NASCAR driver Chase Briscoe recently opened up about a close call in his career with Stewart Haas Racing. Speaking on the “Dinner with Racers” podcast, Briscoe shared how a chance encounter led to a sponsorship that turned around his future in the sport.
Briscoe’s racing journey began with promising victories in sprint cars at a very young age, making headlines as the youngest winner of a 410 sprint car race at the age of 14. This early success foreshadowed a future in racing, but it wasn’t without its challenges.
His entrance into NASCAR’s Xfinity Series in 2019 marked the beginning of a tumultuous period, with the driver managing only a single race victory and suffering from inconsistencies in performance throughout the season.
This left SHR hesitant about his future with them due to escalating financial constraints, casting doubt on whether Briscoe would secure a seat for the 2020 season. The situation was nothing short of urgent when December 2019 arrived, and Briscoe received a sobering call from SHR. He explained:
“At the end of the year, we really start getting going. I probably should have made the final four, but I got crashed with two go in the race lead… I am excited that 2020 is going to be this great year. This is December… SHR calls me and says, don’t know how to tell you this, but if you don’t find any amount of funding at all, like the next week… you are not gonna be back here next year.”
However, things quickly turned around when Briscoe’s father stumbled upon an opportunity in the most serendipitous of circumstances. As he exited a restaurant, he found himself crossing paths with Mike Mendiburu, the CEO of Highpoint.com, a fan of the sport, whose support was to become the lifeline Briscoe desperately needed. Briscoe recalled the situation:
“So, literally, my career is over. My dad happens to be walking out of this restaurant and turns right. CEO walks out of BMWs and turns left… My dad sends me a picture of the card. And, I send it to SHR. I said, ‘Hey, look, I know we only have a week. My dad just ran into this guy. He is a CEO. Maybe give him a call.
“SHR is talking to him… look, let me just paint a picture for you. Pretty much if you don’t do anything, Chase’s career is over… We know you probably think what NASCAR costs. Ford is not one to pay the whole bill. If we get anything, that can make a huge difference in this kid’s career. ‘Mike’s like, I have no idea why I’m doing this, but it seems like lord’s calling me to do it; alright, I am gonna do it.”
The effect of this sponsorship was immediate. Highpoint.com’s involvement led to a stellar 2020 season for Briscoe as he claimed nine victories in the Xfinity Series, dominating the field and securing his spot in the NASCAR Cup Series for the following year.
The post Chase Briscoe Reveals How He Almost Lost NASCAR Seat appeared first on Newsweek.
