2024 Cook Out Southern 500 from Darlington Raceway | NASCAR Cup Series Full Race Replay

this man showed tremendous resilience and guts yesterday buba Wallace not once but in two qualifying runs to show how determined and how driven he is to race his way into the playoffs just like Harrison Burton did it's time to bring the action at Darlington Raceway it is time to continue one of the best traditions in racing it's time for the southern 500 listen to that awesome Roar Wallace and then Here Comes lson hos ofar being shuffled back a couple of positions as reck moves his way up to Third and the question begs does the guy we saw in qualifying as reick was ducking low to try and make an early move then thinks about it twice does the man we saw yesterday in qualifying in Bubba Wallace does he continue that Trend here tonight well when I talked to booty Barker today he had two simple words he always gives me kind of their Mantra what they're going to be as you see three wide racing back in the pack he said Stevie all out we're going to be all out all night and it's either going to make it or it isn't I love that Mantra I think that's what it's going to take well they're going all at it right now you race that hard this early on this RAC track and you'll be lucky to get by with it three wide Steve that is aggressive contact oh mon TRX Jr he's lost it takes blay up into the wall with him two of the best cars in practice I thought blay had the best long run car I'm an idiot and here you heard him I'm an idiot Trux says he's an he knows he made a mistake only two laps into the race TRX 58 above the cut line mathematically not a guarantee but I thought everything was going to be easy this is an uphill battle already that is a huge moment in this race and in the how much damage X car have it hurts Ryan blay from the standpoint of potential stage points and then the overall points he's locked into the playoffs but this was what neither driver wanted TRX just simply got into the corner too hard for the amount of grip that he had that's part of this though lap three he doesn't really know it chases the car up the racetrack makes contact with William Byron overcorrects the car big damage to blame he wrecks himself because he knew the option two was to wreck the 24 that's not trx's style at all he didn't want his mistake to affect the 24 unfortunately taking himself out got Blain that's one of those wrecks look at As We Ride Along he just got up the racetrack that's one of those wrecks on lap three at Darlington do you really want to be three wide getting into turn one this is something that 15 years ago we never would do right the the drivers have gotten more and more aggressive in how they approach turn one Chris busher sneaking by look Martin TRX Jr is one of the our Sports best period just a little too much aggression early in the race everybody talks about racing the racetrack 25 times Martin TRX Jr has run Darlington he knows what this racetrack holds and yet a mistake like this this just proves all the hyperboy about Darlington the track too tough to Tain it's true it's on display two laps in it's true and Martin has an extraordinary record here as you see Ryan blay stepped from his C you'll see him in the playoffs but this is far from an ideal situation let's have a listen to his radio take you back a few moments it's kill man you okay I think I don't know get him quick as we can and you can see him paying extra attention to one of his hands and forearms yeah that's that impact you could hear in his voice how much it hurt anytime you're on the outside and a car hits you that hard and shoves you into the wall with all of the force of the car underneath you those are a massive impact Steve those are some of the biggest wrecks I ever had M this is just massive for the playoffs as everyone has talked about Martin TRX Jr came in plus 58 and the word just now from James small telling Martin Truex Jr to get out of the car Truex came in the weekend said we just need a clean smart race and early on they're going to be out of it and man can they make the playoffs now that's something we're going to be watching all evening long look at that currently dead even no more points to gain for the 19 Gibbs busher chest stain still on the racetrack and that's without a new winner we know that's Bubba Wallace's goal tonight the race had only just got going and one of the playoff contenders is out [Music] e for for for [Music] The Legend Continues here at Darlington Raceway do you get out of here without getting the fame Darlington stripe does the track treat you well do you respect it and do you get in the tunnel on the Champions wall all questions to be answered well the track has already bitten a couple that's Martin TRX Jr and Ryan blay both drivers out of the race blay going to the playoffs Martin Truex Jr is going to have to sit and watch he had a 58 Point buffer above the cut line he's now at zero so it's going to be an interesting night to say the least for those guys and we will update you when we know more about Ryan Blay's physical condition uh as he was headed to the infield Medical Center so as we check in with Dale Jarrett Kyle Petty fellas points implications already at such an early stage in the race pretty crazy yeah Lee it's just amazing we sat here and talked about the difficulty of that but we also did it just like Jeff Burton said been there you know and you understand what's at stake here but you you're still a race driver and that's your mentality KP yeah it's amazing as you watch this and and they called it perfectly in the in the booth we see TRX just get in over his head a little bit wants to stay off the 24 overcorrects and takes blay open into the wall what's fascinating is we sat here as we watch all these angles we sat here and talked about Gibbs talked about busher talked about Wallace and Chast we never mentioned Trux no a rookie mistake by a guy who has won at this Racetrack and knows you have to race the racetrack every lap um I I don't believe I am shocked right now and hopefully this will send a message to these other guys step back a little bit Yeah the impact for the playoffs possibly and Ryan blay came in here fourth in the regular season certainly going to drop from there and those points could be valuable in the playoffs great point and these images from a few moments ago Truex stepping from his car and also heading to the infield Medical Center Just For a Check Jeff you highlighted it in one of those replays Chris busher one of the playoff hopefuls just narrowly avoiding that incident sometimes Luck's on your side it wasn't for blay it was for Chris busher yeah you have to have those things go your way and look I've been in that situation you heard DJ KP talking about it you make a mistake when you you know it's your job right it's your job not to make that mistake but you're pushing you're trying to make something happen you feel horrible uh because you feel like you let your team down but it's just you can't get it back well in all of that now it's back to the ask at hand we have Bubba Wallace and Larson on the front row reck Brisco H so far back to fifth but I thought Carson you know 21 youngest guy to ever be on the front row at the southern 500 Jeff you just was patient early right like he gave up a few spots making sure he didn't make that mistake long night ahead all right AMR safety team done an excellent job helping the situation clearing the situation we're ready for a take two let's get this cookout Southern 500 going again let's let's do it huge crowd here in Martinville and we're back to action Wallace and lson Chase Brisco in that black and white high point forward right behind here comes Tyler reck the 2311 cars are on the charge and that begs the question what kind of a role will Tyler reic play in helping his team make the playoffs tonight he'll help to a point but he wants the victory himself and I think you're going to see this right here as he gets to the back bumper of Wallace I think reick he knows what's at store you know at stake for the 23 boss man here Michael Jordan in attendance I'm impressed you know when MJ got into the sport we knew he was a Nascar fan but this is a guy that's in so many business interest globally right he has so many different things but I'm going to tell you Lee he comes to a lot of races and not just on Sunday on a Saturday qualifying you'll see him standing out on Pit Road it shocks me to have one of the most famous if not the most famous sports figure in the world be so consistent in the NASCAR garage Ty Gibbs running side by side with his jgr teammate Denny Hamlin who has just an unmatched record in this field Jeff at Darlington Raceway he is the best of this current crop on every number you can see can it be Denny's night it can be Denny's night Denny has the mentality that needed this racetrack he has the ability to attack the racetrack but not step over it see reic applying pressure little bit higher entry into one that's going we're going to see the CH the lanes change throughout this night medic does a really nice job of approaching the corners just against the wall that helps this car see how close he is compared to Larson watch what happens in the middle that allows reic to not have to turn the wheel as much carries a lot of speed to the center think Larson's car is a little better right now though we ride on board the hendrickcars.com Chevy for the man who led 55 Laps on route to Victory here in the southern 500 last year we'll get back to that let's hear from Kim Kum with Ryan blay for the latest yeah Ryan blay part of that incident with Martin T Jr we heard you talk about your arm or your hand are you okay and what happened yeah I'm all right um I don't know I I I saw Martin get loose and uh kind of Hit the 24 I thought he was going to spin to the bottom and uh so I kind of gassed up to get around him and he like terrible time and he overcorrected and we were right there so just gosh I hate it wreck on lap two but yeah I just it's one of those things it's like you think he's going to spin to the bottom and then it like his rear hooked up and he just came up so just I hat it for everybody mon ours and Ford I thought our car was great and just didn't even get a run any laps but um hopefully next week goes a little bit better great to hear from Ryan that was some scary radio that we heard after the incident but nice to hear him talk to Kim and I'm with him I thought it was one of the best cars in practice as well we'll just never know look at spy Carson hos ofar in the 77 running well last time he started on the front row was in the truck series last year at Homestead Miami Speedway and that great performance came from that so I wonder if the same Trend continues the same for the youngster for the 21-year-old here tonight in Darlington so we've heard from Ryan Blain Kim tell us the Martin TR x side of the story yeah Martin trck Jr out of the Care Center out of the race first of all we heard you say idiot on the radio clarify what you were talking about and what happened oh clearly me um yeah it was it was all my fault all my doing and um yeah just I got a run on the 24 and went to the inside and thought everything was going fine and the car just took off and I ran into him so obviously that one's on me and uh I hatte it for my guys and bass bro shops and Toyota everybody we had a phenomenal race car and I know this is the long like the longest race of the year um just a dumb mistake on my part this is your last full-time season in the Cup Series right now as it stands you are not a part of the playoff picture describe the emotions attached to that yeah I mean it sucks uh you know we just we've had a miserable 2 months fast car is nothing to show for and and again tonight you know tonight was all me so just sorry to my team and all the guys that work so hard classic Truex you know he is in the best of times and in the worst of times has always been a Class Act giving the time to the fan to us and the media uh taking ownership of this issue right here I think that's why he's so kind of beloved in the fan base and in the garage as we see Christopher Bell battling busher and we're just going to have to wait and see much like TRX to see if he has enough points now it's up to guys like busher to see if TRX advances this is the fight for seventh position between the guy who won the exfinity series race yesterday back to the teammates the two Toyotas at the front of this field Bubba Wallace Tyler reick they just got a narrow margin over Kyle lson in this early running talk in the garage this morning was that these two cars had a lot of speed on the early part of the run there was also some talk that they were not good on the long run uh we'll see you know that it's one thing to do that in practice it was in the middle of the day clearly the sun's still out out the track's going to continue to cool down as this night goes on but currently you know they that short run speed is there and also the long run speed is Mr remind everybody on the left that playoff bubble that's with Wallace leading right that's a new winner taking the 14th spot that makes the TRX busher chess stain situation even more precarious if Wallace is not leading the race that complex will change completely but we saw Harrison Burton a week ago why not Bubba Wallace why not Ross Chastain there's other josar is running six he's playoff eligible if he won this race and let's not discount Eric Jones a two-time winner here at Darlington who just so happens to be the biggest mover in the field so far he's up 10 positions Jeff H how can it be I mean Legacy motor club will admit they've switched to Toyota they're still trying to improve it's been a little bit of a Down year does it still surprise you CU it does mean that Eric Jones shows up to Garlington