Indiana native Chase Briscoe secured a career highlight by clinching pole position for NASCAR’s marquee Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, edging out competitors in front of a hometown crowd. The Stewart-Haas Racing driver’s fifth Busch Light Pole Award of the season came with a blistering 183.165 mph qualifying lap, narrowly surpassing Bubba Wallace by 0.013 seconds. The achievement marks a dramatic turnaround from his 20th-place grid start at the same event last year.
Briscoe’s emotional connection to the iconic track was evident as he reflected on the significance of the moment. “I’m holding back tears,” said the 30-year-old, a native of Mitchell, Indiana. “There’s no other track that gives me the love and support like this place does. To do this in front of my home state means everything.” His performance drew acclaim from fellow Hoosiers, including former U.S. Vice President Mike Pence, who shared Briscoe’s post-qualifying interview on social media with the message: “Congratulations to Hoosier native @chasebriscoe on Winning the Pole at tomorrow’s #Brickyard400!🏁”
The driver has now secured front-row starts in seven races this season, including second-place grid spots at Sonoma and Dover. Notably, he has claimed poles for all three of NASCAR’s crown jewel events in 2024: the Daytona 500, Coca-Cola 600, and now Indianapolis. Toyota drivers dominated the rest of the top five, with Erik Jones, Tyler Reddick, and Ty Gibbs completing the lineup.
Briscoe now turns his focus to Sunday’s race, where he aims to replicate Tony Stewart’s 2005 Brickyard 400 triumph. Stewart, a fellow Indiana native and Briscoe’s former team owner, won the event en route to that year’s championship. Briscoe revealed he recently texted Stewart a photo of the 2005 championship car displayed at a local museum, writing, “Hopefully another Hoosier can win 20 years later.”
While his qualifying pace has been formidable, converting poles into victories remains a challenge. His sole 2024 win at Pocono came from a ninth-place start. A triumph at Indianapolis would not only fulfill a childhood dream but also align him with Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Denny Hamlin as one of the season’s multi-race winners.
As the NASCAR circuit returns to its historic Indiana roots, Briscoe’s pursuit of hometown glory adds a compelling narrative to one of motorsport’s most storied venues.
