Back-to-back, NASCAR Cup Series fans have seen one driver outside the playoff picture completely disrupt the championship fight.
Make no mistake, Chase Briscoe winning the Cook Out Southern 500 was not a fluke. His car might not have had the speed in practice, but when qualifying rolled around, the No. 14 HighPoint.com Ford Mustang Dark Horse ripped around the track, clocking the third-fastest time in the field.
From that podium starting position on the grid, the Mitchell, Indiana native worked to maintain a spot inside the top-10 throughout the entirety of Sunday’s event.
When the caution was displayed for Carson Hocevar inside the race’s final 30 laps, Briscoe made the race-winning move to take Kyle Larson and Ross Chastain three wide to get the lead. When another late race caution fell, the 29-year-old had to out-duel two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion, Kyle Busch, to hang on to the lead. For the second week in a row, the driver of the No. 8 Morgan & Morgan Chevrolet fell just short while Briscoe locked himself into the playoffs with a win.
With Stewart-Haas Racing set to close its doors at the end of the 2024 NASCAR season, and the weight of this victory on Briscoe himself, it was truly a sight to remember at the Lady in Black.
Join Taylor Kitchen and Toby Christie in the latest episode of Above The Yellow Line to talk about the playoff picture. Plus, tune in to chat about Tyler Reddick’s regular season championship and the drivers that just missed out on the championship fight.
More from Above The Yellow Line’s Taylor Kitchen from Darlington:
Tyler Reddick “Held on For Dear Life” To Win The Regular Season Championship
Ross Chastain’s Fate Rests in The Hands of The Lady in Black
A Late Race Caution at Darlington Destroys Sheldon Creed’s Chance for A Win
