Chase Briscoe. People expected it to be a routine scuffle, set to die down soon. As it turns out, Jones is still stoking the flames of his anger.

Erik Jones is still livid about Briscoe’s Phoenix antics

Jones clinched an 8th-place finish in Daytona this year. Starting off from 4th in Phoenix, he hoped to replicate his top 10 fortune. For most of the 312-lap race, he was in the front row. But with 92 laps remaining, Erik Jones’ hopes came crashing down. Chase Briscoe touched Wallace, and the latter bumped into Jones. That led the Legacy driver into the outside wall.

Erik Jones lashed out at Briscoe for his antics, and the latter squarely denied any blame for wrecking him. Even Jones’ Legacy mentor Jimmie Johnson took his side, claiming that Jones had a solid chance to win. The fumes are yet to be hosed down, at least on Jones’ side. He recently released a video about his stance.

“I hope to call him this afternoon and talk, I don’t really like to talk early in the week. I think everybody’s still mad, you know, including myself, probably Chase as well. I hope we can come to an understanding. The frustration was there, it’s still there, right. We still got wrecked, and I don’t think it was all on him. I think it was probably more on him than what he realized at the time. Maybe he has a different opinion now.”

Yet Jones tried his best to steer his monologue towards seeking a truce. “I don’t know, my hopes are on this afternoon, you know, go into this week with an understanding. I don’t really like to carry things on. I don’t like to be in car fights on the racetrack. I hope we have an understanding of how we wanna race going forward.”

Jones’ continuing rage is understandable, given that he was inside the playoff cutline prior to the Phoenix race. He finished a dismal 31st place there, while Briscoe managed to salvage a 9th position. Now both will be heading into the Bristol race, an event known for easy conflicts and payback moments.

Chase Briscoe kept a cool head when he heard Erik Jones’ fury at Phoenix on Sunday.

Briscoe is clueless about Jones’ beef with him

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Erik Jones is hurtling curses at Chase Briscoe for ruining his chance for a good Phoenix finish. Briscoe is yet to respond to Jones’ latest video. However, he did make it clear in the race that there is not much to talk about. After grabbing his second top-10 of the season, Briscoe appeared relaxed and at ease to deal with Jones’ rants.

“I don’t know what I did, I know we were four wide at one point,” Briscoe said. “I got super tight and got into him, I think. I don’t know if that’s the part he’s mad about or what. If he calls me, I’ll gladly answer. I’ve never really talked to Erik before, and I don’t have a problem with him at all, but I feel like we definitely always race around each other. I’m racing hard, I’m trying to do what’s best for my guys.”

Hopefully, Erik Jones can settle things with Chase Briscoe soon, as Bristol Motor Speedway may hike up tensions ever more.

Read More: “What the F*ck”: Erik Jones Livid Frustration in Phoenix Sums Up Jimmie Johnson & Co’s Short Track Struggle