The bubble has finally burst and none of the drivers in contention have made it to the Playoffs. However, we do have a new race winner who really put up a fight for the victory lane. Even Kyle Larson is amazed at the job done by #14 and thinks he truly deserves a playoff spot. And honestly, he wasn’t too far away from the bubble, either.

Chase Briscoe has brought a much-needed win to Stewart-Haas Racing in its final season. This win was a tribute to the entire team of SHR and it has reinforced Briscoe’s worth to Joe Gibbs Racing for 2025. Getting a win at Darlington in the finale is not insignificant on any level, and Larson agrees when he exclaims, “For him to stay in it all, all-race long and you know, withstand Kyle Busch pressuring him at the end, that was impressive.”

What went down in Darlington?

If there was one certainty before the Southern 500, it was that the race would be worth watching. And it did keep everyone on the edge till the very end. Kyle Busch gave it his all, as he has been doing for the past two weeks. He had a good car, no doubt. But Chase Briscoe’s was just better. There is just no other way to explain the move that Briscoe made on the restart.

The last couple of laps were reminiscent of the 2020 Xfinity race, wherein the same duo battled it out into the victory lane. Interestingly, both his Darlington wins have been up against a charging Kyle Busch. That is in itself such a phenomenal feat. “So kudos to him for racing me super, super clean. The fact that both of my Darlington wins have come trying to hold off Kyle Busch is pretty cool from a personal note because that guy is one of the greatest of all time,” says a humbled Briscoe.

When Chase Folsom from Frontstretch asked Kyle Larson when he lost control of the race, Larson responded, “Briscoe did a great job and cleared all of us. So, after that I lost control of the race, and yeah just, I don’t know it was going to be hard to pass Briscoe. He was much better than me on short runs and he was stuck behind me. So, I figured when he would got in clean area be tough to beat.”

Briscoe got his second Cup Series win, which also qualified him for the Playoffs for the second time. And it wasn’t a chance win as he worked throughout the race to stay in contention by consistently sticking to the top-5 positions. Briscoe qualified at 3rd to start the race and he held that position close until the very end. For a greater part of the race, he was stuck behind Larson, but then Briscoe pulled up his weight when he needed to and took the home run.

Darlington is quite a narrow track to pass and Briscoe did it. Even considering he had a faster car than those in the front row, it was a skill that got him to the front row and through the yellow line.

What does this win mean for Chase Briscoe?

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So, Briscoe is in the NASCAR Playoffs through an automatic route, agreed. But is he in contention for winning through it? Can he escape the eliminations? Well, sure he can. He has a really fast car and the skill to drive it as he wishes. He has already made it to the top 8 in 2022, and he is more than capable of rising up the ranks now.

Moreover, when the 2021 NCA champion says that the 2021 Rookie of the Year “was probably equal to me I felt like tonight.” then you believe it. Chase Briscoe has come up late onto the scene, but it wasn’t too late, as it turns out. Talking to the media post-race, Briscoe admitted, “We’ve been shutting down since May and they haven’t shut us off yet so I think we’ll be totally fine. Obviously, it’s going to be an uphill battle but we feel confident about it.”

He knows the challenges, and despite all odds; he made and is hopeful to keep doing it. That is really the kind of spirit that allows room for magic. I mean, not in the literal sense, but it does seem magical and inspiring.