Alright, I’d be lying if I didn’t say that this is a really cool throwback scheme. Although it doesn’t reach long and far into the annals of NASCAR history, Chase Briscoe’s scheme for the upcoming Darlington Throwback weekend is incredible.
On Monday evening, Stewart-Haas Racing revealed that Briscoe’s No. 98 in the NASCAR Xfinity Series Sport Clips Haircuts VFW 200 at Darlington Raceway will honor a scheme from Tony Stewart’s 2011 NASCAR Cup Series championship season.
Two Hoosiers. 24 years apart. One paint scheme. @ChaseBriscoe5's No. 98 @HighPoint Ford Mustang will emulate @TonyStewart’s 2011 @NASCAR Cup Series championship-winning ride during #NASCARThrowback weekend at @TooToughToTame. https://t.co/nJLUuRvQtW#SHRacing pic.twitter.com/NJt5eJMISP
— Stewart-Haas Racing (@StewartHaasRcng) August 24, 2020
HighPoint.com will serve as the sponsor for this throwback paint scheme, which was originally sponsored by Mobil 1 and Office Depot.
“This is our first year in NASCAR, and even with the challenges we’ve all faced amid COVID-19, it’s been a fantastic experience,” said Mike Mendiburu, president and CEO, HighPoint in a team release. “Chase and Stewart-Haas Racing embody so many of the fundamentals that shape our company. They are relentless, so when opportunities present themselves, they seize them and reap the benefits. Our throwback paint scheme is one of those moments. It’s a great way to showcase all that Tony Stewart has accomplished and our partnership with him, while highlighting Chase’s abilities and his run to an Xfinity Series championship.”
The 2011 championship by Stewart was the closest championship battle in NASCAR Cup Series history. Stewart tied Carl Edwards for the title, but ultimately won in the tie breaker due to having more wins on the year than Edwards. While Stewart took home the title at Homestead that season in the red and black Office Depot colors, this white, red and black Mobil 1 scheme played an important role in his season, as well.
For Briscoe, it’s an awesome moment to be able to run a paint scheme driven by his childhood hero.
“I’ve always been a diehard Tony Stewart fan,” said Briscoe, who now races for his idol at Stewart-Haas Racing, the team Stewart co-owns with Haas Automation founder Gene Haas. “When Tony sets his sights on something, there’s nothing you can do to stop him, and that title run in 2011 was a perfect example.
“Now here I am running for an Xfinity Series championship, and I’m trying to do exactly what Tony did in 2011. To have his title-winning paint scheme on my car is as much of a way to honor him as it is for me to stay focused on my ultimate goal of winning a championship.”
Briscoe took an emotional victory at Darlington Raceway earlier in the season as he held off Kyle Busch in an epic duel just a day removed from learning that his wife suffered a miscarriage of their first child.
Chase Briscoe Shares Heartbreaking News of Miscarriage of First Child
The NASCAR Xfinity Series Sport Clips Haircuts VFW 200 at Darlington will take place on Saturday, September 5th at 12:30 PM ET on NBC.