and the light switch just flips how can it just be I don't want to use the word easy but this straightforward for this driver he knows exactly what he wants he knows exactly the field that he's looking for when his car doesn't have it he does a great job job of describing it and he's not going to push too hard get himself in trouble typically and that's kind of Eric Jones right I mean if you think about the success he's had in this sport he's a very consistent race car driver and he loves a racetrack I think that's part of it Steve some guys come here and they just don't like it they just simply say I don't like this facility Eric has always liked it Dave tell us more and part of the reason for that is he said ever since I started coming here I just like the way that I was able to to adapt to the way the track changes the way that the uh feel of the car will change over time it was just always very comfortable to me and then when he won remember he's only won three times in the series two out of three have been here yeah that just adds to that Comfort level when I talked to him before the race he said we got close in practice but a bad starting spot because of a mistake I made in practice so good to see that he's that big mover Marty Dave I'm fascinated by the point that Lee brought up a moment ago with Tyler reck his teammate Bubba Wallace is right in front of him currently leading the race but Jeff How would you approach this race if you were Tyler reic you're also fighting for a regular season championship by the way your closest competitor for that right behind you with Kyle lson so would you help your teammate as much as you could and if you do help your teammate Jeff if you're Tyler tic how do you do that how do you help out Bubba Wallace tonight well look if I'm Tyler retic I got to go out and try to win this race I'm not going to move Bubba Wallace out of the way to do it but if I can get track position on him and drive away from him that's what I'm going to do and that's what I get paid to do I get paid to win championships that's why he was hired and to do that winning the regular season Championship will go a long way to helping him make it happen let the full attention of Michael Jordan oh [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] here's a quick reminder that you can join NASCAR's free Rewards program and start earning points that turn into member only rewards you can earn every time you check in for a race trade in points for free tickets exclusive gear autograph merchandise and one of a kind race day experiences simply head to nascar.com/racebuddy [Music] [Music] all right Mr Southern 500 winner you like what you see you like what you hear I do like it I you know against the wall but not inches away from it the way he'll have to be but with only 33 laps in this race is now the time to be right against the wall probably not I tell you what I see in the front of this pack though bubble Wallace still leading this race but look at how they've all stacked up right behind him that tells me that the pace isn't quite what he needs it to be everybody's starting to catch him just a little bit still with good Pace but the fastest race car Hamlin Bell they're starting to run this group down that's filled the positives for Bubba Wallace this is his 13th visit here and he has led more laps this evening and he has Stevie combined in the 12 other visits off to a great start off to a great start and it really started in qualifying what we saw yesterday I don't think can be overstated you mentioned it didn't take one effort but two and and I mean he's kind of taken the performance of the 23 and put it on his own shoulders he said we have to be better we have to win races I have to do better behind the wheel I like that approach from Bubba and what we're talking about if you wenter with us for qualifying yesterday right here Bubba grazed the wall as an understatement he hit the wall twice on his first qualifying lap to make it into the fast 10 into the top 10 and then it was a pretty electrifying run for him to grab the pole so we backed it up twice and here we go pit stops are happening race leader is in Kyle lson follows Bubba to pit Lane Marty Snider standing by take it away Kyle Larson comes to his pit stall which is down turn to turn towards turn four also Joey lagano here on Pit Road everybody should pit in a very small window here Cliff Daniel said hey out your car to Kyle Larson he simply said really good da bubble Wallace seemed very happy with the 23 car when he was asked to give balance check by his crew he said it's just a little greasy when I'm running really hard that's not something they really adjust for that's just what they want to hear from the driver in terms of what he's feeling he'll get four Goodyear tires and a fuel F here and he's got that first pit stall Marty Tyler re who ran second to his teammate Bubba Wallace from much through that run said at the very end I feel like I'm burning up the rears just a little bit so I could stand to be a hair tighter otherwise very happy as green flag pit stops the first set happening here at Darlington in the Southern 500 and look how busy Pit Road is lead and successful for Kyle L on the five beat the 23 off yeah that first pit off for the 23 will be a big Advantage under yellow but under green no real Advantage almost a disadvantage cuz you're so close to getting up to speed as we see reic pull away Kyle Larson overtook the 23 car still some cars to come to Pit Road but the five will assume the lead of the race when it Cycles [Music] this is one of the crazy things about that Darlington staring into that sun driving down the back straightway makes it really difficult to judge where the wall is run straight away no problem it comes William Byron Mar headed you away and he nearly Lee avoided some contact with uh Martin TR J he was the car that Trux almost got into before he got into Ryan blay he said his car is just a little bit too free so see these cars went running just a little bit longer here will there be an advantage for them on the back end of this run I don't think so I don't think they've run long enough for the fresh tires to be an advantage I kind of dissect on the last two or three races here now if you can run 10 laps longer it kills you you lose like 20 seconds but you do have those fresher tires the whole next run the problem is it seems like you just burn your tires up so much working through traffic you see Kyle arson easily drive by Denny Hamlin the question for Denny Hamlin is you know with 76 to go are they trying to stretch us out to the point where they maybe eliminate an entire Pit Stop and Save a set of tires that would be a really aggressive call but maybe Chris gabart is concerned about yellows later in the race lson goes by so to Wallace [Music] I mean you see how quickly they go by you now the advantage to this strategy is if a yellow comes out right now you see a bubble Wallace on back or a lap down so Danny Hamlin will pit everybody would take the wave around but he instantly would be the first car on Fresh tires it would be a huge Advantage for Hamlin there's only three drivers following the or two other drivers following the Hamlin strategy that's Kyle bus and Shane Van gburg and everybody else has come to Pit Road about 2 seconds a lap maybe not quite two seconds to lap right Jeff I'm impressed with that you know I I think that Denny Hamlin their ability to R run this Pace on this many lap tires I think that's allowing them to play this strategy 2 seconds is a lot but we've seen it much more than that here he comes Pit Road dive Kyle Bush is coming The Pit Road in the eight car he was running second to Hamlin crew chief Rand berett told me that they needed something special to happen tonight didn't have a lot of pace and practice like they thought they would need he'll get four tires of fuel here Marty da considering they started mid pack oh Hamlin runs a little bit long in a stall we'll see if that cost him anytime at all Chris gabart told me this morning he said listen if I can finish top seven in stage one I'll count that as a win he's also very close to the wall so we'll see if that stop maybe a slow stop here for the 11 cost him a little bit in this screen flag cycle so as Hamlin leaves we want to take you back and show you this that involves Kyle Bush boom it's pretty good little contact right there flat luckily but just take a listen that's a part of the racetrack where the wall actually comes back out into the track off of turn two very very easy to hit the wall there when this race is over though he won't be the only one to do it the 11 came in and Marty said that he slid a little long I don't know if that's what's got the timing but watch this right front tire changer tire off goes to put the other Tire on the lug nut had fallen out that single lug nut magnetizes to the socket he had reached down grab it and then on the left side tight quarters enough room to do the work but it definitely messes up the timing with that little bit of space the 11 was about 4 4 and half seconds behind the leader before anyone came to Pit Road he's currently all the way back at 21st 20 seconds behind so fresher tires for sure but we'll just have to see over the next 20 or 30 laps can the 11 make up that time we got off to a pretty eventful start with Martin Truex Jr having to watch anxiously the remainder of the Southern 500 [Music] [Music] [Music] on a beautiful Labor Day weekend long weekend Sunday evening here in South Carolina please to let you know it is a sellout crowd for this cookout Southern 500 thank you to the race fans for supporting and continuing this awesome tradition and the five if Kyle Larson would like to continue the tradition that is winning here in the southern 500 he'd like to defend his win of a year ago leading Bubba Wallace by just under 2 seconds Chase Brisco is having a nice start to the night no surprise whatsoever Chase bis Brisco ran fifth here in the spring and all of the steart Hof racing cars had performance in that race and they had it in practice Dave and Jeff what telling words from the 29-year-old as he tries to make his way by winning to get into the playoffs on that first caution he had lost a spot on the track so Richard Boswell as crew chief was concerned about what was going on with the driver the 14 he said it's fine just being careful you know there's times Jeff when you just have to be careful here and watch what you're doing and not let happen what happened to TRX it can happen in an instant well if you can if you can be careful and make this pace Steve that's a great thing right if you if you're out there and you're having to give 100% right now to run this pace and maybe back up a little bit and give up a tenth of a second but if you can comfortably sit here and run third place that is a great sign that there's even more for this car to go get and I love the confidence between Crew Chief and driver that hey do you need something no it's okay that's it but we don't have to keep discussing it I'm going to believe you and we'll sit back kind of watch watch the show still 62 laps to go in this stage though Lee and I expect another round of green flag pit stops they're not going to try to take this set of Goodyear Tires all the way to the finish of this stage brisco's got that positive memory of when he had that unbelievable victory in NASCAR Xfinity series competition here a few years ago as we climb back aboard Kim the Rous Fenway keslowski Ford of Chris busher tell us more about the 17 yeah with 62 laps to go in this stage Chris berer currently one spot out of the top 10 in the stage and you have to be top 10 to earn stage points and that was a goal for this team crew chief Scott Graves told me they will be paying very close attention to points their goal was to try and put pressure on the 23 of bubble Wallace and the 54 of tybs both those cars though right now l in the top 10 looking to earn points buer right now moving up to the 10th spot Marty this team they just cannot get a car that is turning well Kim speaking of Ty Gibbs it was actually Kyle lson in the pre- show who said quote the southern 500 is going to be fun tonight Ty Gibbs must have listened to that here's what he said on the radio a moment ago D everybody's ready to be so nice this is so awesome thank you guys thanks everybody look I love my so nice today 450 more miles to go so keeping it light only 50 mil into the southern 500 sometimes you got to have that attitude when you're running the southern 500 Jeff right well I love how relaxed he is and you know we keep thinking about Tai Gibbs the win right around the corner they have the pace many races they can't they seem to lose a little bit as the race goes on but they have I mean every race we look up and there he is running solidly in the top 10 if you do that long enough you're going to going to get your wins solidly in the top 10 Jeff and solidly in the top five seven times this year he has kind of been like the quiet achiever of the Cup Series this year and look at the points on the bottom left of your screen green to the good of 24 positions at the moment night off to the right start for Ty [Music] Gibbs Kyle lson up front has increased his lead by I know second and a half or so over BBA Wallace then Tyler reick two teammates still running well then bris go Christopher Bell fresh from his win last night and then William byon and Josh Barry who had that highly dramatic Daytona race last weekend when he was running at the front involved in that huge wreck and ended up going upside down and was able to step from the car when the AMR safety team rescued him incredible scenes he's rebounded beautifully to be running seven just ahead of Gibbs the front row starter Carson hos ofar runs nth ahead of Chris busher this is I