Welcome back to a special episode of Get In. Today is Friday, July 25th, and we have a special episode for you. I'm joined by Chase Brisco, NASCAR Phenom from Mitchell, Indiana. He'll be racing in the Brickyard 400 this weekend. We're super excited to have him join us. We're also going through best places to get bourbon and barbecue.
Obviously, tonight we're going to be down at Moontown Brewery. Tomorrow we'll be at Hard Truth for the Bourbon and Barbecue Festival. We're really excited about that. So special a little segment there talking about the best places to get bourbon and barbecue. And we're going to round it out. Shane and I talk small towns in Indiana.
We're see if he can beat the master when it comes to all things Indiana. So let me know what you think of this episode. Remember to leave us five stars. Uh it helps us grow the channel, grow the show. Uh please enjoy this special episode where we're talking bourbon and barbecue, talking with Chase Brisco, and talking small towns across the state of Indiana. We'll see you tonight at Moontown Brewery, 7:30 p.
m. Be there. We're running up a $1,000 bar tab and tomorrow at the Hard Truth Bourbon and Barbecq Festival. We will see you guys there. Talk soon. Okay, we've come to this segment of the show.
I have two bourbon and barbecue experts here. I'm joined by Brian Smith. I'm joined by Dave White. Uh you guys probably have heard our episode together. We're going to do just a quick little uh little teaser here because we're getting ready for our event that's coming up at the end of July. Gentlemen, are we ready to talk bourbon and barbecue in Indiana?
Let's do it. Always.
Okay. So, if we were giving recommendations to our guests, whether it's from northern Indiana to southern Indiana, we're each going to say, "Let's pick two spots to drink bourbon, two spots to eat barbecue all across the state." I'll lead the charge because I kind of just threw this on them at the last second, so I'm just making this happen. I'll lead the charge when it comes to barbecue. I'm I'm curious to see, Dave, if you know what I'm about to say here. Talk about We talked about fundraiser barbecue like on our episode in Northern Indiana.
There's this thing, this organization called Nelson's Golden Glow Chicken. Some of the best barbecue that I've ever had. I don't know what they do to it. It started around like the Napony Walker somewhere in that area. I'm not really sure. I think it might be Napony.
every Sunday like in all these they're like they do like the fundraiser chicken but it's like I mean addictive the I don't I don't know what they do to it but like it was some of the best chicken
like I think it's like smoked and then charred I don't know but phenomenal or barbecue. So that would be like my my one pick for barbecue. Curious to see where you guys are eating barbecue at around the state.
I could get a two for one at Hard Truth. I'm just throwing that out there. Their barbecue is really good from downstairs, upstairs,
and obviously the whiskey is uh second to none. If you wanted to just say stay in Nashville there, there's a guy named Chris John's uh Sugar Creek Barbecue Company just across the street down behind the McDonald's. He's hidden. He's kind of close to the music center.
That's how I know it's good barbecue. If you have to like go behind somewhere and like take a left turn, it's like, "Oh, there it is."
And I met Chris on the competition trail back in like 15. you know, he picked my brain about how to get his food truck going and then he was originally down in Nawone and then moved closer into town. And uh I can just promise you that Chris is doing it the right way. He's one of those guys that's out there the night before getting everything on and uh I he's always treated me really good in there.
I love that.
I love it. So, it's funny. I wish I would have got to go first because now it's going to seem like we had planned it because I'm going to go try to find Dave's truck, Great White Smoke Somewhere. If I'm going to eat barbecue down in Evansville growing up, there was a place that's near and dear to my heart that's now long gone called Wolf's Barbecue. Um that was around forever. And again, you know, down down there it was more about the sides, I think, than even the barbecue. But um yeah, so so shout out to Wolves, long gone. But there people love the nostalgia though.
Yeah, it's it mean it's a real thing. You know, as far as drinking bourbon, I'll tell you what, there are a lot of great places in Bloomington. Um, a lot of great supporters of Hard Truth. But if you want to go sit down at someone's bar, get a wealth of information on not only whiskey, bourbon, American whiskey, but world whisies, cocktailing, you got to go sit at the Farm Bar in Bloomington. Sit in front of Doug Bradley. That dude is is is a genius. He is a treasure for Bloomington. But what people don't know about Doug around here is that he goes and he trains and puts together bar programs and bartenders uh bartender programs around the country. People people utilize him. So he is a huge guy in the industry, but on top of it, man, he's just like the nicest guy ever. So that's where I'm going to sit down and have a pour.
I love that. That's a good one.
Good food there, too. Yeah, great food. Okay, Dave, do you have a place that you go like a go-to spot to grab a bourbon?
Kind of one of those guys that I just walk in and look at the back bar. I like going to a lot of places. You know, I worked at Kilroyy's before there was a big overhaul and we used to have a nice nice whiskey selection. But yeah, it's tough, you know, with you taking Farm off the table in Bloomington.
You each like stole your
I mean, there is, you know, Smoke Works has a lot. So, I guess if you're going for volume, I guess maybe in selection. Um, it's pretty good. And they do have an old hickory smoker pit in the basement. I've seen it. So, it's, you know, you go to those places and sometimes you think you might be at a mass- prodduced place, but those guys care, you know, about the the food and the whiskey. Nathan, uh, Finny was a was a cool guy. He tragically died in a plane crash. Finny Group, you know, he owned it half the restaurants on that strip, the Tap and
the cantina. But when I met him, I was impressed with how passionate he was about the products that were going to be going into that place. So,
yeah. I think Wolfies does like the Broken Barrel up in Caramel. Okay. And they have a really good like a really expansive whiskey selection. I don't know. I'm hoping if they see this and they if they don't have Hard Truth, they need to have Hard Truth.
No, I think they do. And in fact, I think we've we've done some extensive stuff with them. It's a great That's a great bar. That's a great
It's a good little spot. And I love the bourbon bar cuz I'm not like a like a diehard like I don't know everything. So I like it when I go in and I can like ask questions and not made be made to feel dumb by like asking like what this means or whatever. I think I think those are like my favorite kind of places to sit down. The other one that has a ton of good whiskey, good bourbon. That's surprise and also barbecue is you guys know Half Liter like they have a huge amount of it's like a it was a German restaurant and then it switched to like a barbecue joint and they have a large amount of like good whisies good bourbons there which is surprising for like a like a barbecue joint on the Monan Trail.
