Chase Briscoe Held Off Kyle Busch To Win Southern 500, Clinching Playoff Spot In Regular Season Finale

For a second straight week a winless Ford driver has gotten the checkered flag and punched their ticket to the playoffs. This week was Chase Briscoe’s turn, and he did it in his last chance to make the postseason.

Briscoe, who last won at Phoenix in March of 2022 secured his second career Cup win Sunday at Darlington and a playoff spot in the process. . . in the last regular season race of the year. 

The #14 car pulled ahead on the final restart and was able to hold off the #8 car Kyle Busch. It’s the second consecutive week Busch finishes 2nd. Winless on the year, he comes up short missing the playoffs; something he hasn't done since 2012. 

An emotional Briscoe gets a win just as his team, Stewart Haas Racing, prepares to close up shop. Earlier this season it was announced that the team would close, and Briscoe would need to find a new ride. But he wasn't a free agent for long, and agreed take his talents to Joe Gibbs Racing and wheel the #19 car in place of a retiring Martin Truex Jr for the 2025 season. 

What a parting gift for Stewart Haas Racing in what is the biggest win of Chase Briscoe’s career. 

The 500 mile crown jewel race featured drama start to finish however.

Starting with a wreck on lap 3, taking Ryan Blaney and Martin Truex Jr. out of the race:

Then it was a big one rivaling wrecks seen at super speedway tracks:

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Tyler Reddick had food poisoning? Resulting in one of the funniest NASCAR tweets ever:

And Michael Jordan was in attendance but was unsuccessful in his pursuit to push his driver Bubba Wallace into the playoffs

But most importantly congratulations to our close personal friend Chase Briscoe 

The field is set. The NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs begin next week at Atlanta Motor Speedway. 

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Tune in to Rubbin' is Racing for a full recap of the race and a preview of the Atlanta race, and the rest of NASCAR Playoffs.