believe you're starting to settle in what makes this R such a challenge is the lack of yellows lately you know we saw one early and we normally get them late in this race but this first and second stage we see a lot of green flag racing and you know it's it's not a lot of time not a lot of break I mean there are straightaways here where you can adjust your visor take your sometimes your right hand or left hand off the wheel and kind to rest your wrist or your grip but every time you go into the corner there's just really no room for error draftking sports book is an authorized gaming operator of NASCAR and this week new customers can bet $5 and pocket 250 in bonus bits instantly download the app and use the promo code speed when you sign up draft King sports book The Crown is yours what numbers and drivers jump out to you Steve well lison was the favorite earlier he just continuing his odds continue to drop down at plus 320 so a little over three times your money Hamlin re it no surprise Toyota's right behind Larson with bell also and Wallace you got to look down for a little bit value do you think it could be Kyle bushes KN is so 16 to1 and how about Chase Elliott rarely do we see Chase Elliot with longer odds like that he currently runs 15th you can bet live Chase Ellet 16 to1 let's talk more about the man who started on the pole position in the 23 Bubba Wallace with Dave right and I thought Steve made an interesting point about that green flag Pit Stop uh the number one pit stall not being such an advantage Steve I want you to get back to that but Bubba has stayed focused since that pass for the lead that happened as a result of that pit cycle Steve they told him there's going to be one more green flag stop if it stays green before the end of this stage so be ready again what is the disadvantage one more time Steve well so basically the advantage of the number one stall is it's very close to the camera which is where they score you under yellow when you're racing off per road but under green you leave your pit box in first gear and you start to accelerate and you actually cross over the yellow line where the the speed limit ends and you're not even up to the speed yet by 5 or 10 m an hour everybody else when they hit the yellow line they're already at Pit Road speed so they're leaving at you know 50 m hour but for the 23 car he's so close to that yellow line he crosses over at say 40 mph it's not a huge disadvantage here and I would absolutely take it because under yellow it's a huge Advantage only 22t to that scoring line under those late cautions I'd take the stall number one anytime Kyle Lawson leads Bubba Wallace and Tyler rck and Johan H gets a Darlington stripe in his fifth cup appearance [Music] [Music] [Music] did you know you can download the official app of NASCAR and follow the action with free live scoring Inc car and radio broadcast and you can upgrade to premium for full access to driver audio channels and completely ad free experience search NASCAR in your App Store to download and start a free trial welcome back to Darlington Raceway the cookout Southern 500 continues Lee dippy Jeff Burton Steve lart let's show you something that is fascinating here at Darlington Jeff you had a magical year in 1999 winning the spring race winning the southern 500 how did you managed this we were talking about it yesterday the imperfection of the shape of the wall it's just crazy I mean if if this racetrack was to be built today it wouldn't be built this way but that's what is the beautiful part of the character of this that's what I love about it you look at turn three the wall actually goes to the right that creates opportunity watch the drivers they actually turn into the right to get up by the wall where there's more grip Marty Jeff the second round of stops here in stage one starting with the leaders you see Tyler reic coming down Pit Road to the last adjust made the car a little bit better he comes in running third Dave his teammate Bubba Wallace on Pit Road in front of you he givs up second place Marty after that first round of pit stops remember lost one position in that cycle and hitting his pit stall here remember the important role of the driver they've got to be perfect as well he does it good there so the crew can change he needs the car to be a little bit tighter into three Marty since that first round to stops Dave Kyle Larson LED all 25 laps between the two stops the pck crew got him the lead last time we'll see if they can keep him the lead this time what of no changes to the five car five stopped one lap after reck and those but he had Mass a 3se second lead which has allowed him probably to run that extra lap we will see if that's what pays off here at a penalty for the two of Austin citric for an uncontrolled Tire we talk about mistakes for the driver we've really focused on that because the difficulty of the racetrack but Mistakes by the pit crew can be just as costly so as we see the five leaving Pit Road on this slippery slippery apron in one and two we kind of take a peek up we're looking for the 23 above Wallace he's going to be the first car off Pit Road and kind of there he is right at the top of your screen that bright blue Hood so the extra lap did not hurt the five Marty Tai Gibb said his car started a little bit tight but came to him the longer they ran Chris Gale making the call to come down Pit Road for four fresh good your tires so Steve his teammate Denny Hamlin still is not pitted Chris gabart made the call to run long before the first first stop how long would he leave Denny Hamlin out here in the second stop well I thought it was a net loss the first time so I believe the 11 of Denny Hamlin might flip to the shorter strategy we'll see if he does that Jeff we talked about the walls of one and two in the difference but how about pit entry here at darling did very difficult it's one of the most difficult race places to get on Pit Road Suarez you know that is legal he he just beats simply beats Larson two FIT Road turns Underneath Him Larson being a little bit safe which is a smart thing to do here it's so easy to overshoot Pit Road and here's that replay of what happened with Austin synr team and that Aon wheel and that's what was the Catalyst for the penalty for the driver of the two we still have Hamlin Elliott in Bush kind of waiting to make their Pit Stop you know Denny h has never had a dnf here that is shocking he has got the most incredible numerical record but then throw in on top of that no dnfs that that is unbelievable and now the one advantage of Hamlin running long you know I'm looking at it by like the tenth of a second or the half a second I do think he's losing a little bit of time to Larsson but you know what he isn't doing he's getting himself out of the chaos right on and off Pit Road we just saw that 99 in the five that can easily turn bad for one of them five runs a little long Dan he understands the plan I mean look at he's got clear track out front sometimes it's not all about time Marty sometimes it's about just avoiding the eye of the storm trying to stay out of the mess Steve it's interesting where Darlington falls on the calendar this year it has normally been the first race of the playoffs it will again be in 2025 but this year it's the last race of the regular season you can see how much Danny hin struggling with the handling of the race car so I'm wondering how much that changes the game and opens up the playbook for Chris gabart to make a call like this it's interesting I I you know I'd have to it's I have it on my list to call Chris this week and see exactly what he's seeing CU I don't see a Time Advantage I've seen Hamlin n out about the same on positions but net time to the leader lost but the nine of Chase Elliot cam is kind of on the same strategy as the 11 sort of sort of yes just finished up their stop about a lap ago and Chase Elliot reporting he was tight in traffic he told team though he hurt the rears too much that run they reminded him this run to the end is going to be slightly longer so take care of those tires Kyle Bush on this strategy as well and Steve Randle Bernett told me there really wasn't a great opportunity to flip the strategy at this track because of the tire wear but they would try to do what they could so bring a little extra long here as well he'll fall back in the queue after he has four good your tires and fuel Marty so Denny Hamlin pitch from the lead here at lap 77 working lap 78 right now 38 to go here in the St no complaints for the handling of the race car but see your turn you see this group now may be running a little bit longer you saw Chase Elliott and his race team Kyle bus and now Denny Hamin kind of taking this longer strategy here in stage one yeah to the defense of the 11 strategy remember first time down Pit Road a little bit of a botched Pit Stop trouble with the right front with the lug nut too close to the wall for the driver that pit stop right there looked extremely clean for the 11 37 laps to go we see where he'll blend out he'll probably be just outside the top 20 but with those brand new Goodyear tires will easily start to overtake cars that pitted just a few laps ago Denny proudly displaying the flying 11 which is a tribute to Roy hendrik who passed away he was a regular competitor at Denny's home track Southside Speedway so a lovely tribute yeah I raced with Roy South Bon Speedway he he was the very first late model stock car champion at South ball Speedway really legendary family we see Sport Clips on the side of that a longtime partner for Danny and Joe Gibs racing down here at Darlington we see that scheme and if you're going to have a track where you decide to kind of anchor your coverage Danny Hamlin at Darlington has been a pretty good choice well and this could be the this could be the night and this could be the race that turned things around right the engine issue and that huge penalty the loss of points and then getting caught up in one of the big ones last week in daytoner he you're going to need to change that Trend I actually think this race is more important to handling than perhaps other than winning the first one of the year and getting the playoffs this one for that momentum I think it's the points are one thing but it felt like a lot of air out of the balloon on that engine penalty right even when he talked about it shoulders down it's not what he said he how he said it he wasn't that kind of pound your chest Denny Hamlin ready to thunder into the playoffs a good run here perhaps could correct that if you've never been to Darlington Raceway and wherever you're watching from around the world we about a 100 miles Southeast of Charlotte North Carolina we're Northwest of Myrtle Beach South Carolina [Music] [Music] for [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] NBC Sports coverage of NASCAR on USA is brought to you by Straight Talk wireless Sam's Club join the club and by Progressive Insurance save when you bundle Auto home or motorcycle insurance visit progressive.com Sun slowly starting to go down here in South Carolina at Darlington Raceway one thing that hasn't changed out in front for now 35 laps is the hendrik cars.com Chevy of Kyle lson hot in pursuit of Tyler reck in the regular season points now while the overarching theme and the headline is the race for the playoffs right who's going to make it who isn't Kyle lson said that it's deeply important to him to win the regular Championship to win the regular season he wants to do that here tonight I think some of that goes back to remember him missing the Coca-Cola 600 when Indianapolis ran the Indie 500 had a great plan but you can't control the weather the weather got him delayed yeah he missed the start so he got zero points there and I think lson you know he might not say it but in the back of his mind you know he's only 15 points behind he probably easily could have scored 15 points in that situation if he could have started the car so I think if you win the regular season kind of no harm no foul Jeff you don't want to carry a you know missed opportunity into the playoffs yeah it's so important because of the points that allows you to start the playoffs with there goes Kyle Bush fresher tires you can see the the big difference there and here here is Tyler reic who by the way happens to lead the regular season points Marty tell us what's happening at the 2311 machine yeah Lee they're certainly focus on that tonight for the 45 of Tyler reic he has not run worse than third so far in the southern 500 but is he not well feeling well physically behind the wheel listen in can you have some ready for me stage one under yellow yes that was a request for Toms I did confirm with Billy Scott this afternoon Tyler's been feeling a little bit sick on the stomach so far today so Jeff I can't imagine number one the southern 500 is the toughest race all year long but when you're not feeling 100% how big of a challenge is that going to be for reic tonight well what you hope is that as the race goes on and the temperature comes down he starts to feel a little bit better he knows he has a long night ahead of him and temperature makes everything worse you see Brisco trying to get underneath him right now but sometimes it also allows you to just focus right I'm not feeling well so I have to focus a little bit more we see a lot of athletes have their best days when they are sick oh the old Flu Game you for the the Michael Jordan Flu Game remember may or may not was pizza delivery isn't that what we learned the documentary remember that move that we we saw Daniel Suarez in a 99 car he got by Kyle Larson getting on to Pit Road that when he did that that got him back in the lead lap yeah and since he made made that move he is sat there you see Kyle bus getting by him Kyle's got newer tires than Suarez