Chase Briscoe wins Southern 500, clinches Cup playoff spot in Darlington NASCAR race

Chase Briscoe won his way into the NASCAR playoffs.

The 29-year-old driver for Stewart-Haas Racing — the Kannapolis-based team shutting down after the season — put together a strong run in the Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway on Sunday night. He ran behind Kyle Larson, who dominated most of the race, and held off a charging Kyle Busch to secure the win late.

Briscoe, who will take over the No. 19 Toyota at Joe Gibbs Racing next year, will race for his first Cup Series championship. Martin Truex Jr. and Ty Gibbs claimed the final two playoff spots..

“This night just literally went perfect,” Briscoe said. “The pit crew did an incredible job. I was crying. After the checkered, I just won the Southern 500, this is a crown jewel. What makes this race so special is all these race fans. Every time we come here, it’s sold out. It’s awesome. We love you guys.

“Last time I won here was during COVID, I didn’t experience it with the fans. Glad that you are here and can’t wait to celebrate.”

Briscoe’s other Darlington win came in the Xfinity Series in May of 2020 and also came at Busch’s expense. That win came two days after his wife, Melissa, had a miscarriage.

More than a year later, the couple welcomed their first son, Brooks, who joined his father on stage at Sunday’s press conference. The couple also is expecting twins in the coming weeks.

Briscoe’s win capped an unpredictable two weeks to close NASCAR’s regular season. Another long shot, Harrison Burton, won last week at Daytona to earn his first playoff spot.

Briscoe was so far back in points that he needed a win or else would miss the playoffs.

“I knew that it was going to be one of those do or die moments,” Briscoe said. “This was the last bullet in the chamber and we knew this was going to be a really good opportunity for us based on how we raced in the spring.

“I knew if we executed all night long we would be in the mix and we executed.”

How Chase Briscoe won at Darlington

Larson, who led for 263 of 367 laps, looked dominant and swept the stages. Briscoe finished Stage 1 in third, behind Larson and pole-sitter Bubba Wallace, and then battled Larson to a second-place finish in Stage 2.

Wallace’s playoff hopes were done following a big crash late in the race. Josh Berry got turned by Ty Gibbs, and carnage ensued through the field. A host of cars were collected, including those of Wallace, William Byron and Austin Dillon.

Nearly the entire race was green, outside stage breaks, until a Carson Hocevar solo spin with about 60 laps left.

Briscoe was fourth after another caution but made an impressive move past Gibbs, Ross Chastain and Larson, who were battling for first to take the lead on Lap 342.

Briscoe then had to hold off Busch over the final 10 laps to claim the win.

Tyler Reddick won the regular-season title over Larson. The rest of the playoff field is: Chase Elliott, followed by Christopher Bell, Byron, Ryan Blaney, Denny Hamlin, Brad Keselowski, Joey Logano, Austin Cindric, Daniel Suarez, Alex Bowman, Truex Jr., Burton and Gibbs.

Truex Jr.’s playoff hopes were in doubt early on after he exited the race on Lap 2 when he collided with Blaney. He ended up clinching a spot right after Stage 2.