Chase Briscoe’s First Cup Series Victory at Chicagoland Speedway

Chase Briscoe experienced a memorable moment at Chicagoland Speedway on Sunday. Hailing from Mitchell, Indiana, Briscoe took part in NASCAR’s return to Joliet for the first time since 2019, securing a significant victory in the Midwest. He celebrated in a unique way, mimicking a fishing motion to honor Bass Pro Shops, his sponsor. Briscoe expressed his emotions, saying, “I felt like that was the most American I’ll ever feel in my life, winning in the red, white and blue Bass Pro Shops paint scheme on Fourth of July weekend on the 250th year of America.”

Briscoe faced strong competition from teammate Christopher Bell of Joe Gibbs Racing but held on for his first Cup Series win of the season by claiming the eero 400. The race occurred in front of a sold-out crowd. Denny Hamlin, the points leader, finished third, while William Byron led with 94 laps and won the first two stages, ending in fourth, right before 2019’s champion Alex Bowman.

Other top finishers included Bubba Wallace, Ryan Blaney, Ty Gibbs, Corey Heim, and Riley Herbst. Tyler Reddick, previously close to Hamlin in points, faced setbacks, ending his night in 36th place due to a radiator issue.

Briscoe gained the lead 42 laps before the race concluded and maintained it despite Bell’s pursuit. “I’d be lying if I didn’t say that when I saw him coming I was like, ‘Of course, I’m going to get beat at the end on tires,” Briscoe remarked. “But I was already driving as hard as I could. I just knew I had to be perfect.”

Briscoe, who previously won an ARCA race at Chicagoland Speedway in 2016, remarked, “I haven’t been able to win on a 1.5-mile track in the Cup Series before now. It’s really cool to win at one of them.”

Adding to the local flavor, the race began with Mike Alstott, a former Joliet Catholic star and Tampa Bay Buccaneers fullback, driving the pace car. “It’s great to be back home and to be here representing NASCAR and Joliet in the pace car,” Alstott expressed.

The event had ties to football as well. Joe Gibbs, the Hall of Fame NFL coach, saw his driver bring the car to victory lane. “It’s a special weekend,” Gibbs stated, expressing gratitude for the reception in Chicago.

Although Bell aimed for victory, he finished close. “It was a great day,” Bell noted, highlighting the challenges faced by the team. Briscoe, in contrast, had another special reason to celebrate. He secured victory on the birthday of his crew chief, James Small. When asked if he brought a gift, Briscoe happily replied, “This was it. For James, this is as good as it’s going to get.”