For the second week in a row, the NASCAR playoff picture has been shaken up by an unexpected winner. This time, it was Chase Briscoe who took the spotlight, clinching victory in the 2024 Southern 500 with a daring three-wide move just 25 laps before the checkered flag. Briscoe managed to fend off a hard-charging Kyle Busch, securing his place in the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs and marking a significant milestone in his still-young career. This will be Briscoe’s second appearance in the playoffs in just four years, a feat he first achieved in 2022 with a crucial win at Phoenix.
Kyle Busch, a two-time Cup Series champion, found himself in a similar position as Briscoe, needing a win to secure his spot in the playoff field. Coming off a runner-up finish at Daytona just a week prior, Busch was determined to turn his challenging 2024 season around with a victory at Darlington. However, despite his best efforts and a strong late-race push, Busch couldn’t find a way around Briscoe, leaving him still searching for the win that could have reignited his season.
Chris Buescher also had his playoff hopes dashed at Darlington, marking the second time this year that the track has been unkind to him. Buescher, who was battling for the final playoff spot, knew that his performance on Sunday would be crucial. Throughout the race, Buescher showed strong form, staying competitive and giving himself a real shot at securing his place in the postseason. However, in the closing laps, the outcome slipped from his control.
“We felt like we did what we needed to do today,” Buescher told NBC Sports after the race. “Didn’t quite get it done again, now we’re on the outside looking in. Unfortunately, it’s just the system we’re all playing in. We had such a great year. We outran so many of these cars that are going to get to compete for a championship, but that’s the system. We didn’t work it right.”
Buescher’s main rival for the last playoff spot, Bubba Wallace, also faced significant challenges during the race. Wallace started the day strong, winning the pole and leading early laps, but as the race progressed, things took a turn. A series of late-race cautions threw Wallace into the thick of the battle, putting him in a position where he could potentially knock Buescher out of the playoffs. However, a crash right in front of his No. 23 car all but ended his hopes, even before Briscoe’s victory. Despite a damaged car, Wallace fought valiantly, clawing his way to a 16th-place finish, but it wasn’t enough to secure his second consecutive playoff berth.
In reflecting on the race, Wallace admitted to being frustrated by the outcome but gave credit to Briscoe for his performance. “We just got behind on adjustments,” Wallace said to NBC Sports. “We got back in traffic, a spot we hadn’t been in all day, and got caught up in someone else’s mess. Hats off to the 14.”
Wallace added, “I thought I did something yesterday,” referring to his blistering pole lap in qualifying. “They one-upped us today and stood up when it was game time.”
Wallace’s disappointment was shared by 23XI Racing co-owner and NBA legend Michael Jordan, who watched the race anxiously from the team’s pit stall. Jordan’s presence underscored the high stakes of the race, as the team had hoped to see Wallace make another playoff run.
As the regular season concludes, all eyes now turn to the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs, which will kick off on September 8 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Briscoe heads into the playoffs with newfound momentum, while others, like Busch and Wallace, will need to regroup and refocus for what promises to be an intense and competitive postseason.
Just In: Bubba Wallace addresses the differences in results between Tyler Reddick & himself | NASCAR on FOX
