NASCAR: 5 Xfinity Series drivers poised for future Cup moves
By Asher Fair
Xfinity Series drivers poised for Cup moves: Chase Briscoe
Chase Briscoe entered the 2020 season as the championship favorite after placing fifth in the championship standings in his first full season at Stewart-Haas Racing last year. With Cole Custer gone, Stewart-Haas Racing downsized to just one full-time car, placing all of the focus on Briscoe.
The only non-“Big 3” driver whom Briscoe finished behind in the 2019 championship standings was JR Motorsports’ Justin Allgaier, who has never placed lower than seventh place in the standings but has never won a championship in nine seasons.
Briscoe won the race at Iowa Speedway and was one of only five full-time Xfinity Series drivers other than the “Big 3” to find victory lane last year.
Briscoe finished this year’s regular season in second place in the point standings with seven victories at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Darlington Raceway, Homestead-Miami Speedway, Pocono Raceway, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course, Dover International Speedway and Bristol Motor Speedway, and he won the first race of the playoffs at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
The 25-year-old Mitchell, Indiana native has positioned himself to make a move to the Cup Series as soon as the 2021 season. Stewart-Haas Racing have altered their Cup Series lineup after each of the last four seasons, and while Aric Almirola recently signed an extension, Clint Bowyer is still in a contract year after signing a one-year deal late last season.
Bowyer failed to win a race last season after advancing to the round of 8 with a two wins in 2018, and he has just 10 top 10 finishes through 30 races this year. Meanwhile, Kevin Harvick has found victory lane a whopping 21 times for the team since the 2018 season began. Custer has even managed to win already in his rookie season.
Briscoe is one of several potential new drivers for Stewart-Haas Racing if they opt to alter their lineup for a fifth consecutive season, but he appears to be best positioned to land at the four-car Ford team after the team promoted Custer from their Xfinity Series team ahead of the 2020 season.
Even if he doesn’t end up there, a ride at the Stewart-Haas Racing-affiliated Go Fas Racing isn’t out of the question with Corey LaJoie slated to depart.