but Suarez is the he's the last car on the lead lap but he has stayed in front of Kyle Larson that in this entire run so that move there's Kyle lson lurking but that move has allowed them toay with 23 laps to go that could be the difference in their race if he's able to stay on the lead lap and you may have noticed the news this week that the 2025 Nascar cup series schedule has been released and with the addition the exciting news of Mexico City on that calendar which was music to the years of Daniel Suarez so excited there's been a lot of hype about that that'll happen next June as Larson goes to the low line to try and take Daniel Suarez off the lead lap and Suarez is going to fight as hard as he can to stay on the lead lap remember Suarez got taken out of Daytona last week in the most bizarre incident when he was pitted ahead of Denny Hamlin Hamlin fired up the 11 went to take off there was Flames there was a little bit of excess uh gas on the ground and a fire ignited and Daniel had to bring his then Coke machine back to pit Lane and he was a retirement he's he's fighting tough right here these are hard passes at Darlington it's always been difficult to pass lson going to try to drive right here this is [Music] tight Barson's being aggressive but not overly aggressive no one's really pushing him so he wants to lap him but he doesn't want to get himself in trouble doing it now he trying to run the bottom of the racetrack it's hard to get grip down there if he can stay side by side with him here which he can't do it it's so intense inside that race car oh I like this move though the higher entry he's going to turn to the bottom very tight side by side but think he has momentum now heading to turn three yeah so is he going to try to slide him overdrive the entry to the corner there he goes Tores with great entry speed trying to stay even with him he can't do it he'll get momentum on EX on the exit on that High Line oh he got there but not quick enough Kyle lson closes the door on Daniel Suarez and puts him a lap down as for his track house teammate Ross Chastain runs 15th here's a reminder of what went down a week ago it was a pretty crazy scene for Suarez and that thing lit up fast yeah scary very bizarre uh fire department right there to put it out as quick as you can you look inside the car you see the flame pouring out of the trunk a backfire of the 11 right here you see the left side kind of spark it lights the fire the fuel that's on the ground which is chases forward and goes into the trunk and that was Daniel that was a replay of Daniel watching a replay uh of of of how it all transpired so 17 laps to go in this opening stage of the cookout Southern 500 and Kyle lson has led the most laps 46 over Bubba Wallace's opening 34 laps LED and Wallace is about 2 and 1/2 seconds behind the hendrik Motorsports driver and has had a really solid night Chase Brisco ahead of Tyler reick and then Christopher Bell having a nice quiet run by himself in the top [Music] five determined to win the regular season is what Kyle last did when he won the overall Championship a couple of years ago [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] the night is moving fast here in the southern 500 just 11 laps to go in stage one how about the man who started on the front row Spire Motorsports 77 Carson hos ofar let's get an update with Dave Burns daav hasn't really said too much on the radio lead not really that uh crazy over the radio about the race car he's been making better speed through the corners his spotter tells the team so that's good for them back to 11 from second place starting spot Luke Lambert said we weren't too surprised about the second place starting spot by the way we think we're that good and he's one of the guys Kim who can still win his way into the playoffs tonight as is Josh Barry currently running in the eighth position which should surprise nobody he finished third here in the spring and that was the starting point for their setup this weekend brought something very similar they felt like they had really good long run speed in practice they worked on making it better on the front end of the road and this team extremely complimentary about Josh because of his history on The Late Model Sword track circuit they feel like that gives him the ability Marty to manage tires really well here at Darlington Kim a moment ago Tyler reic lost third to chase Brisco and then almost immediately gave another health update listen in cop I think the car is okay I'm just really fighting it right now here get some crackers or something too just plain crackers I don't know rad something yeah we'll get you so that is what the team has done they have fashioned a bag that they're going to hand to Tyler reic once he makes the stop here at the end of stage one in that bag does have the Tums and also two packs of crackers and some regular crackers as well so Steve I can't imagine being in Billy Scott's shoes right now so put me in those shoes you kind of feel I'm ass sure helpless as a creie fright you can't do much to help your driver what would you do if you were Billy Scott Steve to let your driver make sure that he can make it to the end of the race well we would definitely want to Aid him with whatever he needs whether it's hydration or some nutrition if that settles the stomach but the other thing is you know Martin Trix J's out of this race a fellow Toyota driver a guy that knows how to get it done now the physical limitations will be a little bit challenging Tyler reic much shorter than TR X I don't know how much adjustment there is in that seat if you could get maybe even change the the seat liner itself although then you're talking about perhaps losing a lap under yellow here but if TR X is somewhere here in the infield I might reach out to TRD or Joe Gibbs Racing and see if there's any way he can hang out remember we're not even to the end of stage one yet D this is statistically around a 4our 4our and 10minute race so if you're ever going to feel poorly this is not the one this is going to be a tough slog for Tyler reck want to take you back just a moment ago we were talking about Carson hos ofar not long ago here's Chris busher on the low side and a close call between two guys trying to race their way in into the playoffs busher used all of the racetrack got the 77 car up into the wall a little bit busher sitting there running 11th place trying to get a stage Point Bubba Wallace running in second he look right now bub if it goes just like it is now he's going to get nine points buer will get zero and the updated playoff bubble situation bottom l of your screen as they run who's in who's out on that cut line for the top 16 busher is agonizingly close but out at the moment but such a long way to go four to go in stage one to open up the cookout Southern 500 59 laps to the good out in front Kyle Larson coming up on one of his hendrik Motorsport teammates in Alex Bowman Bowman's down in 23rd position at the moment and about to go a lap [Music] down had a pretty badly damaged car last week Alex Bowman and rallied the team the 48 team rallied really well Alex drove it back to the highest finishing Kendrick car in 16th at [Music] Daytona this right now diff is a really oh you see 4 48 of Bowman really loose on the bottom of the racetrack this a really important part of the race because this is the time that the drivers really need to be having conversations with their crew chief Sun's starting to set there's no sun on the racetrack track temp starting to come down what is my car doing give the crew chief a little bit of time to think about it let's see what happened not long ago Ross Chastain Kyle Bush whoa watch the rear of Bush's car K just way up the racetrack ran Chastain up in the wall Chastain's not having the night he needed he's a good solid run on board with Denny haml with Coca-Cola cam up to six only 7 seconds behind the leader 14 seconds behind before running long so while the the first strategy of running long didn't wasn't a Net game this one almost a 7sec game good to note for the next stage and how people are going to decide to break it up final lap of stage one Kyle Larson it has been a very strong performance it's his ninth stage win of this 2024 season is fifth the Darlington and some more valuable playoff points and if you're Bubba Wallace mission accomplished right you you started on pole you stayed within touch you finished second in stage [Music] one things are cooling off a little here in Darlington some 8° from when we started this cookout Southern 500 one of the three stages complete [Music] for for NBC Sports coverage of NASCAR on USA is brought to you by Coca-Cola zero sugar is it the best Coke ever Credit One Bank NASCAR American Express card and by Toyota Let's Go Places stage one complete and pit stops are about toen happen we talk about the history here at Darlington Raceway and have a look at this from the very first running back in 1950 in the victory by Johnny mans it was a whopping 6 hours 38 minutes the man who's led the most lap so far and the defending race winner of the Southern 500 did it 2 and 1 half hours faster that's how far things have advanced let's go to pit Lane Marty's there impressive stage win for Kyle lson who said The only adjustments I would want is if you feel like the track is going to change for Tyler reic this is part maintenance part driver maintenance he said anything you can do to help me feel better I would appreciate it they're going to hand two bags inside the car to reic they asked him are you worried about getting sick inside the car he said yes Dave Chase Brisco hits his bark Touch free on Entry then free across the middle that hurts his exit as for Bubby Wallace still he is uh no front grip off the corner needed an adjustment on that car and he's going to hold his position does not gain this time with that first pit stall Dave that's a good phrase hold the positions look at all of the zeros on there for lack of change and fans NASCAR and its Premier Partners want to say thank you for your support let's take a look at one of NASCAR's biggest super fans NASCAR and his experience at Michigan International Speedway for e for welcome back to Darlington Raceway cookout Southern 500 we're in that pause period between stages 1 and two Kyle Petty what did you make of this start of tonight before the green flu where we got to see our friend and teammate Dale Jared enjoy a very special moment a very special moment Darlington has always been about history but one of the most special moments for me came tonight when my friend Dell jerett got to drive that number 11 kale yarber special yeah thank you KP and it was special for me too someone that helped me get a good start in my career to get in this Southern 500 winning cart never been in one of those cuz never won the southern 500 but to do this to honor kale yarber the great three-time champion and Hall of Fame driver that he was the toughest driver out there and uh also look at this helmet this is from the 79 Daytona 500 KP remember what happened there on the last lap as he and Donnie Allison were racing listen I this this could have been you tonight no no this is spectacular this is and that's how tough kale was Kale's in here he's on the gas he's stabbing he's steering and look the helmet that Kale's swinging right there looks an awful lot like the helmet you were wearing tonight that's exactly the helmet where he was trying to find off the two Allison Brothers as he did that so huge honor and it's great that we could be here to honor him uh his wife Betty Joe his daughters Julie uh and Kelly were there along with the grandkids so just a very very special moment another piece of Darlington history great night to be a part of it hey I will add this to Marty tell him to get Tyler retic ice cold cocacola that always worked for me well that was special that was significant and it was just plain cool DJ because we were standing up here in the booth watching you do those laps really neat yeah that was awesome you know Dell Jared is you see everybody choosing which Lane Dell Jared Kyle Petty were lucky to have those two guys Legends of them on their own Marty so Jeff following the health of Tyler reic listen into this radio conversation I'm just curious for CJ's feedback here you worried about throwing up or no just stomach stuff yeah I'm throwing up myself all of it all right so it's both we got you covered pills you will chew those are tops the rest of them you swallow with water yeah two to chew three to swallow grab pills are too small dropped all of them I got the TS but yeah I got the small one the two M medium size pills they just like they couldn't get them out of the damn back so what Tyler reic is going to do on the next stop Billy Scott is going to mix up all the medicine he needs Steve they're going to hand that to reic because he did not get the medicine that he wanted but yes he is very sick inside the car it's so difficult to get any type of medicine pills into your mouth because your helmet the the eye Port is very small it's hard to go underneath the chin to get it especially with gloves on so they're going to have to do that in some sort of form like you just talked about putting it in liquid and you heard him mentioned on the radio he's worried about throwing up he is not feeling well ready for stage two here of the Southern 500 Kyle Larson and po man Bobba Wallis let's go here in Darlington this is going to be a tough SLO for Tyler reck can he hang in there he's up on that High Line Chase Brisco is doing the chasing of Kyle lson reck around his teammate to Third and ever present is that 11 of Denny Hamlin he's just been creeping and sneaking his way forward and Ty Gibbs his teammate is going with him Brisco blocks reic reic with a stoic performance feeling sick