(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)
By Aaron Bearden
What Happened?
Stewart-Haas Racing has locked in young star Chase Briscoe for years to come.
The organization announced Thursday that Briscoe has signed a multiyear contract extension to remain with the team. While the length of the deal wasn’t announced, the extension will keep the Hoosier behind the wheel of the No. 14 Ford for the foreseeable future.
“It’s huge to have stability, with my team and my partner,” Briscoe said in a team statement. “It just gives you more confidence. Stewart-Haas Racing is where I want to be for a long time. It’s the place I’ve known longer than anywhere else in my NASCAR career.
“I remember getting signed by Ford in 2017 and I told people, ‘You know, if I could pick one place to be, it would be Stewart-Haas Racing. And if I could drive one car, it would be the 14 car. That would be the ultimate dream.’ And now, here I am.
“SHR has such a great group of people, from the Xfinity Series to the Cup Series, and they’ve all just guided me in the right direction. From drivers to crew chiefs to crew members, they’ve always had my back, and that’s been a huge help – just having people believe in you.”
Briscoe has been at SHR since 2018, when he joined the operation on a limited basis in the Xfinity Series. After securing 11 wins in 83 Xfinity starts between SHR and Roush Fenway Racing, Briscoe rose to Cup as a replacement for the retiring Clint Bowyer in 2021. A quiet rookie season gave way to a competitive sophomore year in 2022, when Briscoe earned his first Cup victory at Phoenix Raceway and made it to the Round of 8.
“Chase has made the most of every opportunity and the proof is in the results. Keeping him at SHR was a priority and we’re proud to have him in our racecars for many more years to come,” team co-owner Tony Stewart said.
Analysis
Retaining Briscoe was an obvious move for SHR, particularly given the uncertainty surrounding the organization’s future driver lineup. It locks in a rising star at a time when SHR is set to lose its biggest name.
Team stalwart and 2014 Cup champion Kevin Harvick announced his impending retirement two weeks ago. The Californian will call his NASCAR career quits at the conclusion of the 2023 season. With his exit comes a seismic hole to fill at SHR, with a need for one of the company’s competitors to step up and become the de-facto top driver.
It’s too early to tell, but Briscoe could be the one to do it.
Statistically Briscoe’s 2022 was good, if not extravagant. He had six top-fives, 10 top-10s and a lone win in the spring at Phoenix Raceway. But the Hoosier was in contention to win two additional races in the Bristol Dirt race and Coca-Cola 600 before late mistakes dropped him out of contention.
The 28-year-old truly found his form in the playoffs, finishing 14th or better in eight of the last nine races with three top-fives and six top-10s that all came in the final seven weeks. That run made Briscoe a legitimate playoff threat. He nearly stole a win on old tires in the semifinal race at Martinsville Speedway, losing the lead with four to go and fading to ninth. Had he held on, Briscoe would have been a Championship 4 contender at Phoenix, where he’d already won in the spring.
That late stretch has Briscoe positioned as a potential contender for 2023. Should he continue to match that form, the Hoosier could easily position himself as SHR’s lead driver heading into 2024.
It would come at a good time for an SHR squad that could otherwise find itself lacking that key figure for the first time.
SHR has always had a franchise driver – someone capable of racking up wins and serving as the face of the organization. In the early years it was Stewart, who racked up 15 wins and the 2011 championship from 2009 through 2013. Since his arrival in 2014, it’s been Harvick. The veteran has amassed 37 victories, five Championship 4 appearances and the 2014 Cup title over nine seasons at SHR.
It’s uncertain who could fill that role in 2024. Harvick is already exiting. Aric Almirola’s back after reversing a decision to retire in 2022, but has never scored multiple wins in a season or made the Championship 4. Ryan Preece is entering SHR with promise, but has yet to truly prove himself at the Cup level. Cole Custer is back in the Xfinity Series after an underwhelming three-year Cup stint. Riley Herbst is winless and struggling to stand out at the Xfinity level.
Could SHR potentially dip into the market and pull a potential star like Ross Chastain or Erik Jones? Sure. But if it can’t, then someone in the existing system is likely going to need to step up.
No one appears more ready to do so than Briscoe. Getting an extension done early will allow both Briscoe and his team to focus heading into what could be a breakout year.