Um, you know, it's it's funny because you ask a couple guys like us, we're spending so much time doing our own craft that when we finally go out to eat or drink, usually it's someplace pretty damn damn close to home. You know what I mean? Like we're not we're not straying too far away.
Yeah. And it's like that's interesting too is like when you go out to someone else's, it's like do you want to get something different than what you It's like it's like I don't want to drink bourbon or eat barbecue. I want to try something else. Yeah, that's why when you said uh barbecue for the rest of your life, I died a little inside because it's that way, man. You know, with pork especially, I I to the point where we're pulling it, I I'm just like if anybody's near me, I'm like, how is this? I don't even want to put it in my mouth anymore because I really it's just I've kind of lost that
the taste bud there
little bit like the desire for it. You know what I mean? Kind of bland.
I feel like that's uh that's interesting. Like I mean you spend so much time around it and it's like and like you're trying to make like minute changes or whatever, you know, to like make it a little bit better.
Well, I say that's when it's special though because when I do when I am trying it and I get one that just grabs me too, I'm like that's a good hit right there. That's a good bite tender.
Now you're talking. I love it. Well, hey, we're going to be out July 25th, 26th of the Bourbon and Barbecue Fest in Nashville at Hard Truth. 31 competitors coming together. a full day of live music, bourbon, barbecue, whole nine yards. Get your tickets to hardtruth.com. It is going to be a fun time, gentlemen. Appreciate you.
Thank you.
Today I'm joined by Chase Brisco, a NASCAR Cup Series driver from Mitchell, Indiana, currently racing the number 19 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing. Now, Chase is a third generation racer. He won the Arca Racing Series Championship in 2016, was named NASCAR Truck Series most popular driver in 2017, and is also, I believe, a sprint car team owner. Um, through it all, he's never forgotten his roots, using his platform to help put Mitchell, Indiana on the map. Uh, we were just down there. A lot of you probably saw our video where we were checking out all the cool things in Mitchell. Chase, I'm pumped to have you on the show, and I'm pumped to release this before you race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, uh, in the Brickyard. So, welcome to the show.
Yeah, thanks for having me. Yeah, I'm definitely looking forward to this week and and being back home again in Indiana. That's for sure.
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is such a special place. Uh I mean, obviously the Indy500, but I mean I have uh the original newspaper when Jeff Gordon won the OG Brickyard 400. I think it was in 96. What does the Brickyard mean to you being from a small town in southern Indiana and now getting to race here on the in the biggest one of the the most famous tracks uh in the world?
Yeah. I mean, honestly, it's one of those things where every race car driver, I mean, whether you're from California or, you know, Ohio, I mean, literally anywhere in the country or even in the world, truthfully, you dream of getting to race Indianapolis Motor Speedway. But whenever you grow up in Indiana, it's like this totally different thing, I think, because you just, you know, you go there as a kid where if you're from out of state, like you don't you don't have it in your backyard, right? like you're not going there the month of May, you know, for practice days and qualifying day and obviously the Brickyard and all these things. So, for me, yeah, I mean, it's a dream come true just getting to to race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Um, but yeah, something special about that place.
It's like I feel like every time I go there I I'm able to somehow find like this extra five or 10% and and I've talked to to Tony about it as well and and he even mentioned the same thing like when he would go race at Indie like you just find this extra little bit for whatever reason and it's so fun as a driver going there when you're from Indiana just because I feel like the the Hooers do such a good job of like supporting fellow Hoosiers. I mean, you see it even at the Indy500 with Ed Carpenter and Connor Dailyaly. Like, they love seeing a Hoosier up front. And when I go there, all a couple of my buddies that that are in the series, too, they're always like, "Man, you're like the mayor when you come here." Like, everybody's like yelling at you and stuff. And it's different because, you know, I don't have that everywhere else we go.
But certainly at Indie, it's a lot of fun just because, you know, I feel like I have a huge, you know, just support group there. So, yeah, definitely looking forward to to getting up there this weekend. Obviously talking about a race that you know Jeff Gordon winning that inaugural Brickyard, but like I mean when you were 13, you uh broke one of I believe Jeff Gordon's records, right? Like 17 top 10 finishes back when you were I mean you weren't even old enough to drive a car like on the road yet.
And when I was 13, I started racing sprint cars and Jeff had won a race I think when he was 14 and I somehow won one my first year there when I was 13. So I guess I beat his record which anything you can do with Jeff Gordon's name on is pretty dang cool. Um, yeah. I don't I don't know if I I don't even know if I still hold it, honestly. There's a lot of back then, I felt like it was really really young to be 13. Now, it's a little bit more normal.
That's crazy.
I don't know what my parents were thinking to to let a 13-year-old go race a 900 horsepower race car, but um yeah, it was really cool just to be able to win that first year. I I won in Paragan, which is not too far from Indianapolis, but yeah, it was a special night that night. And yeah, crazy that, you know, people still talk to me about that and remember me running that race and stuff. Did
when you were 13, did you know that you wanted to be like that racing was the thing? That's what you wanted your career to be?
Yeah, I think at that age, you know, I didn't quite really understand everything yet. You know, I knew that I liked racing. I knew that's what I wanted to do, but I didn't really know how to make a living doing it. And when you're 13, truthfully, like, yeah, you're going there, but you're you're kind of just going there to look cool. I felt like like I didn't have that competitive nature in me as much. Like if I ran 10th, I was just happy to be there.
Like I thought it was cool that I was getting to drive a sprint car, let alone like going there to do it for a living. But yeah, I mean definitely at an early age, I knew that I I wanted to do something with racing. Um I didn't know if it was really a, you know, something I could do truthfully at the NASCAR level or anything like that. Just coming from where I grew up, you know, I didn't even know how you necessarily got to NASCAR, especially at that age. I was still pretty naive to everything. But um yeah, I definitely knew that I wanted to do something in racing, whether it was, you know, racing in NASCAR, racing sprint cars for a living.
You know, I just wanted to be driving something no matter what it was.
And so we've had oh my gosh, like Connor Daly, Tony Can a lot of indie car racers, Marcus Ericson, like we've had a few Indy500 champions. Where does the the split come or how do you get into, you know, indie car kind of starts in go-karts. How do you end up in NASCAR?