worried about throwing up but that foot is to the floor best thing you can do when you feel badly is just go attack focus on what the task is it's been a great night for Chase Brisco in that high point forward since second there for Stuart har racing wouldn't it be something if he raced his way into the playoffs he's only had one appearance that was two years ago the man who crashed out tonight Martin Truex Jr in the 19 that is exactly the ride that chase Brisco is taking over next year Bell on the inside of his teammate Denny Hamlin Bell won the xinity race yesterday driving the car that normally we see Denny Hamlin run on Saturday here at Darlington now he goes past Hamlin inside side to the top five Coca-Cola on board showed us exactly that view Here Comes Tyler reic in the yellow black and blue Toyota Camry that Upper Deck machine right behind Chase prisco lon's now racked up 73 laps at the head of this field stage two the same length as stage one so a little bit of rinse and repeat we expect two green flag pist stops the big difference and you talked about it temperature cooling off 8 or 10° cooler light starting to come how are the cars driving differently and is Tire degradation just as severe or does it improve as the Night Comes look so saw the 45 reic a little bit of contact for the wall watch the three different approaches as they enter turn one watch reic look how high he enters the corner compared to the other two immediately against the wall the 14 of Brisco he enters lower Dave so Chas Brisco running in second now I think we saw that Highline on the restart maybe uh work to the advantage here it is a it is a big Advantage but Chase just after he got go and got this word from Richard Boswell as crew chief deep breath here man I want you to find out what the five car strengths are and what his weaknesses are that's who we're going to race all night long almost 240 laps left in this race so he wants Chase no down the line Jeff that's so important for him to know where Kyle Larson might be weak here good exactly right you got to find where your car is a little bit better than his and then continue to make it B better you see the 45 atic right against the wall Brisco slides in front of him that takes a little air off of that car then Brisco just Taps the wall I'm sorry reic Taps the wall and another incident have a look at this watch Todd gilland top right of your screen oh heavy contact and sometimes you can kind of get stuck into that wall and that's what it looked like for the 38 yeah that's the way to describe it too Steve you get in the wall and it just won't leave it and here comes the flying number 11 Hamlin on the inside of Bubba Wallace do you know several days ago long before he wasn't feeling so well Tyler reck on SiriusXM NASCAR radio he said I think if I look at the landscape Darlington Southern 500 I'm saying it's me it's the five and it's the 11 the five's leading reck's running third the 11 is in fifth well the unfortunate thing for the competition is I can list a lot of tracks for those are the three you're going to have as we had into the playoffs right we started thinking about now the playoffs have a different look this year with Watkins Glenn in the playoffs now Atlanta kicking off the playoffs is something new so we have a road course and a speedway in each of the first and second round but then if you are fortunate enough to move on Las Vegas Kansas those highp speeed mile and a half still a those are the types of tracks that that Larson reic Hamlin Trio seems to always find their way to the front let's chase Brisco run we're not surprised to see Chase Brisco running well at this racetrack because he always seems to have speed here but think about this company steuart HSE racing they've announced that they're going out of business they've sold their Charters they're changing their their structure completely a lot of employees have been laid off you see the battle going on right here they're searching for jobs but they're still bringing speed to the RAC trck and that is exceptionally impressive I give a lot of props to the leadership there Greg zipadelli a lot of guys there still bringing the fight now with Gregson Ross Chastain and Cory lejoy in the seven little bit of push shove going on there Here Comes Alex Bowman in the background last weekend's winner in the 21 Harrison Burton yeah the 30 the 34 and the 21 they are battling hard to be the first car of one lap down Zane Smith behind them he's also in that battle as well as Daniel hemr we show you the battles up front but can you imagine trying to run four hours like this and this is what it looks like back here for the lot of the race the right rear on that seven car it looked like the good year was missing like he had made some wall contact or contact with another car you see the nine of Chase Elliott in the mix running 23rd he's on the lead lap so this battle with hemrich and Burton in these cars are actually in front of lead lap cars they're trying to get their lap back a little debris on the nose of the 21 you think the battle for the lead is intense you ought to be back here it is wild racing trying to be the first car one lap down Michael McDow great competitor Harrison trying to build some momentum off that win last week cleared McDow and cleared Daniel hemr who had a good top 10 last week here's Tyler reick in his Upper Deck Toyota Camry's take a look at the Toyota driver update he is the highest place than Christopher Bell Denny Hamlin it was a Toyota pole yesterday for the fourth time in succession here in Darlington with thanks to buba Wallace but it's still Kyle lson at the front he's been leading for 83 laps [Music] Kyle Larson in the Hendrick cars.com Chevy continues to control this cookout Southern 500 as you we welcome you back we're at the beginning of stage two and as you've seen in each and every race here on NBC Sports this cup season we like to go embedded in the second stage and that's where we join Dave Burns Dave Lee we're with the 43 Legacy motor club crew today that's Eric Jones as a driver and I'm standing by with his Jackman Helen Mills from Mesa Arizona how does an Arizona guy get into NASCAR well I'll tell you what first of all he's a tough guy because it was a walk-on at Arizona State that's the first question I want to ask you Ken what's it like being a walk-on and making your way into football that way yeah it's I'd say it's actually a lot like working yourself onto a NASCAR pit crew there's you got to kind of find a way to fit yourself in the situation and then just work hard and hopefully things turn out right your own they've turned out well for you how's your situation tonight how are the 43 pit stops it's been a good day so far obviously it's a long race it's a really hard race so we're going to try and make sure we keep the ball in Eric's hands and try to be it there at the end and have a good finish all right good luck to the rest of the way Kellen Mills one of the stars for the 43 group Hardy Dave Brandon Johnson the Jackman for Kyle lson has a terrific story he was actually a running back at Pinn State and the backup for sequan Barkley in his freshman year he was actually going to make the Pittsburgh Steelers and got a concussion in the pre-season the guys who helped him through that none other than Le'Veon Bell and D'Angelo Williams who he is still very good friends with so he decided to stop playing football and try out NASCAR he said nothing gives me the thrill of football but NASCAR is pretty close to that it's like running a touchdown when you know it's on you as a Jackman to be able to make the pit stop happen and Stevie said something funny to me he said you know what I'm so thankful for NASCAR because I can never work a 9 to5 job I think that covers about most of the garage area that's what they love this why they love the sport so much I've been saying that for 30 years def I don't there's no chance I can handle going into the office every day I've been fortunate enough to work either in the garage or now in the booth now for 30 years Brandon Johnson I'm going to tell you the pictures they don't do him Justice when you walk up and down pet Road there was a point where it looked like a bunch of mechanics and over the last 15 years it is very clear it is athletes front to back just just the physical stature of the Jackman and the fuelers the athleticism of the Changers it's an impressive lineup it looked like a bunch of mechanist because that's what it was you know and now they're specialized uh athletes and you know he he would really see a great battle right here you would see Josh Barry underneath Joey Lano Joey giving that spot up yeah leg run an 11 just a quiet night for legano but this is kind of signature legano esque right that you hang around inside the top 15 for a couple and then figure it out at the end Pensky are always known for their kind of short run Sprint and I think we've had a lot of the green flag racing they're just kind of hanging in there but he has methodically crept his way forward because started 23rd for the longest time in stage one Joey and that shaen oil forward was kind of running around the high teens around 20th so for him to LEAP Frogg his way forward to 11th is a good step forward here's Marty quickly closing in on pit stops here in stage two another health update from Tyler reck listen to clarify you're going to give me a new drink bottle fluid logic bottle yes yes confirmed for not really sure where to go on balance right now think I don't know maybe leave it alone and see what the track does after that radio communication he said I'm just trying to take care of me inside the car Steve I did talk to Billy Scott just moments ago I said We Believe Martin TRX Jr is still here have you reached out to him he said we have not reached out to him yet but he would be the only consideration to put in the car and he made the same point you made Steve I'm just not sure he would fit in the seat plan a right now keep Tyler in the car until he till he tells us he can't and I almost like that hey we're not going to put anybody else in it reck's our guy yeah and I know that's crazy in the big business of NASCAR but we we're going to ride or dive he's our man and if he can't run if he's so physically ill he can't race we're going to park it and get ready for the playoffs and that sounds crazy but I don't know if I'm the driver I wonder if that wouldn't feel like a good support to think that you know the teams are going to do anything to give me an opportunity to compete bit stops a starting Kims there and Ryan bti electing to bring his driver in on the earlier side tan saying still too tight for fresh Goodyear Tires sonoko fuel as Joey Lano making a stop Marty give him a moment ago Lee mentioned that Joey lano's kind of leap frogged his way through the field Paul wolf making a strategy call to come very early here on this window here in stage two Kim as you see Brad Kowski making his stop under green flag conditions Brad said I could use a little bit more drive off and more turn as they complete a pit stop here for fresh Goodyear Tires entry nlad he said he just again needs more turn as Chase Elliot making his stop the last stop they made under green was a little bit slow taking four fresh Goodyear Tires Chase saying it's the best I've been all night but I still could have a little bit more turn in the car still plenty of activity on Pit Road Marty they're coming your way yeah here comes William Byron Rudy fugle told me this afternoon we've been good not great here at Darlington so we're bringing a completely different setup so far Byron says of that I'm going to need to turn a lot better as it gets into the night Dave Bubba Wallace back on Pit Road the car was good at the start of the run but then the radio from the driver was that the car is coming back to us so not a big change if any he will get four fresh good your tires and fuel Marty [Music] so interesting Here Comes Denny Hamlin down Pit Road and Chris gabart playing it much more straight up in this run Hamond said the car started a little bit too tight for him a little bit too free the longer he ran we expect Tyler Reddit to come in the next lap and again more driver maintenance when he does come down Pit Road on board Kyle Larson yep down Pit Road Steve yeah there's Kyle Larson who again said the car has been so good for them they have dominated here in the Southern 500 tonight trying to win back to- back races meanwhile Here Comes Tyler reic who once again wanted to clarify with Billy Scott what am I getting on this stop in terms of nourishment so they can handle on the bottle there goes the bottle inside the car that's a fresh water bottle and the B bottle with the medicine that he needs and wants bab Chase Brisco the 14 car the guy that's been keeping the pressure on Kyle Larson up front his car was going Freer at the end of that run needs an adjustment for that good stop by the crew nice work from the Stewart har group Chase Brisco serviced and sent and let's see what the rest of the night looks like for Tyler reing just battling those health issues can he hang in there he still leads the regular season Championship a lot of valuable bonus points on offer as Austin Dylan brings the Toys for Tot Chevy to Pit Road Dave Burns is there and he will come to the attention of the crew here again four tires there's not even a chance you'll take two here at Darlington because the track wears the tires so hard for and fuel for Dylan in trouble on the right rear once again we see another lug nut fall out of the socket the tire changer has to go find one you're looking at normally 9 second 9 and 1/2 second pit stops that one 14.8 losing valuable time Dave Kyle Bush to Pit Road in the eight car he's getting beat in a couple different places in the track been working with his