NASCAR at Darlington results: Chase Briscoe ends winless run, clinches playoff spot with Southern 500 victory

The future is bright for Chase Briscoe. The present isn't too shabby, either.

Chase Briscoe gave Stewart-Haas Racing fans something to smile about on Sunday night.

Once an institution in the world of motorsports, Stewart-Haas dwindled into infamy over the past few seasons. Things came to a head in 2024, when the company announced its intention to disband following the Cup and Xfinity Series campaigns.

Those in Stewart-Haas colors — be that fans or employees — were in desperate need for a hero. Briscoe answered that call admirably during Sunday's Southern 500, racing his way to the front of the pack and holding off Kyle Busch to pick up his second-career Cup Series win — and a spot in the postseason, too.

Briscoe found life as the race transitioned from short- to long-run. He surged past Kyle Larson to take the lead and held off inquiries from Christopher Bell, Ross Chastain, and, most notably, Kyle Busch to put his name up in lights at the Lady in Black.

REPOST TO CONGRATULATE CHASE BRISCOE!

HE WINS THE SOUTHERN 500 AT DARLINGTON TO MAKE THE NASCAR CUP SERIES PLAYOFFS! pic.twitter.com/yf2YyPQcBv

— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) September 2, 2024

Briscoe, 29, was thrust into a position of seniority at the Tony Stewart-led enterprise following Kevin Harvick's retirement in 2023. A lifelong Stewart fan, Briscoe offered perhaps the best tribute to his inspiration — and team owner — showing off eye-catching speed en route to the checkered flag.

An emotional interview, replete with tears and praise for those who filled up the Darlington Raceway concourses, was simply the cherry on top of what was a fabulous day for Briscoe, who will take his talents to Joe Gibbs Racing in 2025.

This one means so much. pic.twitter.com/cwoTzQVjjE

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) September 2, 2024

The future is bright for the driver of the No. 14. The present isn't too shabby, either.

The Sporting News tracked live updates from Sunday's race at Darlington. Below are highlights, results and more as the Cup Series' regular season came to a captivating finish under the bright South Carolina moon.

MORE: Watch the Southern 500 live with Fubo (free trial)

NASCAR at Darlington results

NASCAR at Darlington live updates, highlights from 2024 race

(All times Eastern)

10:03 p.m.: White flag out. One lap to go! Briscoe is going to win the Southern 500! He's going to the playoffs! Stewart-Haas has a win in its final Cup Series season!

10:01 p.m.: Briscoe is keeping his composure in front of the No. 8 with just three laps to go. Busch is pushing hard. And Briscoe gets into the wall ever so slightly! Could that be the mistake Busch needs to outgun his Stewart-Haas counterpart?

10:00 p.m.: Briscoe is keeping the top line. Busch has been tethered to the bottom line. Which tactic pays off? Five laps to go!

9:59 p.m.: Busch going for the bottom entry. Briscoe is holding him off thus far. Eight laps left!

9:57 p.m.: Less than 0.25 seconds between Briscoe and Busch for first. 10 laps remaining. This is getting close.

9:56 p.m.: Briscoe is still holding firm with 14 laps to go. Busch has to make a move sooner rather than later; the new tire advantage will dissipate as time goes on.

9:54 p.m.: Back to green! Briscoe back to the front! Busch is flying up the track. He's got fresher tires than anyone else at present. He gets past Christopher Bell for second! He'll be contending with Briscoe for the checkered.

9:52 p.m.: Plenty of non-playoff drivers in the mix, including Briscoe (leader), Ryan Preece (fourth), Buescher (fifth) and Kyle Busch (ninth). Just 18 laps to go. Plenty of intrigue n this one. Briscoe and Larson will lead things off from the front. Here we go!

9:45 p.m.: CAUTION! Josh Berry attempts to go three-wide and sets off a multi-car crash. Wallace gets caught up in it. That seemingly ends his playoff chances.

9:43 p.m.: Back to green! Briscoe takes the inside and gets the lead! What a move by the No. 14!

9:41 p.m.: Chastain was one of the few drivers to opt against going into pit road. He'll kick things off alongside Larson in the front row.

9:36 p.m.: CAUTION! Hocevar gets into the wall, turning his right front into rubble. That's just what Wallace needed. Buescher had pulled to within one spot of Wallace. The No. 23 will have the chance to get some new tires and additional oil from the front pit stall.

9:34 p.m.: Buescher and Reddick fighting tooth and nail for track position. Looks like Buescher on his new tires will get past the No. 45. The gap is growing between the No. 17 and the No. 23 in terms of playoff seeding.

9:32 p.m.: Back to green! And Briscoe is back in contention for the checkered flag! Larson is loose! The No. 14 could compete for the gold!

9:28 p.m.: Wallace is staying out. Buescher went in. Doesn't seem like the No. 17 took too much damage, so the No. 23 has to attempt to put some distance between him and Buescher before the new tires take effect.

9:24 p.m.: CAUTION! Todd Gilliland sent twirling after getting into Buescher. Looks like Gilliland lost his grip after attempting to perform a slide job on the No. 17. Buescher incurred a bit of damage. He's now headed to pit road.

