Chase Briscoe Wins Back-to-Back Southern 500s, Advances Playoffs

Chase Briscoe dominated the 2025 Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway, securing his second consecutive win in NASCAR's oldest crown jewel race and locking himself into the Round of 12 in the playoffs. Briscoe led 309 of 367 laps, fending off late challenges from Tyler Reddick and Erik Jones, and became the first driver since Jimmie Johnson to win back-to-back Southern 500s, as well as the first to do so for two different teams. His victory marks his fourth career Cup win and solidifies his standing as a championship contender, positioning him at the top of the playoff standings. The race saw significant incidents among playoff drivers, including early crashes and mechanical issues that shuffled the standings, with notable struggles from Josh Berry and Alex Bowman. Tyler Reddick finished second, followed by Erik Jones and John Hunter Nemechek, contributing to a strong showing by Toyota teams. The NASCAR Cup Series now prepares for the next playoff race at Kansas Speedway, with Briscoe leading the pack after his commanding performance at Darlington.