Yeah, for me, you know, a lot of people always ask like, why did you not try to to go indie car, right? like especially growing up in Indiana, but for me, you know, I I grew up I mean, obviously I watched the Indy500 in the month of May. But, you know, outside of that, I didn't really watch a whole lot of Indie car racing. I was always an NASCAR fan, truthfully. And I think a lot of that comes from, you know, just I was a diehard Tony Stewart fan. You know, he grew up in Columbus and, you know, about an hour from where I'm from. And
there's a there's a pretty cool property for sale out there. I don't know if there's another NASCAR guy that might need to
all 38 races a year for the next 10 years, I think, to to make that happen. But, uh, yeah, for me, you know, Tony would come and race sprint cars and he would go run at Bloomington and Brownstown and all these tracks that I would be going to as a fan on a Friday or Saturday and then you could literally watch him on TV on Sunday. And I just thought that was the coolest thing ever. And so, I was always this diehard Tony Stewart fan. And as I got older, you know, I remember watching other drivers, you know, that would, you know, Casey Kane is another example. He would be at Bloomington Speedway and then a couple years later, he's on TV.
So, I just I always thought that was like the thing. If you were this really good like sprint car driver, you would go to NASCAR. Um because when I was growing up, you know, the the sprint car to Indie car route kind of was was dead, truthfully, where before me that was kind of the route. You would go sprint car racing, you know, AJ Fits of the World, all that. They would come from dirt sprint cars. But when I was growing up, it was more the opposite.
It would go to NASCAR. So, for me, it was always NASCAR was what I just wanted to do. Um, you know, as far as like what route I could do if I if I had the choice. And then, yeah, as soon as I graduated high school, I just moved to Charlotte. Charlotte's kind of the the hub for NASCAR, similar to what, you know, Nashville is for country music or even Indie is for Indie Car. If you're going to be in the sport, you have to live there.
And yeah, I moved to to Charlotte right after high school. and yeah, slept on a couch for three three and a half years and we just volunteered at all these different race shops and eventually uh got able to to go run a test for this one team and it kind of just led one thing to another.
So you are 18, you graduate high school and you leave. You're like, "Yep, mom, dad, appreciate you. I'm out. I'm going to Charlotte to sleep on a couch and be a volunteer." Like were you doing other stuff for money back then?
Uh no, not really. Um my my parents would had gave me a credit card to like eat and stuff and then uh I would do these little you know I was volunteering at the race shop so they weren't really paying me but there was a couple teams that you know actually Brian Keslowski Brad Keslowski's brother would go run these races um he'd ran run about once or twice a month and he would let me spot for him and he would pay me $500 uh every time I'd go and spot. So, the guy's couch I was sleeping on, I would give him $50 here and there when I could. And then, yeah, I remember thinking, I mean, I was rich, right? Like, you know, you make $500 as an 18-year-old kid. You're like, "Holy smokes, like, what am I going to do now?"
And, uh, yeah, I would I would give him 50 bucks here and there and then, you know, obviously eat on that and then if it came down to it and I needed, you know, the credit card, I obviously had that there. But, yeah, for me it was uh it was crazy how it all worked out for sure. when you got that first test, like how did you get yourself to the opportunity? Like what did that look like and and like Yeah. How how does that career path go from sleeping on a couch to, you know, I mean, performing in racing in in NASCAR and doing the dang thing?
Yeah. Well, it's crazy long story, but essentially I was volunteering at all these different race shops and I had met with this guy that kind of managed drivers. He was almost like a manager for guys. And you know, obviously as a manager, he's wanting money, right? And I I told him, "Look, I I can't pay you anything, but uh if you want to just throw my name out to people, like I greatly appreciate it." And so he had talked to this team.
It was called Cunningham Motorsports. And um they were taking this extra card or this test in a couple months. And so he had told him my name. They didn't really think anything of it or whatever. Well, then Christopher Bell and myself were really, really close. And he was a Toyota driver.
And uh Ford had offered him this driver development deal for like five, sixyear long-term deal and he wasn't going to take it. So he had called me one day and just said, "Hey, you know, Ford offered me this thing." And he was just kind of talking to me, right? Like it it wasn't like, "Hey, you should go do this." But yeah, I asked him, you know, what's the name of the guy that sent you all this? And so he told me the guy's name.
And uh it was the the president of Rous uh Fenway Racing. So I just walked in the front door, Rous Finway, and asked for the guy. and uh he uh for some reason was there that day and took a meeting with me and I told him how hey I know you guys are probably looking for drivers for driver development deals and would love to just throw my name in the mix. So anyways that uh that manager had called that race team and uh obviously they had heard my name from him but then that same race team had called Rous Finway uh the next week and they had mentioned my name to them too um about hey you know there's this kid that was in here we don't really know anything about him but maybe give him a call. So this this race team had heard my name twice now in a week and uh so they had somehow got my phone number. I was literally moving back to Indiana.
I had half my stuff with me. I was in Kentucky and uh they called me and said, "Hey, would you be interested in coming and driving one of our cars at a test that we're going to in a couple months and yeah, I turned right around after that weekend. and I went and raced a dirt car and came back Monday and started volunteering there at the shop and uh did that for three or four months and uh eventually went to that test and and the test went really really well and the owner heard my story of how I was volunteering my time there and was dnapped the test and um was this 87year-old man named Bricks Cunningham uh extremely wealthy individual and just liked watching his cars on TV and thought my story was cool and said let's let's run him in a race and then that that one race just led into uh a full season the following year and and an incredible friendship. Me and Briggs would talk every single day till he passed away.
And um yeah, that that without Briggs Cunningham, there's no way I'm sitting here doing what I'm doing now because without him, you know, taking a chance on this random kid that was volunteering at his race shop, um yeah, I'm not doing anything.
Wow. Okay. So, talk to us. There's a few things I want to unpack. one is just like advice to I mean whether it's kids or you know recent college grads whoever of like just putting yourself in the space for your dream to come true or for your goal to happen right like whether it's I mean obviously you probably could have waited tables or done something besides volunteer you know like you could have been a bartender somewhere and made some money and tried to figure it out but like what drove you to want to be a volunteer and how did you know that that's like the right thing that you should have done
I wanted to make sure I was first off front of mind Like if I was the first one there every day and the last one to leave, like they know how bad I want it first off, but then I'm just I'm always there, right? So if something happens, you know, one of their drivers gets hurt or whatever, like I'm going to be top of mind more than likely. And that was always the one thing that was super important for me is I wanted to be the first one there in the morning and literally the last one to leave. Um, and then the other thing is I've always just been so big on just treating everybody with respect. And it's I feel like that goes such a long way because people want to help you, you know, and I that's why I tell, you know, a lot of kids will come up and ask, you know, what advice do you have? And I'm like, just treat everybody with respect because you don't know how five years from now, you know, somebody could need a driver and if you've burned a bridge five years ago and now they have a crew guy that, you know, is tight with the owner or whatever and they say, "Hey, what about this guy?"
