Southern 500 Recap: Briscoe Outlasts Reddick for Victory
Darlington, SC — Chase Briscoe secured a hard-fought victory in the Southern 500, the opening race of the NASCAR Cup Series postseason, holding off a late challenge from Tyler Reddick. The finish saw Reddick attempting to overtake Briscoe in the final corners but ultimately settling for second place.
Reddick, while not satisfied with his runner-up status, highlighted his strategy: “Oh, I had zero faith, and it didn’t stick. I remember what happened in the spring and was able to get ahead of it a little sooner and not wipe out Chase.” Reddick’s citation referred to a previous incident where Briscoe’s aggressive move led to both drivers crashing out in a pivotal moment.
Briscoe’s performance was characterized by consistent dominance, as he also won both stages of the race. Reddick placed second in the stages, noting that his car’s long-run speed was a strong point throughout the night but faltered in the closing laps. “The balance had kind of gone away. Unfortunately, we weren’t tight enough at the end to do something with the [No.] 19,” he remarked.
Crucially, Reddick narrowly avoided disaster during a chaotic start when he was hit by Josh Berry on lap one, resulting in minor contact with the wall. He humorously acknowledged his fortune in that moment, saying he was grateful to continue racing after almost jeopardizing his position.
This race marked Reddick’s first top-five finish since July, propelling him to 35 points above the playoff cut line as he enters the next round. Reflecting on his performance, Reddick expressed a mix of ambition and frustration: “I’ve done everything but win at this place. It’s really starting to drive me nuts.”
As the postseason progresses, both drivers will aim to capitalize on their momentum, with Reddick focused on capturing that elusive victory.
