Chase Briscoe’s NASCAR career was saved by a millionaire fan after almost losing his SHR seat before career defining season
New JGR driver Chase Briscoe has shared story from his SHR days where he almost lost his NASCAR Xfinity Series seat.
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Chase Briscoe (Via IMAGO)
The 2025 NASCAR Cup season will mark the Joe Gibbs Racing debut of Chase Briscoe. He left Stewart Haas Racing after the team ceased their operations. But none of this wouldn’t have happened, if not for a fan who saved Briscoe’s career. In 2019, after his debut season in the Xfinity Series he was informed by SHR that he might not have a seat for 2020.
Chase Briscoe had secured just one race win that season and wasn’t among the very best racers on the track, owing to the inconsistency in his performance. But he was confident about turning the tides in his sophomore year, when he learned about how the lack of sponsorship is going to ruin his racing career that just started.
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.
Chase Briscoe said via Dinner with Racers podcast.
But everything changed when fate intervened and his father met with the CEO of Highpoint.com, Mike Mendiburu, who was a big NASCAR fan. Briscoe’s father saw this as an opportunity and send his business card to the SHR driver. He passed it SHR instructing them to trey and approach them. This move helped him to land a deal and he produced his best ever season, as he secured 9 wins and landing his Cup seat for 2021.
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.
Chase Briscoe added.
Chase Briscoe reveals how SHR convinced the CEO to sponsor him
But SHR talks with Mendiburu didn’t start as they wanted and he was quick to assert that he wasn’t interested in sponsoring a car. But the team didn’t give up and eventually was able to convince the CEO to sponsor the No:98 Ford for the 2020 season.
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.
Chase Briscoe said.
The decision proved to a great investment, with Briscoe rewarding the trust put on him with one of the best seasons of his career. Everyone involved got significant reward for the sponsorship and the Briscoe family would always be thankful about the support.
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Justin P Joy
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