And he's like, "Oh, no, he was, you know, a prick to work with or whatever, they're not going to hire you." So for me, I've always just tried to be, you know, extremely respectful to everybody and treat everybody with respect. I feel like that goes such a long way, but then once you get your your foot in the door, it's all about just moments. And you know, it it's, you know, some people have one moment and that's their one opportunity. Other people there's five or six moments. And you know, for me, you know, I had a couple big moments in my career where the right people were watching and I performed at the right time and it all kind of opened up for me.
But at the end of the day, if you're not, you know, a pleasure to work with, you're not going to get very many opportunities typically.
Take us through. You get that first test and it's kind of like I mean, it's like the the ultimate try out like the ultimate moment, right? It's like you got to like put on a show in this moment so that you can get behind the wheel. Take it like what were you thinking? How did it go? What does the process of a test look like?
Yeah. So, actually I I I ended up getting to do a a kind of a 20 lap test before I was even supposed to go to the actual test. and I thought I blew it. The driver, his name was Tom Hessert, and he had to fly out early for something and and the crew chief had told me before we even went, uh, cuz I'd been I'd been volunteering there for probably four months. So, they knew that I was going to run this test in a couple months and all this stuff. And he said, "Hey, just take your stuff just in case Tom has to leave early and maybe we're we'll let you get in the car."
So Tom ends up leaving early and um they they take me I mean I'd never driven you know a stock car like this or anything and they put me out there on like 150 lap tires which is just terrible in the first place right and I am trying so hard I'm out of control I'm spinning the tires I'm just I'm trying way too hard and uh they only let me run like 15 laps and I came in and the crew chief you know pulls the window net down. He said so what do you think? And I said I just blew my shot, didn't I? That was terrible. I said, "That was the worst 15 laps of my life." And he said, "Yeah, it wasn't good.
I'm not going to lie to you." And uh but I think, you know, for them, I knew that they still believed in me just because I was always there and they knew how bad I wanted it that they were they still
I don't know. I guess they saw something. But yeah, when then when we went to the actual test, I think because I got to run those 15 laps, you know, two months prior, it kind of took the nerves away for the actual test itself. And uh that test went really well. I ended up being faster than their, you know, two actual drivers at the time. And you know, that's kind of what spiraled into, you know, actually racing there for that team.
When did you like kind of get to a point where like racing was like this was going to work out at least for a short term? Like it was going to be a career choice that would that would sustain you? I mean, how does the the trajectory work, right? You start in ARCA and then move up to truck and then move to NASCAR
almost like single A baseball for example. And so honestly until 2020 I felt like I still wasn't sure if I was going to be able to do it, you know, for a living. So yeah, 2016 I go to Arca um you know win the championship nearly half the races and that got me a Ford development deal. So that was a a five-year deal for example, but it's all kind of oneyear deals in a sense like you have to go perform otherwise they're just not going to you know keep you going. So, I in 2017 I run in the truck series. Um, which is kind of like I would say double A baseball or like D2 if you want to.
Yeah. Kind of like that. Like you have some prospects in there. Um, and the team I was driving for, Brad Keslowski Racing, I'm supposed to be there for two years. Well, we get to August. You know, there's probably six, seven races left in the season and they say, "Hey, we're shutting down at the end of the season."
So that puts me in this totally weird spot of well now, you know, what's this mean for me? I end up winning the last race of the season. Um, and that's kind of what got me. I felt like to the next year because I' I'd ran good, but you know, I didn't really have a plan in place. Like the plan was to be two years there and then go on to the next thing. And so it kind of put Ford in this really weird spot where they didn't know what to do with me.
So, in 2018, I run uh part-time I run five races for Steuart Hos Racing and 12 races for Rous Finway, and then I run like eight road races in the IMSA series. So, kind of like they're just trying to do whatever they can to get me to x amount of races. Well, I run absolutely terrible in 2018. Uh it was just a disaster like going from all these different cars and series. And I'm pretty sure I'm getting fired. like I'm 95% sure come September they're about to let me go.
You know, I'd been asking about, you know, what's the plan for next year, they're not telling me anything and uh I go out and win this race. That was one of those moments, you know, literally uh it was Charlotte weekend. I got the vibe on Thursday, Friday, I'm probably getting let go in the next two weeks and I win that race that weekend.
Are you racing? What are you racing at that point?
This would be the Xfinity series. So, this is like AAA now. Okay. or like a big, you know, D1 school, right? And uh so I win in 2018, that one race, and like literally that Monday, they're, hey, this is the plan for next year. You're going to be full-time at Steuart Hos.
Um, you know, it just totally, and that's what I'm saying, like it's all about these moments, right? And and capitalizing on the right time. And so then 2019, I go run full-time for Steuart Hos. Have a pretty good year. Only win one race, but was really really good. Kind of at the right part of the time uh in the playoffs.
and uh get to 20 into 2019, you know, everything's good. We're going to be going full-time again in 2020. And I get a phone call in December. Hey, uh we uh had something come up. You know, Ford's been paying for your racing the last, you know, three years or whatever. And uh we're going to cut back.
So, you're not going to have a job next year unless you guys can find some money in the last next or really the next two weeks. And so, I think my career is over again. And uh my dad is literally in Las Vegas. Uh I don't even know why he was in Vegas. I think there was some conference or something. And uh he's walking out of this uh Mexican restaurant and he's got uh a 98 hat on, which was the number I was driving at the time.
And this guy's walking down the street just at the same time. And uh just yells out my name and says like, "Hey, 98 Chase Brisco." And so my dad, you know, just turns around. He's like doesn't know if he knows this guy or whatever. And uh the guy's like, "Hey, I'm I'm Mike Mindb. the CEO of highpoint.
com. I just love watching your son race. Or he didn't know it was my dad at the time. And my dad, you know, told him that who he was and he goes, "Well, I love watching your son race and just how he is as an individual individual and uh, you know, how he represents himself and here's my business card if there's anything I can ever do for him. You know, help him in the conference room, you know, whatever it may be." So, obviously, my dad knows that I have like this week and a half, two week window to somehow find a sponsor to be able to have a job for, you know, the next year.
