Chase Briscoe has announced his retirement from sprint car racing, a decision influenced by both family responsibilities and his recent promotion within Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR). The 30-year-old driver revealed this change during an interview on the Always Race Day podcast, emphasizing that balancing his NASCAR career and personal life played a significant role in stepping away from the dirt tracks where he began racing.
Reflecting on the Final Sprint Car Appearance
Briscoe shared that his last sprint car race took place last year in Bloomington, Indiana, close to where his racing journey started.
“I ran my last (sprint car) race last year at Bloomington (Indiana), which is where I grew up racing, 25 minutes from home. It just felt like I was done,”
he said. This race marked the closing of a long chapter in his career as he now focuses exclusively on NASCAR.
Fatherhood and Career Advancement as Driving Factors
The arrival of twins last year significantly influenced Briscoe’s decision to stop competing in sprint car events. With three young children at home, Briscoe explained how his family obligations make it difficult to leave early for sprint car races.
“We had twins last year. So having three kids now, it just makes it harder to tell my wife, ‘Hey, I’m going to leave a couple days early (before a NASCAR race) and go run some sprint car races,’”
he admitted.
Alongside family considerations, Briscoe’s transition to a new role at JGR has become his main focus. He described this opportunity as one of a lifetime, highlighting the speed and competitiveness of the cars.
“And switching over to JGR (Joe Gibbs Racing), going to a new job and new opportunity, it’s the opportunity of a lifetime. Their cars are so fast. I just don’t want to do something to screw that up, get hurt or something like that,”
he explained.
Future Involvement in Sprint Car Racing Through Ownership
Although Briscoe is stepping back from driving, he hopes to remain part of the sprint car world as a team owner.
“Hopefully, I can get my sprint car team back out there from the ownership side,”
he said.
“I’d absolutely love to have them run on the racetrack. But from a driver’s standpoint, I think I’m done, at least for the time being.”
This shift would allow him to support racing without the personal risks and commitments that come with driving.
Supporting Dirt Track Racing and NASCAR Intersection
Briscoe has also expressed his enthusiasm for dirt track racing and its relevance to NASCAR. At an event in Knoxville for the 360 Nationals, he advocated for the Cup Series to include annual visits to dirt tracks like Bristol Dirt, Eldora, or Knoxville. This perspective highlights his continued appreciation for dirt racing despite stepping away as a driver.
“I’m retired, at least for the time being. Probably for good, truthfully,”
—Chase Briscoe, NASCAR driver
“I ran my last (sprint car) race last year at Bloomington (Indiana), which is where I grew up racing, 25 minutes from home. It just felt like I was done.”
—Chase Briscoe
“We had twins last year. So having three kids now, it just makes it harder to tell my wife, ‘Hey, I’m going to leave a couple days early (before a NASCAR race) and go run some sprint car races.’”
—Chase Briscoe
“And switching over to JGR (Joe Gibbs Racing), going to a new job and new opportunity, it’s the opportunity of a lifetime. Their cars are so fast. I just don’t want to do something to screw that up, get hurt or something like that.”
—Chase Briscoe
“Hopefully, I can get my sprint car team back out there from the ownership side,”
—Chase Briscoe
“I’d absolutely love to have them run on the racetrack. But from a driver’s standpoint, I think I’m done, at least for the time being.”
—Chase Briscoe
