Chase Briscoe Joins SHR for Five Xfinity Races

By Seth Eggert, Staff Writer 

Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) will field Ford Performance driver Chase Briscoe in five NASCAR Xfinity Series races this season. This adds to Briscoe’s 12 schedule races for Roush Fenway Racing’s No. 60 Ford Mustang.

Briscoe’s first race in SHR’s No. 98 Ford Mustang will be the Fitzgerald Glider Kits 300 at Bristol Motor Speedway on April 14. He will then return at Talladega Superspeedway on April 28, Charlotte Motor Speedway May 26, the Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval on Sept. 29, and Kansas Speedway on Oct. 20.

Like SHR’s co-owner Tony Stewart, Briscoe started racing on the dirt tracks in the Midwest. His background will likely make him a good fit in the Kannapolis, NC-based organization.

“If you grow up in Indiana racing sprint cars and you want to make a name for yourself in NASCAR, I don’t think there is anyone better to be around than Tony Stewart,” said Briscoe, whose family has been involved with sprint car racing for more than 40 years. “He’s one of my idols. To get the opportunity to drive a Ford for his race team is beyond my wildest dreams. I can’t wait to get into the No. 98 Ford Performance Ford Mustang at Bristol and the other races they have slated for me. I realize what an opportunity Ford and Stewart-Haas Racing have given me.”

In 2017, Briscoe competed in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series for Brad Keselowski Racing. He earned one victory, 10 top-five and 14 top-10 finishes on his way to capturing Rookie of the Year and Most Popular Driver honors. Briscoe also earned four pole positions in the Truck Series.

“Watching him in the Truck Series, it’s easy to see his talent,” said Greg Zipadelli, vice president of competition, SHR. “He’s done a great job for his amount of experience. He has a good head on his shoulders and is a racer at heart. That’s the kind of people we surround ourselves with at Stewart-Haas Racing.”

Briscoe made his Xfinity Series debut at Atlanta Motor Speedway in the Rinnai 250. He started 18^th and finished 15^th on one of the oldest racing surfaces in NASCAR. Briscoe hovered just outside the top-10 for most of the race.

“I’ve worked hard to get where I am, but I’ve also benefited from a lot of people having faith in me,” Briscoe said. “I hope to reward everyone for their efforts. For Stewart-Haas Racing, that starts at Bristol.”

Before Briscoe hits the track with Stewart-Haas Racing at Bristol Motor Speedway, he will compete for Roush Fenway Racing in the No. 60 Ford Mustang in the My Bariatric Solutions 300 at Texas Motor Speedway on April 7.