And so I give it to Steuart Hos Racing and they call Mike and Mike's first words are, "If you're calling me about sponsoring the race car, I'm not going to do it." And uh a week later, Mike had decided that he was going to sponsor the full season. Uh and then that 2020 year, I won nine out of 30 races. And that's when I knew that I was probably going to be okay. Um and then I got moved up to the Cup Series and driving for for Tony Stewart, and then you was able to win that second year. And ever since I've gotten to the cup level, you know, I thought I was going to be okay.
And then literally same thing last year. The team shuts down uh in June, July, and I didn't know if I was going to have a job again. And it just so happened to work out that I I landed in probably the best opportunity there is with Joe Gibbs Racing. So yeah, there's all these different moments in my career where I could have easily been done. Um and who knows, waiting tables, doing whatever, but it's always kind of worked out for sure.
Dude, that is crazy. What what is what is highpoint.com? What what do they do?
It's an IT company. So they do like all the infrastructure, you know, they do arenas, you know, they're big into banking, you know, security, all this stuff. But yeah, it was uh crazy. I mean, literally just I mean that's that's another one of those moments, right? Like the fact that they just were happen to walk down the street at the same time and you know, Mike was a NASCAR fan and even recognized my dad's hat.
Yeah. like and and the fact that he like said something like doesn't even know, you know, that that it's your dad. He's like, you know, just being a fan out in Vegas like, "Oh yeah, Chase Brisco." And you're like, "Oh, yeah, that's my son." And that turns into him helping you, you know, continue that next opportunity. That's crazy. Uh, as you think back about all of the race wins and the great finishes and t like what are one or two of your most proud moments of just like, man, I can't believe we put that together?
Yeah, I would say the two that stand out, you know, one is the Southern 500 from last year in the Cup series. You know, the Southern 500 for us is it's a major, right? It's a crown jewel. You know, Darlington is arguably the hardest track. Like when you can go there and win as a driver, like the sense of accomplishment you feel. um is just unlike anywhere else.
So to win that race last year, I would say is probably the most proud I've ever been. Like just after a race, I felt like I did my job to the best of my absolute ability. And then even just given the circumstances, you know, Steuart Hos was shutting down. We had no reason to like even keep trying. Truthfully, we knew that we had no jobs at the end of the year. and for us to be able to go there and win, you know, arguably the hardest race of the year to win, um, was something I was super super proud of and just, uh, you know, that's probably my biggest win, I would say.
And then from a personal standpoint, 2020 in the Xfinity Series, I was able to win at Indianapolis and, you know, from just a personal standpoint, that was like the coolest thing ever. Um, you know, just being able to to win there, right? like just race racing there is incredible but to be able to win there was just a super special day. It's still kind of bittersweet because it was during COVID so there wasn't a soul there. Um and literally like my family was down the road in Zensville at my cousin's house and you know I didn't get to celebrate with with any of them. Um but hopefully you know this weekend that'll change.
Um, but that that's one of those things where like winning at Indianapolis, there's there's nothing else like it. But I don't feel like I really got to the full experience just because there was nobody there. Um, so yeah, hopefully this weekend that'll all change.
Yeah. I mean, you've been you've been right there what the last two weeks, right? Like right in the mix. So I, you know, miss some good Indiana homecoming. So who's your homecoming? You put it all together like that'll be that'll be so sick. I'm I'm going I'm excited to be there and and cheer you on, dude. Obviously, when you were coming up, right, racing through Indiana, I know that there are some legacy tracks around the state. You talk about the Oh, man. A lot of like the Indie Car guys started over at Newcastle, people down at Salem, the High Banks. Um, where are some of your favorite places when you were coming up racing around Indiana?
Yeah, Indiana is the hardest place in the country, I think, for sprint car racing. Um, you know, there's just so many good racracks and the competition is so stout. I mean, there's a reason why, you know, guys that want to be USA drivers, they move to Indiana because the local racing is is unlike anywhere else in the country. So, yeah. I mean, for me, my home track was obviously Bloomington, but Hopst's always been a favorite of mine. But there's just so many great tracks.
Like Cooko is, I think, probably the best track in the in the country to just go watch a race at. You know, Putinville is really really good. You have Lawrenceburg, Circle City now. Paragan is kind of where I grew up racing. uh Terodea. I mean, the list just goes on and on.
Brownstown, I mean, there's so many just great racetracks in Indiana. Um, and just the scene is so good. So yeah, it's a it's definitely a privilege that I got to grow up, you know, with that in my backyard and racing against, you know, the competition that I did because there's so many guys truthfully that, you know, even local racers in Indiana if they ever got the opportunity to go to a higher level, you know, with the funding and everything it takes, they could easily perform because there's some amazing talent, you know, just in the Hoosier State. For sure.
Yeah. So you talk about growing up going to watch. So Cooko is one of your favorite. Are there other places that people need to go check out a race at and and go be a spectator?
Cooko for sure. Like if you just want to go see an incredible just race. I feel like Cooko is hard hard to beat. Hopot is is always been a favorite of mine. You know, Bloomington is is I always feel like one of the most like just beautiful racetracks because the grass is always so green in the infield and then you have the red clay. Like it's just this really neat contrast. Um, you know, Lawrenceburg is one of the most incredible dirt facilities there is in the country. I mean, like I said, the list just goes on and on. There's so many good places to go watch. You really can't go wrong with any of them. You know, even this weekend, uh, I think at Brownstown, it's the Jackson County Fair. Like the fair race is always cool.
I love that you know that it's it's Brickyard 400 weekend, but he also knows that it's the Brown it's the Jackson County Fair. I love that. Okay. Well, obviously, you know, growing up in southern Indiana, like being from Mitchell is a huge piece of from at least from the outside looking in seems to be a huge piece of your identity. Talk about what growing up in smalltown Indiana has meant for you and where that like you talk about like treating people good and and just kind of like the who's your hospitality that's helped you out in your career. Like I mean, what does Mitchell mean to you?
Yeah, Mitchell's everything to me. I mean, it's where I grew up. My my entire family still lives there. I'm the only one that doesn't live there now. So yeah, it's a huge part of me still. Um, you know, and just I think you know what you were saying, even just the who's your hospitality and just the upbringing that I had in Mitchell with it being a small town, you know, everybody kind of knows everybody.