spotter on how to take that on he'll get four tires and fuel as well now top of your screen we'll see Kell Mills the Jackman and the rest of the 43 crew go to work for Eric Jones on that first stage Eric gained 10 positions we know he's good here a two-time winner and the car is just almost to the perfect balance for Jones push's Stop is complete and he's back out and at it yeah Josh Barry I think is trying to get to the bottom to come to Pit Road he was trying to protect it Bucher was coming by that's exactly what's happening cuz now the four try to turn off the banking he was in there pretty deep I did a nice job of getting slow down make Pit Road Kim Josh Barry's headed your way yeah Josh Barry pitting from the lead earlier in the Run he said he was too loose but then that car it built tight he has to be freed up for this next run crew on the right side they'll put four fresh Goodyear Tires on that machine as well as sooko fuel looks like routine service here for Josh Barry as he's finished up and with the Overstock Ford's service now things cycle back to the norm so to speak with Kyle Lawson resuming the lead 3.8 seconds to the good over Chase Brisco [Music] reminding you that you can sign up for the NASCAR newsletter to stay up to speed on all the latest from the track and to get your chance to win two tickets to a 2025 race of your choice simply scan the QR code that you see on your screen visit nascar.com/racebuddy how did the playoff points look so far well Bubba after starting on poll in the US Air Force Toyota he's seven on the wrong side of the line Chris busher is seven to the good and this story you get the feeling it's just going to go all the way to the end can Bubba get that second appearance in the playoffs or is it going to be a heartbreaking story at the end of these 367 laps yeah Bubba did a great job ran second in stage one has slowly kind of Fallen back still okay running seventh currently which would be some stage points but you know very valuable he cannot afford to get passed here by Tai Gibbs well let's take a look at the exfinity fastest lap and it belongs to the man on your screen and he did it on the second lap here clearly unloaded with a lot of speed this weekend sat on the pole but now as the sun has gone away and the track has changed it seems like they've lost a little bit they're not running poorly but they need a great night right and busher he seems to be getting a little bit better in regard to Pace compared to Bubba Wallace they're going to have to continue to work on this car and it's going to change even more it it's this RAC trck is one of the most difficult RAC trcks to stay ahead of as that tip comes down on board the builds submarines decom Ford for RFK racings Chris busher let's go for a ride let's do a full lap of Martinville oh pardon me of Darlington [Music] drivers love this RAC trck and you can see why you got to use all of it one of the more challenging part oh you see tyd Gibbs underneath bubble Wallace it's a tough pass right here things get really tight both those guys working well together I thought for sure you gave him the announcers curse right there they were going to go in and bang doors oh they're still not done as the fire comes out the pipes on the 23 yeah Tai just kind of slid up in front of you took that line away well this is what happens that fire out the pipes of the 23 now you have the 16 of SVG kind of right on the rear bumper of Bubba Wallace Bubba little bit under attack SVG has a little bit pressure tires about eight or nine laps and I you see that's all it takes not for a position but now one for a car worth of dirty air in front of the 23 Ben van gisbergen had a great Drive yesterday in the Xfinity Series race going from the high 20s on the grid he got as high as sixth ultimately finished seventh so continues to build his oval learning experience Marty what you got Lee it's been fascinating to watch Ty Gibbs and Bubba Wallace not so much work together I'm going to challenge that one Jeff because Tai has had some Choice words for Bubba Wallace here in stage two and a moment ago he wanted to remind Tony hzman this is what I'm talking about listen in just like that right there he is not going to let us do that move I'm telling you you got to inch your way there I know it's frustrating deep breath get zoned back in that part here I put it a time it's all good running our race so he finally was able to pass bubble Wallace but Jeff we talked about it in the pre-race even for Tai Gibbs who was so jovial and happy and loved all of his competitors earli in the race this is what Darlington does to you it makes you frustrated behind the wheel and oh by the way there's still 195 laps to go in the race well you go into the race oh look at a contact I don't think it's any big deal though but you go into this race thank okay I'm going to be smart I got to be aggressive but I got to be smart and then you catch somebody you're faster than they are and they don't let you go and it frustrates you but you see right here Ty Gibbs just trying to get every bit of speed he can just a little bit of contact but that's the kind of contact that's okay watch how it hits the whole right side the right rear actually hits first little bit of a nudge and then the right front kind of just touches it that's an okay hit when it hits the right front directly that's when you damage the race car but that should be okay Ty Gibb said that his brilliant result earlier this year has boyed him it's given him so much more confidence for tonight's Southern 500 he finished just over a second behind BR Brad keslowski in second place and at the moment running in a solid seventh let's see which drivers are on the Move brought you by Ashley Furniture the 30 eight of Gillan all the way up running in the 15th position having a nice quiet night right now next to his teammate the 34 of McDow doing a nice job right in front of Gill in the 41 of Ryan priest you had mentioned shr in the story about shutting down the upper management Jeff will priest currently in the uh 12th position running really well in this 41 quiet and if there's any track you want to have a quiet night Darlington is it let's see how he can climb as lson continues his domination of this race [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] are we looking at a potential fifth win on the season for car number five Kyle Larson it sure looks so 123 laps LED thus far we've got 50 to go in the second stage here of the Southern 500 what a performance it has been smooth meanwhile things are hotting up here the battle for fourth Denny Hamlin in the 11 William Byron on the low line in the 24 here he comes Jeff you had mentioned the track now almost under complete darkness and it has shifted the cars that have Pace Larson brisol still up front but William Byron another Chevrolet seems to be a little bit better than some of the Toyotas on this run is now he gets his way past the 11 of Hamlin 49 to go in this stage I expect pit stops to be at about maybe seven or eight laps going to be very important between the leaders who are only 610 apart who gets to Pit Road first the other thing that's happened Steve since it's gotten cooler the fall off on Tire tires have become less there's been less slowing down of the cars but you can see you talked about the change and here comes Brisco larsson's having trouble getting by syri and Brisco is just gaining a little bit of every lap the way that William Byron's Car has has come to life certainly over the last 10 laps has been impressive he just blew by Tyler reck we know that Tyler is under the weather and check out this as the six is in keslowski is in yeah starting the green flag cycle early for fresh Goode Tire snowle fuel Brad saying it's num in the center I feel like I'm overdriving the entry just need the car to turn better slight air pressure adjustment on that Ford Mustang check this out as lson struggles to get by Austin syri he's now got a full fight on his hands for the lead of this race has chased Brisco in the 14 the high point forward is really applying the pressure as Brisco comes back Larson likes that now he has syndric between him and Brisco that will allow him run a clean one and two get himself a little breathing room four or five laps maybe less from a pit stop now if I'm Cliff Daniels I know I do not want Brisco to pit the lap before me that will be the lead one lap on newer tires will instantly be a leap frog on pit Lane and others are starting to pit so that's the sign it's getting ready to happen Kim with Chris buer you see the onboard camera from his stop for fresh Goodyear tires they just do not have the car that they need he was reporting still a little too tight Dave on that machine and they tried to call Chase Brisco to Pit Road but it was too late Bubba Wallace did come to Pit Road this time he said I've got just nothing there on this last run no grip all four corners so they'll change all four corners give him more fuel in the back Marty Dave no Health updates on this run from Tyler reic but he did say to Billy Scott a moment ago I still have no idea where to tell you to go balance-wise Billy said okay that's fine we're going to leave it like it is for this run right now so also in Kyle lson who for the first time tonight you guys talked about the swing and the racetrack said the car has gotten too tight for him and you saw that on the long run Dave Jace Brisco was going on the outside of uh Austin syndric that last time down the backstretch that's why he couldn't get to Pit Road with a late call from Richard Boswell but Boswell trying anything he can to give his driver the advantage one lap later now Chase Brisco comes to Pit Road he had been fairly good about that balance fairly happy with it as he'll get tires and fuel you see the 14 finishing up the left side William Byron on the bottom also leaving pit Lane it's going to be intered to see oh you see it off the rear bumper of the five which means the five of Larson hold serve battling Brisco some cars still yet to come to Pit Road but the five of LaRon should maintain the lead through the cycle and let's watch to see if the 24 of William Byron continues to come to life there's Brisco at the back Cycles in just behind John hich and look at all the traffic though right just a little gap on Pit Road diff was a huge gap between the five of Larson leading this traffic and all the way back here for the 14 right four lap cars in between them some extra work to do for Chase prisco 43 to go in stage two them off his list one at a time he can race his way into the playoffs with a win [Music] tonight it's been impressive Jeff he's been running at the front for the majority of this race yeah he's he loves this RAC track and on top of that you know racing a guy like Kyle Larson who everybody believes is the best race car driver I believe the best race car driver in the world to be able to stay with him all night try to understand where do we need to be a little bit better that's confidence building sorry Jeff right behind the 14 of brisos that nine of Chase ellot you had mentioned he had gotten lab they trying to run long to see if they can get a lucky yellow but you just see how slow the old tires are I mean it looks like they have a problem they don't even look like they're up their speed there's just so much less grip we're looking at well over two seconds slower for the nine we're waiting on not only Chase Elliot Steve but we're waiting on Austin Dylan Bush Barry and Denny Hamlin continuing this trend that he's done all night long of going off sequence from the others going off sequence from lson and Chase Brisco and Tyler reck the coke on board one more time if we review back to the first stage long first cycle hurt Hamlin long second cycle Advantage Hamlin so we'll have to just see how traffic works out the nine on Pit Road Kim yeah finishing up the stop here putting good sticker good years on there he just talked about how he has a hard time feeling the front of the race car in traffic so that front end just a little bit numb and again slow stops by the nine has been their playing tonight Dave Kyle bus again cycled to the front again has to come to Pit Road not lose too much time to the others he'll pit for four tires and fuel here the Morgan and Morgan on board shows us Kyle on Pit Road and this is per the sequence similar to Hamlin I have to applaud drivers and crew it's been a very clean day on Pit Road we had a one penalty on Austin citric but other than that pretty clean is now we see Hamlin this long strategy Marty we'll see if it pays off yeah see it's been the same group really with Chase Elliot Denny hin and Kyle Busch playing this long strategy Chris gabart making the call once again and as the track has shifted here Hamlin said his car has gotten much better here 38 to go and gabart reminded him Kim you'll have a tire Advantage once you cycle out crew chief Rodney chers has elected to keep Josh Barry out on the lber runs during these green flag Cycles Josh Barry just recording it's just a little bit on the tight side in traffic but otherwise good in clean air they're going to put fresh good years on and take a drink of sooko Fu on that board Mustang Kim mention Rodney Childers the crew chief he's won three times here at Darlington with Kevin Harvick behind the wheel what can Josh Barry do tonight in the Overstock number four 37 to go in stage two LaRon 1.6 seconds ahead of Brisco Bella further 3 seconds back then William Byron now inside the top five Tyler reck running Fifth and hanging tough ill not well but still in the top five who may put their image and name in this the tunnel and the list of Champions champions walk here at Darlington Raceway [Music] let [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] I just love being behind the wheel of a race car