Big lead at Phoenix allows Chase Briscoe to ponder life during emotional first Cup victory
ATLANTA, Ga. — Mitchell's Chase Briscoe quickly discovered that with one's first career NASCAR Cup Series victory comes a ton of time takers, with people near and far wanting to discuss his story with him.
He broke through to win the the Ruoff Mortgage 500 on March 13 at Phoenix Raceway, and the post-race euphoria left the 27-year old driver of the No.14 Mahindra Tractors/SHR Racing Ford Mustang precious little time to gather his thoughts.
It wasn't until later in the week he got to pause for introspective reflection about the biggest racing achievement of his young life with his maiden triumph on NASCAR's top circuit.
"It's been really busy, kind of crazy, since Sunday, with a lot of media commitments and things," said Briscoe once he was finally able to calm down and catch his breath. "It comes with the territory, I guess. I hadn't been through it before, but I'm not complaining. If that's what it takes after you win, I'll be glad to do it a lot more."
Emotion floods cockpit on last lap
The week went on and soon it was time to get back to work, so Briscoe had a chance to collect himself. Long miles of driving between assignments allow the mind to go into overdrive, and we caught up with him as he was motoring to the next destination on the tour, Atlanta Motor Speedway, for Sunday's Folds of Honor Quik Trip 500.
Briscoe revealed that a flood of emotions consumed the cockpit as he was coming for the checkered flag.
"I was emotional for a lot of reasons," said Briscoe, who wasn't afraid to admit that tears flowed freely within his helmet. "Initially, I was thinking about all of the stuff I'd been through over the past seven years or so just to get here, the volunteering at shops and sleeping on couches, basically begging for a job.
"Then, when I took the white flag, it all just kind of hit me as I was coming off turn 2 and I started thinking of my family. I had just talked to my grandpa (Richard) that morning and I really wanted to win for him, and for my dad (Kevin) and everybody, so there was a huge weight lifted off me as I was heading to the checkered flag.
"It just started coming out, I guess. It's an incredible feeling."
Thoughts turn to hometown
There is little question that Briscoe's mind went to his wife Marissa and the child they lost to a miscarriage a year ago, as well as to his new son, Brooks, in the waning moments. Then his thoughts got around to his hometown of Mitchell and all of the friends who have provided support throughout his racing career.
"I had a lot going on in my mind right there because I pretty much had the race in hand, and that was another thing that hit me right at the end," Briscoe said. "I started thinking about how many people must've watching and cheering for me back in Mitchell and down in southern Indiana.
"I just started realizing what a big deal it was, kind of the enormity of it, for all of the people who have been behind me and helped me all this time on this journey.
"Since then my phone has been filled up with congratulation texts, and I've been able to see a lot of videos with the fans' reactions, and those are just incredible. Toby Wedgewood, who does my social media and website stuff, was jumping up and down celebrating.
"And there was one of Andy and Scotty Bradley from Bloomington that I used to race Sprints for, and they were really emotional as I was coming for the checkered flag. I always knew people cared about me, but to see people like that with tears in their eyes as I was winning was incredibly special, and I'm glad I could provide a moment like that for everybody."
Briscoe proud of Mahindra/SHR team
To the surprise of no one, Briscoe readily shared the credit for the victory with crew chief Johnny Klausmeier and the rest of his Mahindra Tractors team, which turned in tremendous pit stops all day and once gained him four positions.
"It was a team win, even starting back in the shop with the work the guys put in because it's a huge undertaking to put it all together with these new cars," Briscoe said. "We had a strong car from the start, and the guys in the pits were outstanding all race, kept getting me out fast and even gaining me spots several times.
"When the guys are doing that well it puts a lot of pressure on the driver because you don't want to let them down. So I was up on it and driving the wheels off that thing to try and get that win.
"We rose up together as a team and got the job done.
200th different Cup Series winner
With the victory, Briscoe became the 200th different driver to win a race at NASCAR's highest level. Whether it was called Winston Cup, Monster Energy Cup, or just Cup, it's pretty cool to hit that marker.
"I had an idea about that because I remembered after (Austin) Cindric won the Daytona 500 that they said he was the 199th different driver to win a Cup race," Briscoe said. "I didn't know I'd become the 200th, but for my first win to be that milestone makes it even more special.
"When you think about the number of people who have started a Cup race over the years and some never got the chance to win one, it's just a cool feeling to be the 200th different one. And I found out that the 100th different driver to win one is Mario Andretti, so someday I may be on a milestone list with somebody like that, and that's pretty incredible."
Legitimacy of win adds meaning
There are some odd-ball ways to win a NASCAR Cup races. It could be rain-shortened, or may materialize from a late pit stop move, perhaps a leader runs out of fuel or suffers some other misfortune in the waning laps. No driver is going to turn down one of those wins, but if they have their druthers they want it the old-fashioned way.
Especially the first one.
"I am really happy that this first one was truly legitimate," Briscoe said. "I mean, me or anybody else would take a win any way we can get it because you never when one might get taken away from you. But I really didn't want to win it because somebody else had trouble or something like that.
"We went out and led 100 laps, we were never outside the top 10, and we had to stay in front through two late restarts (the last was a green-white-checkered that Briscoe handled masterfully as he pulled away by a big margin over Ross Chastain and Tyler Reddick).
"So we won that race, nobody handed it to us. We worked hard as a team and took it. It's a big deal and I know just how big now.
"I feel like I really belong up here now."
Glad you got confirmation Chase, but a lot of Lawrence County loyalists would've already told you that much.
Contact Times-Mail Sports Writer Jeff Bartlett at jeffb@tmnews.com, or on Twitter @jeffbtmnews.
This article originally appeared on The Times-Mail: Mitchell's Briscoe reflects on winning first NASCAR Cup Series race