I mean, that's another reason you kind of want to treat everybody with respect, too, right? Like it gets around really quick if if you're not a good person. So yeah, for me, you know, I absolutely love where I grew up. You know, I would love to to eventually probably try to move back to the area. I don't know if that's realistic with what I do, but you know, I would I would love to just to come back. Like I said, my entire family is still there.
And just I I love how I love the fact that everybody kind of knows everybody. And you know, if you want to go somewhere, it's a five minute drive, right? That's probably the the crazy thing is is like I I was talking to my parents about it a couple weeks ago. Like I remember as a kid not wanting to go to Bloomington because it was a 25 minute drive and that seemed like so far. And now I drive an hour to work. It's just like it's crazy like just the the difference.
But yeah, I love Mitchell and just the the support I get. I think it's the coolest thing for me is is you know, not only Mitchell, but just Lawrence County in general. Like the the the fan support I get from, you know, Indiana in general, but certainly Lawrence County, Orange County, but that that whole area, you know, especially this weekend, I'll feel it. There's so many people that will come to the racetrack and you know be from you know Mitchell or Orleans or Bedford or you know somewhere right around there and it's just uh it's super super cool you know that that they come just to to watch me race.
Was it hard? You talk about your whole family is still right around Mitchell and you leave home at you know 18 graduate high school. Like one where did the courage to do that come from? And like did people think you were crazy? Like I feel like that's one thing about small town Indiana is like people like love it and they don't leave a lot. Yeah, for sure.
I mean there's I mean all my best friends still live there, right? Like it is hard to leave I think just because of that reason. But yeah, I think for me it was actually my grandpa. He was he was uh I remember him telling me like hey look you know don't be 30 40 years old and look back and say man I wish I would have at least just went and tried because if you if you at least go there you can never say man I wish I would have done it. And for me that was a lot of the the reason I haven't went. I mean, yeah, truthfully, it was it was scary for sure, you know, just going down down here and not really knowing anybody.
But it it would have it would have sucked truthfully to like be sitting on my front porch at 60 years old and, you know, being like, man, what if I would have at least try? Like, you never know how it would have worked out. You know, it could have easily not went the way it did. Um, but at least I I put put the effort in, at least seen if the opportunity came. Um, so that was honestly the biggest reason. But yeah, I remember literally I I had a decision to make of if I was going to move to North Carolina and try I I told myself I was going to give myself three or four years or I remember my grandpa telling me uh about a job at CNM conveyor in Mitchell and doing the conveyor belt assembly line and how it paid I think it was paid$,750 an hour and how that was going to be a great job for this area.
and he was like, "Look, like you could always come back and get a job, but you know, if you really want to go down there and give it an opportunity or at least a shot, you need to try to go do that." And that's why why I decided to go go give it a shot.
That's wild. Like grandpa's advice. It was between 1750 at the conveyor belt assembly line or going to to give it a shot. So I'm from a small town, 1600 people, northern Indiana. And I do think that like a lot of times people may not be as supportive because they don't want you to fail. Like people close to you like they don't want you to embarrass yourself.
They don't want you to like put yourself out there like sleep on couches for three years. Like when you're coming home and they're like, "Oh, how's the like how's that crazy dream of being a professional driver going?" But where was the moment that it switched where it was like people started to believe and and really get behind that you could do this thing? Yeah, I would say I mean I mean there was three three and a half years where I didn't even run a single race, right, when I moved to Charlotte. So I think there was still a lot of that like hey is this really a smart decision like how much longer are you going to give it? And even with my parents I think there was a little bit of that too but I would say when I started running Arca and that first full-time season it was pretty early in the year.
I won four races in a row and that's where it was like people were like okay like maybe maybe this is going to work out. I would say that was really the the turning moment. I think it was actually indie weekend. I had won three in a row. Um we raced at IRP and and even I think that was the moment for me where I was like, "Okay, this is actually getting real." It was crazy.
I was at Brickyard. I was walking around the garage area and I get this text from this unknown number and it just said, "Hey, Chase. This is Jeff Gordon. Uh congrats on last night. Would love to sit down and talk to you about your future." And I thought it was one of my buddies messing with me.
And uh sure enough, it was really Jeff and yeah, I went and met with Jeff that Saturday, Brickyard Weekend and uh talked about, you know, what my future was looking like and and what, you know, the plan was for next year and all those. And that's when I realized, okay, like if Jeff Gordon was reaching out, like maybe I do actually have a chance of of doing this for a living. Um, but yeah, I would say right around that June, July of that 2016 season is when it really kind of got real for not only me but everybody.
Dude, that's great. I can't imagine. It's like those, have you ever seen those videos on like draft day where like people's buddy like for the NFL draft? Like people's buddies are like calling them and texting him and stuff and it's like you get an unknown text from Jeff Cord and he's like, "Oh, dude, someone's pulling my leg." That's crazy. Well, talk about like all the other cool things. Like I think I saw just a few weeks ago you were throwing out the first pitch at a Cubs game. Obviously, you're you're a dad and you have a family now. Like, talk to us about some of the stuff besides racing that you're just pumped up and can't believe like that uh that you get to have all these crazy cool opportunities.
Yeah. I mean, truthfully, everything I get to do is still like a pinch me moment. You know, obviously throwing out, you know, the first pitch of the Cubs games. A great example. You know, just last weekend I I went to, you know, Luke Bryan concert and got to hang out with Luke after the show and, you know, flying with the Thunderbirds and a fighter. Like, there's so many things that like are just mind-blowing to me. I got to meet the president this year. Like,
dude, that's crazy.
Absolutely mind-blowing that I get to do. And truthfully, even every Sunday, like when I get to strap into the car, it still is a pinch me moment. Um, so yeah, it's been crazy just the things that that my career's been able to let me do. But yeah, outside of, you know, racing, obviously I I have three kids. I have a three and a halfyear-old, then I have ninemonth old twins. So, life at home is pretty chaotic in general, but but love, you know, hanging out with them, spending time with them. You know, I enjoy fishing and golfing and was trying to try to play golf when I got back this weekend, but I don't think it's going to work out. Yeah, I just I feel like I'm very normal individual uh that just has a really cool job. Get to do a lot of really cool things.
