CONCORD, N.C. — The Charlotte Roval has produced many memorable moments since its introduction in 2018, but none are wilder than an Xfinity Series race that took place in a massive rainstorm.
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Yet despite the challenges posed by the rain, the lack of visibility, and slick conditions, Chase Briscoe still looks back fondly on this race.
"It was awesome," Briscoe told media members on Wednesday. "That was before everybody was scared to race in the legit rain."
The 2020 Xfinity Series race began with the drivers using racing slicks. They had rain tires available due to the threat of weather in the area, which they bolted on after the caution flew for rain on Lap 3.
From that point on, the drivers had to contend with heavy rain and high winds. AJ Allmendinger, who ultimately won the race, even lost his windshield wiper early in the event.
These elements made navigating the track particularly difficult, especially considering the darkness and overall lack of visibility.
Charlotte Motor Speedway didn't even have lights in key parts of the Roval, so Briscoe had to use unexpected visual cues while contending for the lead.
"It was so dark you couldn't see anything," Briscoe added. "I remember you would literally just like watch the Jumbotron when you would go through Turn 3 to know where you were kind of at on the racetrack. Yeah, that was a fun race.
Contact between the Las Vegas contingent of @rileyherbst and @NoahGragson!! 💥
The rainy #XfintySeries Roval continues on NBC and https://t.co/BHXvTwrLoC pic.twitter.com/KCqNqTdxBU
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) October 10, 2020
"The only way you could even see was because of the big screen," Briscoe added. "But it certainly - the glare on your windshield was so bad. It was just horrendous. And then all the paint, the red paint, was reflecting off the Jumbotron. It was difficult.
"Fortunately, I was first or second the whole race, so it wasn't really that bad, but, yeah, if you would have been mid-pack, I couldn't imagine how hard it would have been to see."
As someone who won a stage and led laps during this race, it would be easy to understand why Briscoe enjoyed competing in the heavy rain and high winds. However, he did not get the ending he expected due to a late caution.
The Indiana native had the lead with three laps remaining in the road course rainstorm race. This put him in a position to potentially score his third win in a four-race stretch. However, he lost his advantage after officials threw the caution for a Brandon Brown wreck.
Briscoe and Allmendinger raced door-to-door entering Turn 1 in overtime, but only one of them made it through the corner. Allmendinger cleared for the lead while Briscoe spun out in the wet conditions exiting the turn. This incident and the heavy traffic relegated him to an 18th-place finish.
"I just remember how I should have won so easily and we had a 20-minute caution flag at the end and a green-white checkered and there was Lake Norman in Turn 1," Briscoe said with a smile. "I didn't know, and I hydroplaned and spun out."
Weather has threatened other trips to the Charlotte Roval, but the drivers have avoided racing in a rainstorm since this wet and wild race in 2020. But if it happens again, count Briscoe as a driver who would embrace the experience.