I want to be the best race car driver in the world someday oh my God guys yes unbelievable you guys are the best to start here it's everybody that's won a championship Terry Jimmy Chase and you made it you made it man you're on my wall whether it's in a NASCAR cup series car an indie car at the Indianapolis 500 a a Sprint car Marty whether it's on asphalt or dirt this guy is phenomenal he certainly is Lee and Kyle Larson has done his job tonight but the pick crew has also done their job including Blaine Anderson his front tire changer they gave him the lead on the first green flag stops of the night and he has controlled the race since then and Blaine was a football player at Alabama actually walked on for Coach Sabin and these shots are from the 2015 national championship game he was a safety and also a special teams player I asked him the number one lesson you learned from Nick sain he said honestly discipline I said with what he said with everything no doubt about it but he gives credit to Scott Cochran who he tells me is the most famous strength coach in college football Dave he said he's the one who told me try NASCAR for your football career and he's still here all these years later well Marty you know where to go if you're researching famous people and things about them well if you were looking up stuff on Eric Jones you might go to Wikipedia and you'd see that one of his nicknames is that Jones boy that Jones boy where did that come from well it came from the legendary and late Ken Squire and it happened right here at Darlington Raceway a couple years ago well we're ready for a start for the second segment coming to the line lson there with trueax Hamlin then kzow in the second row and then it's that Jones boy in the number 77 running fifth that's right thanks to Ken Squire that Jones boy is Eric Jones two-time Darlington winner and Lee last November we lost Ken Squire to a battle with cancer we loved having him around loved having him call stage two here with Petty and Jared and that legendary voice and he gave him the nickname Eric Jones that Jones boy I stick around forever Dave that's for sure as Eric is in 17th at the moment trying to Edge his way a little further forward and it's a a fellow New Englander the highlight of my nine going on 10 years in television is with Ken Squire threw it back to Jeff and myself and called our names out Jeff I felt like we had like gone back 20 years I mean that is the voice I grew up listening to Owned forever a racetrack up in Vermont Barry Vermont Thunder Road I went there so much as a kid it was so special having k a part of these broadcasts his voice brought racing to so many people and it made you understand it he made you love it you could you could feel his passion in when he spoke about it and he did he did a a lot of great things for this sport look at this fight going on just outside the top 10 Josh Barry and Joey Lano with Ryan priest not too far away either yeah a whole group of Fords here Barry lag priest two shr fors one team Pensky priest got to the outside of the 22 did a really nice job clearing the 22 right behind them the 38 of gillin I tell you Todd gillin returning to front row I think that's a great decision for this organization every week you know I think he continues to ascend the ladder now there's small rungs Jeff but going the right direction continues to get better as now Kyle Bush is going to put Gill under attack Kyle Busch was one of those cars that pitted a little bit later and those eight laap fresher tires now working as he's driven up to 14 24 to go I think he can get all the way inside the top 10 yeah Kyle bus and and and Austin Dylan both over the last month three weeks they're showing light I mean everybody had RCR pretty much counted out they really didn't show much speed at all but it's starting to happen for this team it's a little maybe too late for this year we'll see maybe Kyle bus can win this race tonight get himself in the playf off but certainly an impressive forward momentum for them lately so that's 13th in the Morgan and Morgan Chevy as he goes past Joey Lano he's following in the footsteps of Denny Hamlin who's up to seven so let's get an update on somebody hopeful of making the playoffs and that is track house racings number one of Ross Chastain Kim and Lee he currently runs in the 16th position in this afternoon I asked kief Phil surgeon what's in your toolbox for tonight any told me it will all come down to how the first part of the race goes who's having a good night who's not well this team did not score stage points in the first stage they are not in position to score stage points in this stage so it looks like it is a must-win situation in the final stage here tonight and so Phil told me if we are in a position where we have to win we will throw a Hail Mary in the final stage so Steve we think about Darlington as relatively straightforward we know how much tires mean what does they hail Mary strategy wise look like in the final stage of the Southern 500 well the only thing I can assume is opposite of the field I expect the field to pit twice in the final stage pitting only once I think is not very advantageous you're out there slipping and sliding on Old Tires but math says that there's a chance you can pit an extra time actually pit three times because the third stage is longer keep the one on Fresh tires and see if you could try to overcome the Gap well well we've seen Ross do some pretty wild things in the past let's take you back to Martinsville 2022 this move by the way is now now no longer allowed but it was spectacular to say the least an objective achieved still in person one of the craziest things I've ever seen I mean it didn't look real out of the window and it just shows you the the will of athlet and and what he was willing to do on that afternoon it kind of shocked the whole racing world yeah really cool scheme on this car somewhat of a throwback with the bush machine for Ross Chastain [Music] for [Music] [Music] the cookout Southern 500 continues and how far can he go he being Denny Hamlin [Music] in this 11 for Joe Gibbs Racing he has worked his way forward to fourth now with six lap pressure tires than the race leader Kyle Lawson was running basically in the fifth position with a green flag cycle started many laps ago he has used those brand new or fresher tires to drive all the way up to Fourth as you pointed out you see all the traffic in front of him that's the challenge Matt says he should get the third no problem which is William Byron Brisco and Larson though is out there about 6 seconds it's going to be difficult to work through traffic but he still has 13 laps in this stage check this out from a few moments ago Tyler reic in the 45 it just gets a little high does a nice job of giving up the positions and making sure he keeps the car safe that's the key those are those moments you're going to have many of them throughout the night you just have to kind of understand you're in the bad position here's Hamlin using those new tires this is going to be a lot of fun for a driver Jeff to be able to have this big of an advantage oh it's so much fun trying to slice through the field they're telling you where the leader is go see if you can get him well there's William Byron just ahead of Cory lejoy he's not that far he's less than a second there he is right there oh yeah William Byron is not going to be an issue at all for the 11 Oh I thought he was going to clear the seven oh he does just way more speed than the 24 still about 7 and 1/2 seconds behind the leader Marty long way to go for deny h if he wants to win the stage but Chris gabart reminded him a moment ago listen your tires eight laap fresher than everybody you're running around right now and just like in the spring Steve when the leaders caught the tail into the field or they were in lap traffic like they are right now they were able to make passes within the field Denny Hamlin knew that from Chris Gart this afternoon one the final things he told him before they took the green today here he is trying to get another spot he may not get the stage win but Steve would you play this longer run run strategy for Chris gabart in stage three well he's stuck to it for the first two stages I can't imagine he would go away from it now the question is how does he get longer than everyone else you know people may migrate to his strategy that's the challenge when you have so much conviction as Chris gabard you kind of show your hand both stages that longer second or excuse me longer final stage I think you got to be very careful how you break it up cuz if you get a little too greedy early next thing you know you have 55 laps in front of you for it yes and and we know we haven't got to that Cliff but it's coming you know these tires only have 36 Laps on them Jeff what happens at lap 40 4550 somewhere out there there could be another huge speed loss well that's right and they don't all drop off at the same right some cars will fall off really quickly and then another car will go four or five laps longer stage two winners last three races here at Darlington by the way Denny continues to rack up the impressive numbers here by Leading 15 laps here tonight including tonight's race means he has led at least a lap in the last 10 consecutive races here at Darlington that's so impressive those are the kind of stats as a race car driver that really means something to you because you know how difficult this racetrack is and your peers look up to you you know they know that as well what else is impressive is this pace out of the 24 I thought it was going to be easy work for him hin but since they both clear traffic William Byron's Car has really come to life now H throw it down to the inside oh a little touch loosens up the 24 and Hamlin's by oh I don't think William Byron's going to love that on the radio I knew he would you know he knew he had to fight the 11 off but aggressive for stage two I think this goes back to that engine penalty I think Denny is driving with just a little bit more ferocity because he feels like he has given up so much yeah D he just up the RAC trck into the left quarter panel if you're William Barron you're like what the what the heck man like I'm up against the wall what do you want me to [Music] do so the margin with just six laps to go is 6 and a half seconds to race leader Kyle lson lson 1.8 seconds over Brisco and then a a healthy ear Gap back to Hamlin in the 11 up to third remember six laps fresher tires is that going to pay off over these closing Five laps we'll see keep your eye on the difference between lson and Hamlin 6.3 seconds and lson still battling with Suarez it seems like we've seen this now multiple times in this race the 99 of Suarez last car on the lead lap once again continues the battle the five and he's going to put it right up against the wall and that momentum makes it so difficult for the five to pass especially on old tires now newer tires you can kind of get a little bit of the power down but at this point I think Lawson at this point with no pressure from behind is like okay I'm not going to fight you here I'm not going to get myself in trouble and I think that's a wise decision absolutely Brisco is about a second and a half behind well out focused and understandably so is on the playoff points structure and who's going to make it and who doesn't three laps to go in this second stage Kyle Larson is determined to win the regular season and he started this Southern 517 points back from Tyler reic he shaved that down fell is down to eight now and leading to 163 laps while doing it so not only gaining points but asserting himself as the dominant car from the sunshine into the dark yet continues to lead Hamlin's making inroads but he's going to run out of time and run out of laps in this second stage but it's been pretty impressive he is but remember that final stage is 20 so laps maybe a few more than 20 laps longer so you know the long run cars going to be tested even [Music] more I love this view I could ride on the roof of Hamlin when he just just so precise around [Music] here final lap of this second stage and the pilot of the hendrik cars.com Chevy for hendrik Motorsports one stage one in Vegas one stage two in Vegas and drove all the way to Victory Lane in Vegas in just the third round of this 2024 Cup Series Championship is that an omen for tonight here in the southern 500 nobody has really been close Chase Brisco yes but Kyle Larson in control stage two Victory 10 stage win of this year what an impressive run thus far Brisco follows him in second Hamlin up to third Byron and bell for Tyler reck who is trying to hang tough he has drifted back to e at the end of this second [Music] stage it is a tough night everybody knew it would be in the southern 500 and they're all chasing Kyle lson [Music] in for no prizes for guessing who has garnered the most points this evening Kyle Larson but there's a quick snapshot for you at who has done the best through the first two stages of this cookout Southern 500 been a really good night for Chase Brisco Danny Hamlin fighting his way forward as well Chris busher with the one point all right pit Road's about to get super busy as you saw the top two head there they go Hamlin William Byron Marty they're coming your way boy Lee yeah you're right what a dominant performance for the five team tonight Kyle Larson said at the end of The Run he had a little bit of an uneasy feeling and then Cliff Daniels said something very interesting we looked at the adjustments at the 24 made on the last stop we're going to copy that on this stop meanwhile Denny Hamlin made it up to 30 said that was the freest the car had been all evening long an adjustment coming for the 11 Dave Chris Bell finished fifth in that stage Chase Brisco second Brisco said