‘I Was Just Really Naive’ – Brad Keselowski’s Former Driver Unfolds His Journey in NASCAR’s First Division

The exhilarating journey of the ex-driver of Brad Keselowski unfolds. From his booming days in 2022 to struggling speed this season, Chase Briscoe spills the beans on his racing voyage, his encounters with the racing elites, and the ultimate learning curve. Briscoe, once hailed as the breakout racer of 2022, spins a tale of anticipation and struggle in the world of NASCAR’s premier division. 

Chase’s journey from being the anticipated leader at Stewart-Haas Racing to traversing the speed charts at 28th unveils a narrative of fierce competition and underlying wisdom. Ever wonder how transitioning from smaller circuits to racing’s zenith feels?

Chase Briscoe’s Cup Series challenge

Chase Briscoe reflected on his transition to the Cup series, acknowledging that the step up from the truck and X-Finity series was a significant challenge. He compared it to going from swimming in a three-foot pool to jumping into the ocean, emphasizing the tremendous difference in competition. Briscoe noted that every driver in the Cup series was exceptionally talented, having won races at various levels throughout their careers.

Briscoe stated during a recent interview, “Just from a competition side, you know, I’ve never had a run so hard to literally run 22nd, for example, you know, just it’s so tense the whole time. You’re in 500-mile races, 400-mile races, I mean, even the Coke 600, you run 600 miles of qualifying laps.

“I mean, there’s just no really give and take any more like there used to be. You don’t have to kind of nurse your car to the end. You just literally run as hard as you can.”

Brad Keselowski Racing (BKR) was the team where Briscoe initially caught the racing world’s attention. Founded by none other than Brad Keselowski, one of NASCAR’s biggest names, BKR has been instrumental in crafting raw talents and giving them the NASCAR platform. Briscoe’s relationship with Keselowski wasn’t just as another racer; under Keselowski’s tutelage, he learned the initial ropes.

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But the driver, Tony Stewart, had more to add about his NASCAR journey.

Brad Keselowski Racing became the crucial launchpad

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Despite his blinding speed on drafting tracks, 2023 saw Briscoe’s rank plummet to a perplexing 28th. Oddly, he still manages to hold dominion at Daytona and Talladega, having led a race-high of 67 laps. But is mastery in two domains enough in a universe where every track demands dominion? 

Chase added, “Track position is so important. Hence, you know all those things or a lot to learn and even just the racecraft, you know how good guys are where they put their car and take your airway and things like that we’re just things that you know in the X-Finity series. 

“I was just really naive to truthfully, you know, when those guys would come and race. You know, you just didn’t learn all the tricks because you’re only racing one guy. Then you all of a sudden start racing 35 of them. They’re all just incredible race car drivers.”

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Being under Keselowski’s wing means having access to a reservoir of experience, insights, and guidance. While BKR equipped Briscoe with the primary toolkit to race, it was his transition to the more competitive divisions that refined his abilities.