Kiddos are still pretty young, but what do they think about coming back to Indiana? Are they going to are they going to spend some time down at Spring Mill?
Yeah, Spring Mill will definitely probably be on the on the list at some point throughout the week. Jiffy Treat and Bedford uh will for sure have some ice cream made there. Um, yeah, my my my oldest definitely knows about Indiana. He's been counting down the days because he gets to go to Indiana. He's a diehard uh Blue fan, the Colts mascot. Like literally everyone that we have to watch Blue videos and uh you know, he's got the dance and he I think he's going to get to put uh pie in my face with blue on Wednesday at training camp. So, he's like ecstatic to to go to Indiana. Um, and then my sister's actually getting married on Friday, so he's in the wedding. Uh, so it's going to be a fun week for me back home. So, I'm definitely looking forward to it.
Dude, that's so cool. And it's cool. You get to like, you know, do some Indiana stuff and obviously, you know, and you got to work on Sunday, the classic.
It'll be fun. Yeah. Wednesday, I'm I'm going to have a pretty full day. I'll go and do Colts training camp. I'm going to go check out the new IMS museum. Uh, I'm going to throw out the first pitch of the Indians game. And then yeah, Thursday I'll just spend it in Mitchell, you know, try to to hang out with my grandparents and everything. And then Friday I I'll have practice. So I'll drive up to Indie, do that, come back and and literally be rushing to get back to the wedding. And then uh Saturday do a cookout with my family and then yeah, Sunday race and then then head home.
That is kind of cool. I think I go back to what you just said a little bit ago. I'm just like a pretty normal dude that like happens to have a really cool job. It's like going to a wedding and a cookout and then oh yeah, I gotta go to work on Sunday and go race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. That's awesome. Uh well, I don't know, dude. As we uh as we wrap up here, I do have one Well, I have a few more questions left as we get close on time. First one would be like when you think of famous people from Mitchell, there's obviously Gus Gryom, you know, this I mean second man ever in space I believe like an incredible astronaut like known in Indiana and well beyond across the world. How does it feel to be mentioned in this? Like when they talk about famous people from Mitchell, it's like there's Gus Gryom and and there's Chase Brisco. Like that's pretty crazy, right?
Yeah, it is cool. It's it's honestly still wild to me that you know Gus was from Mitchell and then just Lawrence County in general has three astronauts like the odds of having one astronaut just in general is mind-blowing. Let alone we have three from just that little area. I don't know why that is. Um but yeah, between Gus Gryom and then you know Terry Cole, he was uh was I think in the 50s but played in the NFL. I don't know.
I don't really feel like I'm on the level of those guys but I I guess maybe I am. I don't know. It's It's definitely still weird just because as a kid, you know, everybody knows Gus Gryom, everybody knows Terry Cole. Um, say I I don't know. It is weird still to me truthfully. Like my mom's a school teacher at at the school and you know, like everybody knows me, but I'm just I'm her kid.
I'm not really like I'm just Miss Brisco's son. Um, so yeah, I don't know. It's definitely it's cool, but it's still kind of wild to me that I guess I'm on that level.
You're you're very humble, man. Uh, which I think is I think that's a testament to like why people, you know, you even talk about the the CEO of High Point where he's like I just like the way he races, but I like the way he carries himself. Like I think that's just I don't know whether it's having good parents or Mitchell being a great place to be from, you know, like there's just something that the the the humbleness just like shows through and you're really authentic. So I always appreciate that, dude. Okay, so as we kind of wrap up, we have some fun Indiana questions, but what's something the world needs to know about Indiana? I would say just the hospitality truthfully.
Like I I didn't I thought it was just like that everywhere, you know, where everybody's just nice to everybody and I would say just how easy it is to get anywhere. Like I feel like it's three and a half hours to go anywhere in the state for the most part. I think just the hospitality and how kind people are and just how underrated Indiana is. I will say sorry, but southern Indiana is way better than northern Indiana. Um but uh yeah, I I I don't know. I just I love Indiana for whatever reason.
Like it just feels different as soon as I get there. You know, there's nowhere else like it, I feel like. So, yeah. I don't know. I think the hospitality is a big part of it. But just even the you just the scenery, like like I said, I'm I'm very very biased to southern Indiana, but um yeah, there's something about it that's different than everywhere else I've ever been,
dude. Well, Lawrence County in particular, you talk about all the limestone and the the landscape once you get down past like that Morrisville, Martin, like you know, down in that area of the state, it just like gets hilly. And I mean, I will say, yeah, northern Indiana is special to me, but it's pretty flat and like pretty gritted off. Like everything's just like a straight like one mile squares. But yeah, once you do get down, you know, south of Indianapolis, it it's just like a whole different state almost. Like it's crazy. from Indie to Chicago for example, like from where I'm from, right? Like you're driving to Indie and everything's hilly and there's all this stuff and then you get north of Indie and it's just windmills and flat. Like that's all there is.
That's so true, man. Uh, okay. This is a question that we ask everyone who comes on the podcast. We have to show some love to a place across the state that that maybe not a lot of people know about. So, Chase, what is a hidden gem in Indiana?
Bedford. I I'm very biased to Jify Treat. I think Jiffy Treat's good. Uh Bowmax and Scholes is a a must.
Bomax, what is that?
It's like a drive-in like ice cream, you know, burgers. It's like a tiny little drive-in. Um in Scholes and Scholes is tiny. I don't know if you've been to Scholes.
Yeah, I I have been. We wait. There's a Velma's cash only diner. Good little spot.
Yeah. So, go to Bowax next time you're around Scholes. Bob's Pizza in Washington is like the spot. I love Bes. Uh, Jiffy Tree I'll for sure go to just because it's right there in Bedford. I doubt I I make it to Bowmax. But yeah, I mean, Spring Mill obviously I'm very biased. I think it's a a great state park. Trying to think what else that's like a mustdo Indiana thing. I mean obviously St. Elmo's everybody knows that though. Um, yeah, I would say Bowmax, Jiffy Tree, and Bows. If I had to like nail three of them, that that would be them.
One of one. No one has given us those answers. So,
what's like the most common one, you think?
