Chase Briscoe grew up in Indiana idolizing his fellow Indiana resident and racing legend Tony Stewart.
Briscoe spent years following in his idol’s footsteps racing short tracks in sprint cars, sleeping on couches, and working in race shops hoping for a chance.
He was rewarded in 2020 with a chance to race in the NASCAR Cup series with Stewart-Haas Racing driving the No. 14 once raced by Stewart himself. It was a dream come true.
The 29-year-old Briscoe learned that his dream will end when the 2024 season comes to a close. Stewart-Haas Racing announced Tuesday that the team will shutter at the end of the season. The news was made public shortly after Tony Stewart broke it to team employees, including Briscoe.
“Crazy time,” Briscoe said on a social media post from the parking lot of the team headquarters in North Carolina. “I never thought this day would come.
“You know, I’ve been at Stewart Haas for the last seven years now. It’s truthfully became like home to me and feels like a family… what an incredible group of men and women at this place that just make it feel like home and just make you enjoy coming to work each and every day.
“First and foremost, I just hope that all the guys and gals at this place find a great opportunity because each and every single person here deserves it… just (an) incredible group of people that have all put in so much hard work and effort and just sacrificed so much for me to be able to live out my dream of driving race cars and winning at the highest level.”
“it’s crazy, knowing that this will be the last year that I have to drive the 14 car,” he added. “The car that I looked up to growing up and obviously idolized growing up. So crazy times for sure. Never thought it would happen.
Briscoe said he’s not sure what he will do in the future.
“Gonna be an interesting time these next couple weeks just trying to find even what’s available out there…and hopefully can land on my feet and continue to race in the Cup series.
“Appreciate all the support, all the love, and we’ll see what happens going forward.”
Greg is the author of "The Nuts and Bolts of NASCAR: The Definitive Viewers' Guide to Big-Time Stock Car Auto Racing" and has been published in major publications across the country including the Los Angeles Times, the Cleveland Plain Dealer and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He was also a contributor to Chicken Soup for the NASCAR Soul, published in 2010, and the Christmas edition in 2016. He wrote as the NASCAR, Formula 1, Auto Reviews and National Veterans Affairs Examiner for Examiner.com and has appeared on Fox News. He holds a BS degree in communications, a Masters degree in psychology and is currently a PhD candidate majoring in psychology. He is currently the weekend Motorsports Editor for Autoweek.