Chase Briscoe has a major new partner for his sophomore NASCAR Cup Series season.
On Friday morning, Stewart-Haas Racing confirmed that Mahindra Ag North America has joined the organization as an anchor partner for its No. 14 Ford Mustang team and Briscoe beginning with the 2022 season.
The multi-year partnership with the championship-winning NASCAR team co-owned by NASCAR Hall of Famer Tony Stewart and industrialist Gene Haas will promote Mahindra Tractors, a brand of Mahindra Ag North America for a majority of the season.
The red-and-black No. 14 Mahindra Tractors Ford Mustang will debut in the non-points Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum Feb. 5-6 in Los Angeles before returning to action for the traditional start of the season with the 64th running of the Daytona 500 Feb. 20 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway.
Briscoe just completed his first year in the NASCAR Cup Series and the 26-year-old hailing from Mitchell, Ind., handily won the rookie-of-the-year title driving the No. 14 HighPoint.com Ford Mustang.
“I’m incredibly honored to represent Mahindra Tractors and all of its dealers. We both want to continue to grow and perform – me on the racetrack and Mahindra in the marketplace. It’s a true partnership that’s valuable to both of us.”
Houston-based Mahindra Ag North America is part of Mahindra Group’s Automotive and Farm Sector, the No. 1 selling farm tractor company in the world, based on volumes across all company brands.
“NASCAR, Stewart-Haas Racing and Mahindra’s shared values form a strong platform for us to connect with existing and potential customers. Our partnership with SHR provides an opportunity to tell our story to the wide audience of NASCAR fans who enjoy the outdoors and working their land,” said Viren Popli, President and CEO, Mahindra Ag North America and Mahindra Automotive North America.
“Chase Briscoe and Tony Stewart are relatable men of great character who have worked hard to get where they are today. Like our dealers, they have a tough work ethic and the drive to be successful. We are proud to have them representing the brand. In fact, Tony (Stewart) is already a Mahindra owner and has been putting his 5145 tractor to good use on his ranch in Indiana.”
Briscoe, the 2016 ARCA Menards Series champion said he is ready to apply what he learned from his freshman season to 2022 where the NASCAR Cup Series will see the rollout of the new Next Gen race car.
“The NASCAR Cup Series is the toughest racing I’ve ever been a part of. It’s so competitive,” Briscoe said. “I learned so much this year and I really can’t wait to apply it all next season.”
Mahindra Ag North America will launch its relationship with Briscoe when they partner with him for January’s 36th annual Chili Bowl Nationals at the Tulsa (Okla.) Expo Raceway inside the SageNet Center from January 10 – 15, 2022.
“Dirt-track racing makes me a better Cup Series driver,” said Briscoe, who will make his eighth Chili Bowl appearance in 2022. “It forces you to adapt. You have to run different lines to get the most out of your car and you have to do it quickly.
“When I won my first Xfinity Series race on the Roval at Charlotte, I drove it like a dirt track. I made sure to not spin the rear tires to where I was good at the end of a run. Running the Chili Bowl is fun, but it also keeps you sharp. It’ll be a great way to kick off our first season with Mahindra Tractors.”
After a successful career in 410 midget cars in the Midwest, Briscoe has thrived in his transition to NASCAR, which was boosted by that ARCA title. He advanced to the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series in 2017, earning four poles and winning the season-ending Ford EcoBoost 200 at Homestead-Miami (Fla.) Speedway.
Ten top-five and 14 top-10s allowed Briscoe to make the playoffs, finish sixth in points and score the series’ rookie-of-the-year and most-popular-driver awards.
Briscoe parlayed a limited Xfinity Series schedule in 2018 where he drove for both SHR and Roush-Fenway Racing into a full-time drive in 2019 for SHR where he won the rookie-of-the-year title. His stout, nine-win season in 2020 earned Briscoe a well-deserved promotion to the NASCAR Cup Series in 2021.
His season was highlighted by three top-10 finishes, all of them on road courses. He earned a season-high sixth-place finish twice at Circuit of the Americas (COTA) and Road America (Wisc.)
Running at the finish of 32 of the 36 points-paying Cup races, Briscoe finished 23rd in the championship standings.
Follow Chris Knight on Twitter @Knighter01.
