UPDATE: Sunday, September 26, 2021 at 2:18 PM ET
Chase Briscoe has made it to Las Vegas for Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series South Point 400.
?- Made it.
— Chase Briscoe (@ChaseBriscoe_14) September 26, 2021
It has been an interesting Sunday morning for NASCAR Cup Series rookie Chase Briscoe.
The driver of the No. 14 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford Mustang expects that his wife Marissa will go into labor with their first child any moment, so he stayed in North Carolina as long as he could before leaving for the race in Las Vegas.
Flying commercial to Vegas this morning since I’m in baby watch and the team planes left yesterday. Got on the plane, then we got delayed because it had hit a bird, now the computer system is out and taking us back to the gate… pic.twitter.com/GhizZVFclv
— Chase Briscoe (@ChaseBriscoe_14) September 26, 2021
The SHR team planes left to take the rest of the team to the track on Saturday, but with the birth of his child possible, Briscoe opted to fly out to the track Sunday morning with a commercial flight. This still seemed like an okay plan, as the Cup race doesn’t start until 7:00 PM ET, but the flight got delayed and eventually canceled.
Now, Briscoe is set for a different flight to Las Vegas, and he isn’t taking any chances. Just in case something falters on this flight, he has already bought a ticket for the next flight as well.
Pulled the backup plane out so hopefully this one is good to go, bought a seat on the 11:25 just in case this one doesn’t go. Crazy morning left the house at 5:30am! Hopefully I don’t get there and @MarissaBriscoe_ go into labor. ? https://t.co/USU4ADhYtL pic.twitter.com/6NV7PsErwD
— Chase Briscoe (@ChaseBriscoe_14) September 26, 2021
It seems that Briscoe will make it to the race tonight, as he is now making jokes about how terrifying being late to a race is:
I’ve heard of other racecar drivers having nightmares of being late for a race and I’ve had them myself before, let me tell you it’s just as terrifying in reality as it is your dreams ?.
— Chase Briscoe (@ChaseBriscoe_14) September 26, 2021
Man, what a nerve-racking morning for the driver. Hopefully Briscoe can get to Vegas, compete well, and then be there for the birth of his first child in North Carolina.
Briscoe has scored three top-10 finishes in 29 starts this season. The Indiana-native sits 23rd in the NASCAR Cup Series driver standings and he holds a very comfortable lead over Anthony Alfredo for the Rookie of the Year crown.
