Chase Briscoe didn’t just win the Xfinity Series race at Dover in 2020; He predicted it. In the middle of a surreal, fanless doubleheader weekend during NASCAR’s COVID-impacted season, Briscoe bounced back from disappointment with a bold declaration to his wife.
Briscoe had entered the Dover weekend as a rising star in the Xfinity ranks, chasing wins and proving his place in NASCAR’s pipeline. But then an unforced error derailed his charge to victory on that Saturday. However, the comeback he had in store was completely unexpected.
Chase Briscoe Once Made a Bold Promise at Dover and Delivered in Style
The current Joe Gibbs Racing Cup driver recently reflected on the unforgettable weekend during the 2020 COVID-19-affected season, when empty grandstands couldn’t overshadow a moment of personal and professional redemption.
Following a frustrating finish in the first of two back-to-back races at the Monster Mile, Briscoe made a bold four-word declaration to his wife. What followed was a determined, methodical drive from the back of the field to the front, a backup car, and sheer grit.
Speaking on the SiriusXM radio, Briscoe explained, “I remember it was during COVID. There was nobody there, but it was a unique thing where we ran two races back to back. I think it was a Friday and Saturday, or Saturday and Sunday, I can’t remember. But Saturday, the first day, I was definitely gonna win the race.” But it did not end well for the No. 19 driver.
“I felt like I had the best car, and I got under somebody off of two and spun myself out. I just remember being so mad at myself that I’d even put myself in that position knowing how fast my car was,” Briscoe explained.
Forced to switch to a backup car, Briscoe entered the next day’s race starting from the back.
Briscoe added, “We went to a backup car the next day, and I just remember telling my wife, I said, ‘I’m gonna win tomorrow. I’m telling you, my car is so good.’ We started in the back and were able to win the race. I felt like I learned so much on Saturday, or the day before, running with the damaged car.”
The No. 19 Toyota driver credited his Saturday struggles for helping him better understand the track and how to manage his line, tire placement, and corner entry points. That experience proved crucial in adapting quickly to the new car.
Back then, Briscoe’s win at Dover in 2020 stood out as one of his defining Xfinity moments, not just for the result, but for his resilience.
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