9:22 p.m.: Back to green! Larson and Denny Hamlin lead the way. This is the first time Larson has really looked under threat at any point in the past 100 laps or so.

9:20 p.m.: CAUTION! Hocevar goes spinning! That could prove especially vital for the battle for postseason position between Buescher and Wallace. The No. 17 sits even with the No. 23 with 48 laps to go, as Wallace has a 11-car advantage over Buescher in the field.

8:55 p.m.: Larson cycles back to the front after his latest stop at pit road. He's been the best car on the track thus far. But he's getting all he can ask for in Briscoe, who is hoping to give Stewart-Haas the finish it so desperately yearns for in its final Cup Series season.

8:25 p.m.: Larson and Briscoe kept up their frightening pace towards the end of Stage 2. In the end, it's the Hendrick Motorsports star that sweeps the stages, nabbing his tenth stage win of the season. Another playoff point in the coffers for Larson.

8:00 p.m.: Larson holds serve atop the totem pole after pitting. He got just in front of Briscoe on pit road. That should bring him back to the front once pit cycles cease.

7:58 p.m.: Briscoe is pushing hard for top spot. He's inching closer and closer to Larson as cars begin to race towards pit road once more.

7:40 p.m.: Green flag pit stops are a go, with Larson, Briscoe and Reddick among the drivers to head towards their pit stalls for adjustments.

7:35 p.m.: Larson is holding firm at the top of the pack. Chase Briscoe, another driver who sits outside of the cut line, is pain behind at second, followed by Reddick in third. Still plenty of time left in Stage 2; 35 laps down, 80 more to go.

7:15 p.m.: Reddick is attempting his own iteration at the flu game. Sounds like he's in a really bad way with illness in the cockpit. Still producing results, however. Finish third in Stage 1. And he's putting forth a similar effort in the early portions of Stage 2.

7:00 p.m.: Larson looks to have the best car on the track, at least in the short run. He races to green in Stage 1, picking up a vital stage victory as he attempts to overcome a 15-point deficit behind Reddick to pick up the regular-season championship – and the 15 playoff points that come with it. Wallace finishes second, while Reddick pulls into third.

6:20 p.m.: Back to green. Wallace out in the front. Looks like Reddick will go up there with him. Could be the most important race in 23XI Racing history.

6:13 p.m.: Truex and Blaney are done for the day. If there's a new winner, things could get hairy for Truex— who is retiring at season's end.

6:10 p.m.: CAUTION! Truex goes spiraling into the wall three laps in! He got too tight into the corner and collected Ryan Blaney in the process.

"I'm an idiot."

Martin Truex Jr. loses it and takes Ryan Blaney with him! #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/MD17i40cMr

— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) September 1, 2024

6:09 p.m.: And we're green from Darlington! Wallace and Carson Hocevar lead the way!

6:05 p.m.: As a reminder, Chris Buescher sits 21 points above the cut line. Bubba Wallace is the first driver out, while Ross Chastain is 27 points back of the No. 17. Joe Gibbs Racing's Martin Truex Jr. and Ty Gibbs sit 58 and 39 points above the cut line, respectively. Win and you're in. Here we go.

5:55 p.m.: Engines are a-go here at the Lady in Black. We're about 10 minutes out from the start of tonight's race.

5:05 p.m.: The weather appears to be holding up an hour from green flag. Rain appears to be headed to the north of the track.

An hour before 6:05p green flag and most of weather staying north. pic.twitter.com/2oJx7uFcJj

— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) September 1, 2024

4:40 p.m.: Plenty of captivating decals for Sunday's race. None have as much star power as Tyler Reddick's, who will weave his way down the Lady in Black adorned by Michael Jordan, Wayne Gretzky and Tiger Woods. Given the stakes for the 23XI Racing standout — Reddick can clinch a regular-season championship with a strong showing — it makes since why Reddick and his business partners would seek to take inspiration from three of sport's greatest-ever talents.

Weekend colors. 🎨@UpperDeckSports | @USAFRecruiting | @BubbaWallace | @TylerReddick pic.twitter.com/paGHPCQNzH

— 23XI Racing (@23XIRacing) August 31, 2024

What channel is NASCAR on today?

• TV channel: NBC (U.S.) | TSN (Canada)
• Live stream: Peacock, Fubo
• Radio: MRN

Saturday's race will be broadcast on NBC in the United States. Canadian viewers can find the action on TSN.

Veteran announcer Leigh Diffey will lead the race's lap-by-lap commentator, supplanting longtime announcer Rick Allen, who is moving down to the Xfinity Series. He'll be joined by former Cup Series stars Jeff Burton and former Daytona 500-winning crew chief Steve Letarte.

Cord-cutters can follow the action on Peacock, as well as with Fubo, which offers a free trial.

NASCAR start time today

• Date: Saturday, September 1
• Time: 6:00 p.m. ET

The Southern 500 has a listed start time of 6:00 p.m. ET., but pre-race festivities are expected to push the waving of the green flag closer to 6:05 p.m. ET.

NASCAR at Darlington starting lineup 2024

Leading the field for Sunday night's race are Bubba Wallace and Carson Hocevar. Below is the rest of the starting lineup for Sunday's race: