Chase Briscoe is preparing for the newest chapter in his NASCAR career with Joe Gibbs Racing in February, but he’ll never forget his Xfinity start with Stewart-Haas Racing. In a recent episode of the podcast “Dinner with Racers” by Continental Tire, Briscoe revealed how SHR’s lack of funding almost cost him his No.98 seat. He highlighted a call from team owners in 2019 stating he should find financing or wouldn’t return in 2020. Briscoe was only a year into his Xfinity career. This was the last thing he ever thought he’d deal with as a newcomer.
The 30-year-old proved to Stewart-Haas owners Tony Stewart and Gene Haas that he could reach success across the Craftsman and Xfinity NASCAR series. During his stint with the Craftsman Truck Series, he secured two wins, 18 top-tens, and five poles but showed even more promise in Xfinity, clinching 11 wins, 54 top-tens, and 2 poles. The successes in Craftsman and Xfinity led to his 2021 cup start in the Daytona 500 with SHR, so he was sure he’d find new sponsorship. Here’s how a random but fateful encounter saved his career.
Why Chase Briscoe Thought it Was Over
According to Chase Briscoe, he counted his NASCAR career over after capping off his first cup year with Stewart-Haas Racing. He mentioned the last race of his initial season with SHR in 2019 and how the team’s success started taking shape. “I probably should have made the final four, but I crashed with two laps to lead,” Briscoe explained of the last race of 2019. “I am excited that 2020 is going to be great this year,” he added. That was until Stewart-Haas owners called him in December with disheartening news.
“This is December, SHR calls me and says, we don’t know how to tell you this, but if you don’t find any amount of funding at all, like within the next week, you aren’t going to be back here next year.” At this moment, everything changes for Briscoe because he thinks it’s the end. Until his Dad takes an unexpected trip to Las Vegas. “So literally, my career is over,” he said.”Then my dad happens to be walking out of this restaurant, turns right, and a CEO walks out of BMWs and turns left.” He explained how the two exchanged words, and the CEO handed him a business card.
His Dad quickly snapped a photo of the card and sent it to him.”My dad sends me a picture of the card, and I send it to SHR,” Chase Briscoe mentions. “I said, hey look, I know we only have a week, but my dad ran into this CEO guy.” “Maybe give him a call,” he continued. It was at this moment that Chase Briscoe knew he was saved. However, there was only one problem. Stewart-Haas Racing owners Tony Stewart and Gene Haas had to agree, and surprisingly, it wouldn’t be long before they did.
How a Fateful Encounter Changed Everything
Once Chase Briscoe’s Dad met Highpoint.com CEO Mike Mendiburu in Nevada, the rest of the story is history. Mendiburu is an impressive business owner. He is best known for starting a small IT integration services business, now a multi-million dollar entity, out of his home some 20 years prior. Interestingly, Kevin Briscoe wasn’t supposed to be there and, by happenstance, was invited to attend SEMA.
SEMA is a premier automotive tradeshow geared toward the growth of small businesses within the automotive industry. The event is held annually in Las Vegas. Chase and Kevin Briscoe were desperate to seek funding, so they tried making connections at SEMA but were unsuccessful. Chase Briscoe mentioned that his family struggled to scrounge the funds to continue racing, recalling his time in dirt racing.“My family, in general, didn’t really have money to take me racing or buy new stuff,” he said.
“There were multiple times where my career in the dirt world was nearly done, but my dad would manage to get a $500 or $1,000 sponsorship or whatever and be able to go the next couple of weekends,” he continued. The situation wouldn’t improve until his dad’s fateful encounter with Mike Mendiburu on the ever-busy Las Vegas strip. As Kevin Briscoe prepared to leave a restaurant, he heard someone yell, “Hey, Chase Briscoe, Stewart-Haas.” When he turned around, he came face-to-face with Mike Mendiburu. He’d noticed the blue No. 98 hat he was sporting and mentioned being a devoted NASCAR fan.
Final Thoughts
After Kevin Briscoe encountered Highpoint.com CEO Mike Mendiburu, the pair engaged in small talk, and Mendiburu expressed his admiration for his son Chase Briscoe. The CEO touted the No. 98 driver’s moral compass, demeanor, and representation of the sport as impressive and offered to help him if needed.
“If I can ever help him in any way, have him call me if he wants to learn how to talk to executives or talk about sponsorship or just how to talk about business; he can call me anytime,” Mendiburu said, and that’s what happened. However, Mendiburu was initially apprehensive until he spoke with Stewart-Haas’ owners about sponsor Ford’s decision to scale back funding.
“Look, let me just paint a picture for you,” SHR told Mendiburu. “Pretty much if you don’t do anything, Chase’s career is over, and we know you probably think what NASCAR costs,” owners expressed. “Ford is not one to pay the whole bill, so if we get anything, it can make a huge difference in this kid’s career,” they added.
That’s when Mike Mendiburu knew he was called to save Chase Briscoe’s career. “I have no idea why I’m doing this, but it seems like the lord’s calling me to do it; alright, I am gonna do it, he retorted. Without Mendiburu’s assistance, Briscoe would never have made it to his cup start in 2022, and for that, he’s thankful, and so is NASCAR.
