NASCAR: Chase Briscoe to the Xfinity Series in 2018 with Ford?

With Brad Keselowski Racing set to shut its doors at the end of the 2017 season, Chase Briscoe could receive a big promotion thanks to the brass at Ford Performance.

The move by NASCAR Cup Series driver Brad Keselowski to shut down his eponymous team in the Camping World Truck Series at the end of the 2017 season shocked the garage area. Now, many crew members and drivers are back on the market, hunting for landing spots for the upcoming 2018 campaign. Chase Briscoe, however, may not have to worry as much about finding a new ride.

Briscoe, who has been a frequent contender in his rookie Truck Series season, has become a favorite among the Ford Performance leadership in their development program. He won the 2016 ARCA Racing Series championship for Ford, and seems to be close to locking himself into the playoffs in 2017. But with his team dissolving at season’s end, one would not be surprised to see Briscoe looking forward and trying to plan for the next year.

Fortunately, Ford Performance has been doing a lot of that thinking for Briscoe already. Here is what Ford Performance global director Dave Pericak told Motorsport.com about their up and coming driver:

"Chase has done a great job in the BKR trucks in 2017 and we are fully committed to his continued development and progression in NASCAR. We have already been active in working with our Ford teams to place him into the right Xfinity program for 2018, but right now we want his focus to be on winning races and competing in the playoffs for a championship in the Camping World Truck Series."

With a strong endorsement from the blue oval brass, Briscoe certainly seems poised to rise into the Xfinity Series in 2018. The question becomes, where will the young driver land? There are three big-name teams running Fords in the Xfinity Series, and any of them could be a spot for Chase to race.