The NASCAR Cup Series heads to Atlanta Motor Speedway for the Atlanta 400 on September 8, marking the beginning of the NASCAR Playoffs. The race will start at 3 p.m. EDT, with live coverage available on USA and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. As the playoffs kick off, all eyes will be on the drivers as they battle for the championship in what promises to be an exciting postseason.
Chase Briscoe wins the Cook Out Southern 500 to clinch playoff spot for Stewart Haas during final season.
Darlington, S.C. – September 1, 2024 – Chase Briscoe made a remarkable statement in the NASCAR Cup Series as he clinched victory in the Cook Out Southern 500, the final race of the regular season, at Darlington Raceway. The win not only marked Briscoe’s first victory of the season but also secured his spot in the NASCAR Playoffs.
Briscoe, driving the No. 14 HighPoint.com Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing, started the race from the third position and dominated the final laps to cross the finish line first. His win at the 1.366-mile oval was a significant milestone for Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR), marking their 104th overall win and their 70th points-paying victory in the NASCAR Cup Series. It was also SHR’s first win of the 2024 season and their fourth at Darlington, joining the ranks of previous Darlington victories secured by Kevin Harvick in 2014, May 2020, and September 2020.
“This win is a dream come true,” Briscoe said, visibly emotional after the race. “Being a diehard Tony Stewart fan and getting the 14 car back to victory lane in our final year is incredible. The entire team was determined to make it to the end, and we finally made it happen. It felt like déjà vu in those final laps. The pit crew did an amazing job, and I was crying after the checkered flag. Winning the Southern 500, a crown jewel race, is incredibly special, especially with the fans back. I’m grateful to everyone who supports us, and we’ll head to Atlanta ready for more.”
Briscoe’s victory was also a testament to Ford’s continued success in the NASCAR Cup Series. This win was Ford’s 735th all-time victory in the series, their sixth of the season, and their second consecutive win following Harrison Burton’s triumph at Daytona. Additionally, it was Ford’s 34th victory at Darlington, with a notable win dating back to September 3, 1956, by Curtis Turner.
The Cook Out Southern 500 was divided into three stages, with Kyle Larson of Hendrick Motorsports dominating the early stages. Larson won both Stage 1 and Stage 2 but could not hold off Briscoe in the final stage. Briscoe led for a total of 29 laps, marking his first laps led at Darlington, and secured a margin of victory of 0.361 seconds over Larson.
The race was marked by seven caution periods, totaling 39 laps, and only 17 of the 37 drivers finished on the lead lap. The playoff picture was reshuffled with Briscoe’s win, as he became the 14th different winner in the 26-race season, while Tyler Reddick narrowly clinched the regular-season championship by just one point over Larson. However, with the playoff points reset, Larson leads the playoff standings with four wins this season.
Playoff Standings Post-Regular Season:
- Kyle Larson – 2,040 points
- Christopher Bell – 2,032 points (-8)
- Tyler Reddick – 2,028 points (-12)
- William Byron – 2,022 points (-18)
- Ryan Blaney – 2,018 points (-22)
- Denny Hamlin – 2,015 points (-25)
- Chase Elliott – 2,014 points (-26)
- Brad Keselowski – 2,008 points (-32)
- Joey Logano – 2,007 points (-33)
- Austin Cindric – 2,007 points (-33)
- Daniel Suárez – 2,006 points (-34)
- Alex Bowman – 2,005 points (-35)
- Chase Briscoe – 2,005 points (-35)
- Harrison Burton – 2,005 points (-35)
- Ty Gibbs – 2,004 points (-36)
- Martin Truex Jr. – 2,004 points (-36)
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