CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Brad Keselowski had nothing but positive things to say about ARCA Racing Series champion Chase Briscoe during the NASCAR Media Tour earlier this week.

Briscoe, who won last year’s ARCA championship while driving for Cunningham Motorsports, was recently signed to a development deal with Ford Performance and will drive for Brad Keselowski Racing in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series this year.

In particular, Keselowski praised Briscoe’s work ethic that helped him go from shop hand at Cunningham Motorsports to ARCA champion.

“Chase, to me, I hear this all the time and I want to be really clear on this – I hear this all the time how all the NASCAR drivers are these rich millionaires that grew up with daddy’s money,” said Keselowski. “What I see in Chase that I love about the guy is this is a guy who moves to North Carolina just a handful of years ago, slept on couches, pushed brooms, worked in the shops, didn’t have a ride, and somehow convinced other people to let him drive their race car and was successful.

“He went out and won and he earned it. He earned the opportunity. He went to the ARCA level and won races, won the championship. He’s earned his opportunity. He’s eaten the humble pie.”

Briscoe, the son of Indiana sprint car veteran Kevin Briscoe, moved to North Carolina only a few years ago in the hopes of finding an opportunity in the world of stock car racing. After volunteering his time at Cunningham Motorsports in 2015, Briscoe got that chance last year and promptly won the ARCA Racing Series championship.

Keselowski said now that Briscoe has earned his opportunity, he needs to continue building on the success he had in last year if he hopes to keep moving up the NASCAR ladder.

“He’s done the things that you would want a driver like that to do,” Keselowski said. “I think he’s gonna be very successful because it’s that work ethic that carries you to the next level of success when you do get to the Cup level. He’s got a great base. He’s got a great future in front of him.

“Of course, he’s got to keep executing. He’s got to make the most of this opportunity to get another one. I think he knows that.”

Briscoe will pilot the No. 29 Ford F-150 for Keselowski in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Austin Cindric will be his teammate in the No. 19 Ford F-150.