LONG POND, Pa. – Ford Development driver Chase Briscoe continues to hunt for his first top-10 finish in NASCAR Xfinity Series competition after the 2016 ARCA Racing Series champion found himself a victim in Saturday afternoon’s Pocono Green 250 at Pocono (Pa.) Raceway.
In his fourth race of the season driving for Roush Fenway Racing, the former Pocono ARCA winner qualified his No. 60 Nutri Chops Ford Mustang 16th and despite battling a loose condition during the first stage, the team made a significant change during the first round of pit stops.
Restarting 11th, Briscoe continued to hover inside the top-15 during Stage 2 – finishing 14th.
Another swing of changes set the Mitchell, Ind. native up for the final 50 lap sprint to the finish.
Unfortunately, while battling for a top-10 spot, Michael Annett lost control of his No. 5 Chevrolet off Turn 2 and spun directly in the path of Briscoe who pounded the outside wall.
The damage was too severe for the 23-year-old sending him to the garage and a disappointing 37th place finish.
“The 5 got loose. That was the second time it happened,” offered Briscoe. “We didn’t have track position all day long and we were finally going to be good I thought. We were up to seventh or eighth on that restart. He just ended up getting loose and we had nowhere to go.
“I hate it for my guys. I feel like the 60 car hasn’t been able to catch a break all year long. I feel like I have been getting caught in other people’s stuff. That is part of racing, but I hate it for my guys.”
Pocono was the first of three NASCAR Xfinity Series with a restrictor plate aerodynamic package meant to bunch up the cars while slowing down their speeds in a non-restrictor plate track setting.
Briscoe said the race reminded him of a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series event at the 2.5-mile triangle but at a slower pace. He also expects more out of the package next weekend at Michigan International Speedway, a race not slated on his 12-race schedule with Roush Fenway.
“I don’t have any previous experience with this Xfinity Car at Pocono but to me, it felt like the truck, but we are going a little slower,” he said. “Package wise, I thought it was good. I think it will be way better at Michigan because here at Pocono you have to lift still. I think it will be better at Michigan but from my end, I thought it was pretty good.”
In seven Xfinity Series starts this season, his best finish is 11th twice driving for Roush Fenway and Stewart-Haas Racing with Biagi-DenBeste Racing at Texas Motor Speedway and Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway respectively.
The Ford Performance protégé doesn’t race again until the end of the month at Chicagoland Speedway, a track he’s been victorious winning one of six ARCA races during his championship campaign two years ago.
Follow Chris Knight on Twitter @Knighter01.
