BKR take on trucks: Mike Hillman Jr. enjoys helping Chase Briscoe

Two-time NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion crew chief Mike Hillman Jr. can now add mentor and teacher for Chase Briscoe to his impressive resume.

Hillman calls the shots for the No. 29 Cooper Standard Ford F-150 truck team driven by Briscoe. They sit seventh in the standings as the series heading into Las Vegas Motor Speedway for the second race of the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Playoffs.

Before making the trip out west, Hillman sat down with Motorsport.com for a brief question and answer session where he discussed the 2017 season.

Has Chase met or exceeded your expectations during his rookie season?

“I think we’ve met and exceeded all of our expectations (for the season) except getting a win (so far). He’s been fast at a lot of the tracks and really picked up quickly, we just need to close the deal at a race.”

What’s been the key to meeting those expectations?

“Chase has been doing his homework before he gets to the track and that has made a big difference. He studies a lot of video and in-car camera footage prior to every race. He also does iRacing and goes to the Ford simulator, and that has sped up the process for him. Ford has done a really good job with their simulator and we worked hard to get the truck part of it working really well.

“Another thing is Chase is not afraid to lean on the people around him. He talks to Brad and also with Kyle Larson as they go back to racing on dirt. He also has a close relationship with Christopher Bell, so they talk a lot as well.

“We have some great people at BKR that have worked well together and love working with our young drivers. They really work hard at getting our trucks prepared so that when we get to the race track, we are 100% prepared and try to help the learning curve as much as we can.”

Does Chase listen and absorb the knowledge you and your team try to provide him each week?

“I know he can do it. He has the talent and competitiveness to win every week we go to the race track. We believe in each other and are learning one another to know what he needs in the truck.

“I think at every race you learn how to close, and we’ve have had some situations that have kept us from winning a race. In today’s truck series, it has to be a perfect day to get a win. If we can put a perfect day together we will win a couple of races before the end of the season.

Does Chase remind you of any other drivers you have worked with in your career?

“Because of his dirt background, I would compare it to when I worked with Kyle Larson, who was also green and wanting a truck set up loose because they’re used to racing on a dirt track.”

How has it been around the shop since the announcement that BKR would not compete in 2018?

“We all know Homestead is the last race for Brad Keselowski Racing, but we’ve worked way too hard all season long as a group to lay down and give up. I’ve never given up in my whole life. This just shows the type of character of the people Brad has put together in this company through the years. Nobody is going to give up. Our shop team is working as hard as ever to keep giving us fast Ford F-150 trucks each week.

It also says a lot about the character of Chase and Austin, who are young guys and never been through a situation like this before. A lot of us who’ve been around the sport have been through this. Most of us have been through a shut-down or dealing with bad news. It’s a testament to the character those young guys have.”

Does the maturity shown by Chase this season surprise you?

“The way he’s been raised and his family, like his dad Kevin, they are a very faith-driven family. Chase is a driver who appreciates what he has. It’s awesome to watch a young driver get an opportunity and be appreciative and thankful for it. He’s probably one of the most appreciative I’ve ever worked with in the sport. Todd (Bodine) was that way probably the most and Chase is right up there with him.”