Like a state park. I feel like state parks are like someone picks their favorite, whether it's Turkey Run or Shades. I mean, Clayton said Spring Mill, and I had never been down there, so I went I ripped down there not too long ago, uh, when we were down in Mitchell. And I feel like the the world always thinks about uh, St. Elmo like the shrimp cocktail there like you know like especially when Indiana's been hot like the last I mean WNBA was all-star weekend was this past weekend so it's like from from the Indy500 to the Pacers you know champion like uh NBA playoff run to WNBA all-star weekend and now Brickyard it's like Indiana's been
Indiana that's one thing I always tell everybody is it is such an underrated sports like Indianapolis is such an underrated sports town especially when the teams are good it's unbelievable there
and I just posting. Like there was so much crazy stuff that happened this weekend in Indianapolis with WNBA All-Star like Nike activations and Diplo's playing a like a private concert at this thing. Like it was just nuts. And I was like when when Angel Ree tweets uh we in Indie when it feel like Miami, I'm like that's crazy. Final question. This is where you get to share the the spotlight and let us know about uh other Hoosiers that might be doing big things, maybe future guests that we need to have on the podcast. So, who's a Hoosier that we need to keep on our radar? Someone who's doing big things.
His name is Andy Bradley. He just kind of purchased or leased out Bloomington Speedway. They're trying to do a lot of really cool stuff there and just change the not the vibe of Bloomington, but like just try to make the community way more involved in the racetrack and, you know, do things like concerts and bring in, you know, different events that's just different to, you know, what Bloomington Speedway's done for such a long time. So, he'd be somebody that is just a very unique individual, you know, he's obviously part owner of the racetrack. He he races himself. He's a actually a commercial airline pilot for his job.
Like, he just is like does all this different stuff. Owns his own chassis company. Like, the guy just does tons of tons of stuff. So, he'd be somebody that I think would be cool just to hear from like his vision for for Bloomington Speedway. He's from Bloomington, you know. He would uh he'd be a cool one.
I feel like
Andy Bradley. All right. I gotta learn some more about this guy. Well, hey Chase, thank you so much for the time today, man. It's it's awesome getting to to chitchat with you and best of luck this weekend. I know that like the Hoosier State's going to be out there pumped up for you and excited to watch you take on uh the Brickyard this this Sunday.
Yeah, man. Looking forward to it. I I look forward to seeing you, too.
Thank you so much for being a guest and uh and we'll talk soon. All right, buddy.
Yeah, thank you, man. Appreciate it.
Welcome back. We're Shane Dries to beat the expert. We're going to be doing uh towns today. 45 seconds on the clock. How many towns can you name in Indiana? 3 2 1 go.
Fischers, Noblesville, Westfield, Caramel, Greenwood, New Palestine, Newcastle, Richmond, Napony, Luga Logi, Lagot, Loe, my bad. Um, Shelbyville, Seymour, Bloomington, Bloomfield, Linton, Evansville, Terote, Fort Wayne, Southbend, Whiting, Winfield, Crown Point, Valparezo, Elcart, [Music] Lagona. They're Lagona. Alona. Alona. No.
Alona.
Angola.
Angola. The Hornets.
Angola.
What was the number?
No. I gave two wrong names for him. I'm so sorry. Angola.
Lagona.
45 seconds on the clock. How many towns? He did do a good job. Fisers. For those who didn't know, Fischers just overtook Southbend as the fourth largest city in the state of Indiana. So, hey, one clap. There you go. Fish. They expanded like the area.
The area. Oh, they were like uh what's that called? Annexing or something.
Yes. Yeah.
Classic. It's a acquisition.
It is.
All right. 45 seconds. We're doing towns.
I want to set this for you cuz I want to I want you to achieve greatness here. I think you can rip 60
in 45 seconds. Yeah. How about 50? 50 towns in 45 seconds. Three, two, one, go. Gary, Crown Point, Logansport, Southbend, Mishwaka, Breamman, Bourbon, uh, Tipton, uh, Etna Green, Typicano, um, Fort Wayne, Evansville, Muny, Bloomington, Lafayette, West Lafayette, uh, Westfield, Zensville, Whitestown, uh, Danville, Avon, um, Martinsville, um, Greenfield, Greenwood, Greencastle, Greensburg, Green Town, Uh, Batesville. Oh my gosh. Sunman. Uh, Madison. Uh, Speedway. Oh. Oh gosh. Uh. Whiting. White. Oh,
fewer towns than counties.
Uh, after I hit the the greens,
you were at like the halfway point on time and you were
I know. I kind of started up in the Chicago land and I was like Gary blah blah blah and then I some reason dropped to Loganport. I don't know why. And then I go back up to Southbend and then I started coming down US uh 31 and then it's like you need to pick up more of those. I need to hit like Caramel Westfield Z and then just start circling like hit through the metro. Mhm.
And then maybe take 69 or 65 segment.
We stuck with the north side suburbs. Hit a little bit of the south side.
We are not on the east or west.
No. Mount Vernon. But like, yeah, that's about it. Oh, you're talking about it on there.
We didn't hit Brownsburg, Avon.
No, neither of us.
Like, before we roll this off the show, we will I will get 50. 50 counties, 50 towns. Let us know in the comments what you want us to try next time. Whatever it is in Indiana, whether it's high school mascots, counties, cities,
county seats would be tough,
dude. County seats would be really hard. It' be fun, though. Thank you for listening to this episode of Get In. I mean, an amazing conversation with Chase Brisco. Uh, obviously Shane still can't beat the master when it comes to all things small towns and top recommendations on where to get bourbon and barbecue.
Remember, come see us tonight 7:30 p. m. Moontown Brewery down in Nashville, Indiana. And then tomorrow we're going to be at Hard Truth for the Bourbon and Barbecue Festival starts at noon. Live music ripping until 9:00 p. m.
It's going to be a great time. We'll see you guys there. Thank you for listening to this episode of Get In. And remember, leave us five stars wherever you Well, an honest and fair review. Hopefully it would be five stars, but an awesome fair review wherever you listen to podcast, subscribe on YouTube, follow on Instagram, do all the things. And uh thank you all for making the Hooter State a great place.
Thank you for listening to this episode of Get In. If you like what you heard, make sure you leave us a review wherever you listen to podcast. This show is made possible by our friends up at Sweetwater. Whether you're looking to start a podcast or take your content to the next level, click the link in the description to see all of my gear recommendations atwater. com. If you want a behind-the-scenes look at everything we're doing across the state, make sure you follow me on Instagram and Tik Tok @ Nate Spangle.
Thank you so much for listening and being part of what makes the Who's Your State great. We'll see you next time here on Get
