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INDIANAPOLIS — For Chase Briscoe, no race carries more weight than the Brickyard 400.
The Mitchell, Indiana, native returns to Indianapolis Motor Speedway this weekend as one of the NASCAR Cup Series' top contenders, sitting eighth in the championship standings with one victory this season. But even with a résumé that includes six Cup wins and a recent victory at Chicagoland Speedway, Briscoe said a win at the Brickyard would eclipse them all.
"It would mean everything," Briscoe said. "I would put this race over the Daytona 500 or any race. You could take every win I've ever had in my career away. If I could just have one Brickyard 400 win, I would be happy and content."
Briscoe knows opportunities to win at Indianapolis are limited.
"When you think about the big scheme of things, you only get to run here maybe 15 times in your career," he said. "So to try to win one is pretty difficult to do."
The 31-year-old already has an Indianapolis victory, winning the inaugural NASCAR Xfinity Series Pennzoil 150 on the IMS road course in 2020. But with the race held during the COVID-19 pandemic, the grandstands were empty.
"What makes Indy to me so special is all my family being here, friends and family, and fans," Briscoe said. "I didn't get to experience that (win) with any of them."
If he wins Sunday's Brickyard 400, Briscoe already has the celebration planned.
"I'm doing it all," he said. "I'm climbing the fence, kissing the bricks, I'm going in the grandstands. It might take them an hour and a half just to get me to Victory Lane."
Growing up in Indiana, Briscoe said racing at Indianapolis has always carried a different feeling than any other stop on the schedule.
"I always joke, when I come here, people are cheering for me," Briscoe said. "It's just different. I don't have loud, loud cheers every single weekend where here I feel like I'm the fan favorite."
Although Briscoe once dreamed of competing in the Indianapolis 500, he said that chapter is no longer on his bucket list.
"Before I got to the Cup Series, I wanted to run the Indy 500," Briscoe said. "Having kids now, I just don't want to risk getting hurt."
Briscoe admitted the speeds involved have changed his perspective.
"I think I'll just be the first one to admit I'm not man enough to do it," he said. "I don't want to wreck at 240."
Instead, he joked that if he ever entered the race, he'd prefer to simply take the green flag before heading to pit road.
"I would love to do the pre-race, do the driver intros, ride around, do the pace lap, take the green flag, then I'll just pull down pit road, and watch the rest of the race,” he said.
For Briscoe, the Brickyard remains the one victory that stands above all the rest. This weekend, the hometown favorite will once again have a chance to chase the win he says would define his career.
"Hopefully I can win this weekend or at least at some point in my career," Briscoe said. "It would definitely be the highlight of my career for sure."
Jessica Garcete is an IndyStar sports reporter. Get IndyStar's motor sports coverage sent directly to your inbox with our Motor Sports newsletter. Subscribe to theYouTube channel IndyStar TV: IndyCar for a behind-the-scenes look at IndyCar and expert analysis.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Why Brickyard 400 win would be bigger than Daytona 500 for Chase Briscoe
Continue reading...
The Mitchell, Indiana, native returns to Indianapolis Motor Speedway this weekend as one of the NASCAR Cup Series' top contenders, sitting eighth in the championship standings with one victory this season. But even with a résumé that includes six Cup wins and a recent victory at Chicagoland Speedway, Briscoe said a win at the Brickyard would eclipse them all.
"It would mean everything," Briscoe said. "I would put this race over the Daytona 500 or any race. You could take every win I've ever had in my career away. If I could just have one Brickyard 400 win, I would be happy and content."
Briscoe knows opportunities to win at Indianapolis are limited.
"When you think about the big scheme of things, you only get to run here maybe 15 times in your career," he said. "So to try to win one is pretty difficult to do."
The 31-year-old already has an Indianapolis victory, winning the inaugural NASCAR Xfinity Series Pennzoil 150 on the IMS road course in 2020. But with the race held during the COVID-19 pandemic, the grandstands were empty.
"What makes Indy to me so special is all my family being here, friends and family, and fans," Briscoe said. "I didn't get to experience that (win) with any of them."
If he wins Sunday's Brickyard 400, Briscoe already has the celebration planned.
"I'm doing it all," he said. "I'm climbing the fence, kissing the bricks, I'm going in the grandstands. It might take them an hour and a half just to get me to Victory Lane."
Growing up in Indiana, Briscoe said racing at Indianapolis has always carried a different feeling than any other stop on the schedule.
"I always joke, when I come here, people are cheering for me," Briscoe said. "It's just different. I don't have loud, loud cheers every single weekend where here I feel like I'm the fan favorite."
Although Briscoe once dreamed of competing in the Indianapolis 500, he said that chapter is no longer on his bucket list.
"Before I got to the Cup Series, I wanted to run the Indy 500," Briscoe said. "Having kids now, I just don't want to risk getting hurt."
Briscoe admitted the speeds involved have changed his perspective.
"I think I'll just be the first one to admit I'm not man enough to do it," he said. "I don't want to wreck at 240."
Instead, he joked that if he ever entered the race, he'd prefer to simply take the green flag before heading to pit road.
"I would love to do the pre-race, do the driver intros, ride around, do the pace lap, take the green flag, then I'll just pull down pit road, and watch the rest of the race,” he said.
For Briscoe, the Brickyard remains the one victory that stands above all the rest. This weekend, the hometown favorite will once again have a chance to chase the win he says would define his career.
"Hopefully I can win this weekend or at least at some point in my career," Briscoe said. "It would definitely be the highlight of my career for sure."
Jessica Garcete is an IndyStar sports reporter. Get IndyStar's motor sports coverage sent directly to your inbox with our Motor Sports newsletter. Subscribe to theYouTube channel IndyStar TV: IndyCar for a behind-the-scenes look at IndyCar and expert analysis.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Why Brickyard 400 win would be bigger than Daytona 500 for Chase Briscoe
Continue reading...
