Fortunes can shift more quickly than a lap at Talladega in the fast-paced world of NASCAR. The 2019 winter was a make-or-break time for Chase Briscoe. The young driver, already a rising star in the Xfinity Series of NASCAR, was confronted with the heartbreaking fact that a lack of sponsorship could put a stop to his career. However, in a Hollywood-style tale, Briscoe’s destiny would be changed and his racing dreams would be preserved by a chance encounter with a loyal fan in Las Vegas.
A Career at Risk
Briscoe had been headed in the right direction. Briscoe appeared to have a promising future with 11 Xfinity victories, a Truck Series triumph at Homestead-Miami in 2017, and a developing Cup Series career that would eventually make him the 200th series winner by 2022. However, his journey took a detour in 2019, his sophomore year in the Xfinity Series.
Briscoe thought 2020 would be his breakthrough year after a season that showed promise but fell short of expectations. Rather, in December, he received a terrifying call from Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR). Briscoe said on the Dinner with Racers podcast, “SHR contacts me and says, ‘I don’t know how to tell you this, but if you don’t find any amount of funding at all, like in the next week… you’re not going be back here next year…. Briscoe’s career was on life support without sponsorship. His NASCAR dream appeared to be all but over as time was running out and there were no immediate leaders.
A Coincidence in Las Vegas Salvation can occasionally be found in the most unlikely places. In this instance, it started with a fortuitous encounter outside a restaurant in Las Vegas. After leaving a restaurant, Briscoe’s father, sporting a cap bearing Chase’s Xfinity car number, 98, happened to run across a man who had just left Buffalo Wild Wings.The man, who was a fan of Stewart-Haas, recognized the number on the hat and started talking. The fan praised the young driver and his morals after Briscoe’s father gave his introduction. “Here’s my card in case he needs assistance in the boardroom or business room,” he said, passing it to him.
This fan turned out to be more than just a fan; he was the CEO of Highpoint.com, a business that would play a crucial role in Briscoe’s continued existence in NASCAR. A Doubtful Lifeline Chase shared the CEO’s business card photo to SHR as soon as Briscoe’s father sent it to him along with the tale. It was a slim chance, with only a week to get finance, but it was better than nothing. According to Briscoe, the time was fortuitous: “My career is literally over.” My father turns right as he is leaving this eatery. The CEO turns left as he leaves Buffalo Wild Wings. However, Briscoe hinted at a twist just as it appeared that this lucky break would save the day.
Worth the Wait for a Twist
During his podcast interview, Briscoe did not fully disclose the “plot twist,” but it is evident that the link to Highpoint.com ended up being the lifeline he sorely needed. After that, Highpoint would support Briscoe’s Xfinity endeavors, allowing him to stay with SHR and carry on competing at a high level. That lifeline was very helpful. Briscoe established himself as one of NASCAR’s most promising drivers by winning an incredible nine races in the Xfinity Series by 2020. It was a declaration that his career was far from done, not merely a return.
Pursuing the Future In retrospect
Briscoe’s trip is a monument to tenacity and the influence of destiny. Briscoe’s story serves as a reminder that sometimes all it takes is one fortuitous encounter to make a big difference in a sport where sponsorship money frequently outweighs natural talent. Thanks to the encouragement of individuals who had faith in him during his lowest point, Briscoe, a mainstay of NASCAR’s Cup Series and a fan favorite, is still pursuing victory lane today.