for the long run I need RW grip I cannot be any tighter to the front the driver of the 20 said going loose with labs and that started pretty early he'll get adjustments well four tires Lee watch the race off Pit Road watching thanks Dave here it is Hamlin grab one nice work pretty stable there BBA Wallace grabbed one as well Tyler reck trying to hang on on and hang tough and that's the way it's been since 1950 this place oozes history and if your name is on the winner's list that is truly [Music] special for e for what a sight it is at night Darlington Raceway and the Labor Day tradition that is the southern 500 and I want to remind you that as NASCAR gears up up for the home stretch Power Ball is back again with its own version of NASCAR playoff last year Stephanie Walker of West Point Mississippi was the $1 million winner at Phoenix Raceway congratulations to these 16 Lottery players locked in through their state lottery for the chance to win $1 million follow along as we will reveal the four players who will win a VIP trip to the Nascar championship weekend and an entry into the $1 million draw Power Ball the official lottery game of NASCAR so we were fortunate enough to have the seven time champ with us on the broadcast last weekend and Dav has found Jimmy Johnson here tonight as well and Lee so good to have access to Legacy motor club this weekend in the 43 car and the seven time champ and the Three Time Darlington winner and it was going so well for Eric he was making forward progress but now we've had some things happening with Eric's Car what's going on we're not quite sure yet so unfortunate turn of events just before the stage ended uh seem like there's something going wrong with the steering maybe in the left front we got those wheels and tires off nothing glaring there everything looked fine new wheels and tires go on and still have an issue with the steering so um this is one of those moments where I'm glad I'm sitting here and I'm not the guy in the car when the steering does whatever it's going to here at some point well you know on the box not in the 84 car this weekend for one of your starts uh this this year what do you like to do how do you like to be involved what do you like to provide on a race basis here I have so little time on a pit box watching that I'm just taking it all in and trying to understand trying to understand the communication between uh driver spotter Chief watching our pit crew do their great work over the wall so really just observing right now because it is still so new to me the view is so different right cuz you want to contribute and you were a driver for so long but it's so different there's different stuff you can pick up it is so different it's very helpless um when you're in the car you have such a better understanding of what's going on connected to the performance of the car it is very confusing seen in a very distant sitting on the B box watching all right taking notes is the co-owner of Legacy motor club going to get some uh ideas for next time they get together and talk about it Marty Dave want to give a quick health update on Tyler reic and what a gutty performance it has been for the driver of the 45 so far this evening under that last stop he did ask for more medicine to be mixed up in a water bottle they were able to hand him that medicine and the interesting point Jeff he made is he said it felt like the medicine that he got in stage to number one helped him but number two is wearing off towards the end of the stage stage three much longer so how much can Tyler reic stand tonight and can he make it all the way to the end oh I think he'll make it to the end I mean he's you know he's much past halfway in this race and emotionally Steve that means hey we're I'm making it I'm going to be all right I agree and I you know the adrenaline of the potential opportunity to win when we come back to green here to start stage three we're going to listen inside the five team let's get ready to go stage three of the Southern 500 let's do it I'll roll here still rolling you have no help here still tight still tight still tight here still tight all the way bottom Lane still tight still tight inside still tight to you still very tight still there just shooting him still there still there still just shooting him shoo right here still there still there TI quarter sh sho there quarter tight clear clear clear that's the voice of Tyler M you saw him there the spotter for the five of Kyle lson who is not only spotting for him here in the southern 500 he had the honor of spotting for his driver at the Indianapolis 500 this year when Kyle did the double or attempted to do the double of course weather interrupted it at Charlotte Motor Speedway but Tyler told me this afternoon that was one of the biggest Thrills of his life being the regular spotter here and going to India and doing that for Kyle oh I can only imagine Kyle Larson loved the opportunity as a spotter you have to love the opportunity as well little bit of challenge here for the 20 of bell though we watching that battle at the front Barry gets into the left side of bell gets up to the wall damage to the left and the right side of the 20 yeah we seen a lot of this tonight drivers just getting into the door of the guy on the outside in the middle of one and two and putting them in a bad position a lot of drivers going to be upset here we are in the final stage 241 laps complete 127 to go and if you look at the bottom left right here six points between Chris buser and Bubba Wallace six point points between the opportunity to race for the championship or no opportunity when the playoff field is set that's assuming lson wins the race a Brisco win moves everything but right now Larson's so dominant I think if you're the 23 and the 17 it has come down to simple math equation every position on the racetrack is a point so the 23 runs eight the 17 runs 13 that means that 23 car needs to move up six hope busher loses six going be a fascinating final stage it sure will 126 to go in this it's Lon Chase Brisco Denny Hamlin William Byron Tyler reck hanging tough as Marty continues to update us on what has been happening medically there with Tyler reic and then Ty Gibbs narrowly avoided that moment earlier yeah you see Christopher Bell trying to take the fight to Bubba Wallace here but I wonder if Christopher Bell's car didn't have a little bit of damage on the right right side after that incident you know the the four Barry just ran him into the wall see the letterings is off the left front tire well the right side has damage Bel just never got to get far enough away for the wall for you to see it Jeff he's going to keep it hidden there you go no good years on the right side turning in there as well I know what there's smoke flying out of that helmet I mean that just get you so angry you'll remember it when get around that guy that did that to you you're not going to cut him any slack I think the left front I want to say it was starting to look a little slack like it potentially was losing some air almost could see a wrinkle on it may have dreaming just keeping you updated as far as the regular season Championship is concerned Kyle Larson has overtaken Tyler reck and leads the regular season by a single solitary point I tell you what Chase Brisco he took to fight to Kyle lson on that restart I thought he almost got it from him Chase Brisco is hungry and he has been he has so much to gain tonight winning this race versus Kyle lson he's willing to do things that Kyle may not be willing to do let's talk more about the 14 here's da burns his crew tee Richard Boswell just got on the radio to him after that restart and said okay keep him within Striking Distance you know how we've been on green flag flag stops I'm thinking that is not maybe as good as the five but just keep it within Striking Distance he's right there chases one here in spectacular fashion in Xfinity series competition however he said I kind of like the I kind of like this comment he said whether this is in the playoffs the southern 500 or it isn't he said this is one of NASCAR's crown jewels I just want to win the thing everybody Steve everybody wants to win the southern 500 it is you know the Daytona 500 the southern 500 Coca-Cola 600 must wins and I think this one's a little bit of a driver race you know it's like every car is slipping and sliding some are faster than the others but anyone who competes in it just realizes the challenge of trying to run 500 miles around here and and I think there's some mutual respect in the garage area not not as much specifically about the fan base but within the garage crew chiefs drivers Engineers if you can you know put a southern 500 trophy in your trophy case I think it kind of raises your Notch I mentioned a moment ago about his exfinity Series win here at Darlington let's remind you what it looked like because it was spectacular great battle watch this I mean just such an intensive race intense race remember you got to remember that you know Brisco wasn't real sure where his future was going you know all most of these drivers have had a a point in their career where they didn't know what was going to happen and a moment happened a win happened and you got a lucky break and you went on and you just never know what's going to where your career is going to go [Music] and for those Stuart H cars running with Brisco in second Josh Barry just rebounding wonderfully so after that huge moment in Daytona last week Barry runs in sixth Ryan priest running in the top 15 just behind Ross Chastain and ahead of Todd Gillan how far can he go Kyle lson is edging closer and closer to Leading 200 laps in this Southern 500 he's up to 190 already in a dominant display now Under The Lights here at Darlington Raceway It Was a Race that started with a little bit of a bang a big bang in fact on the second lap Martin Truex Jr gets out of shape and cor Ryan blay was in the wrong place at the wrong time both out of the race pretty much as soon as it had started however there is somewhat of a silver lining in this for Martin Truex Jr as we show you the updated playoff standing stev's highlighting it there with the telestrator Truex purely because of where we are in the duration of this race with Stage points in stage one and two having come and gone Martin is locked into the 2024 playoffs yeah and this being his last full-time season you know I I'm indifferent on who has great runs and who doesn't I just hope for great racing but when you see somebody like Truex and this career that he's had and the way he's carried himself in the sport I think we you know I was hoping that he would be in I want to see him make a run of the championship I hope that he wins at least one more race I want to see I want to see a race win in his final fulltime season for the fans for Johnny Morris for Joe Gibs Racing for everybody around him for Martin I think he's he's had such a great career he if you can earned such a right I think he has unfortunately the racing gods don't care you're going to have to go earn it on the racetrack when that's what makes racing so beautiful is when you line up on the grid it doesn't matter if you've won zero races or 63 races your opportunity in front of you is the same you have to make it happen since the stage three restart Tyler reick has hung tough and rebounded somewhat he's up three positions to be back running in the top five as we take you back just a few moments ago Shane Van gisbergen and John Hunter NE check this out SVG on the low line seen a lot of cars make contact right here I think SVG was expecting John Hunter to be a little bit closer to the wall which I think is fair for him to expect normally the guy on the outside will be out by the wall now we've seen multiple times where it didn't matter the guy was out by the wall they they've been run into but in that case I feel like he was just expecting a little more space and Def we're kind of getting to a little bit of a fork in the road right here lap 261 if you break down this final stage you do a little math you expect this pit a couple times you're going to come around lap 270 and maybe around lap 315 or 320 but there is this outside chance we talked about the potential you know what's a Hail Mary the one said would do something crazy well I think option A a and what most will do will be pit twice as I just mentioned option b is you pit three times which means you're probably going to be on Pit Road to like lap 267 268 the crazy strategy what I think is the scariest strategy is not pit till almost all the way to lap 300 that puts you out there on old tires for a long time now a timely yellow it's like what you know that Powerball playoff you be hitting the lottery ticket with a yellow the Morgan and Morgan onboard shot hey Marty I know that you've been following the radio on the 11 and you're monitoring the progress of Denny Hamlin what do you think they're going to do they're going to follow soup what they've been doing for the for the early part of the night yeah if I just asked Chris gabart that question a moment ago I said do you think the running long strategy will pay off and he said yes I do think it'll pay off and he reminded Denny Hamlin of that a moment ago listen time to be all in when he gets in front of the 14 you'll have the P chis I know you're excit but I'm doing the best I can just I got it just my job Steve the first part of that was it's not time to be all in yet that's code from Chris Gart to Danny Hamlin to say hey you're still conserving your stuff in this run that leads me to believe that yes indeed they will play that long strategy like they've done all night long here in stage three all night long and kind of their signature I mean look at their best average finish here in 8.3 24 starts you mentioned that diff that he just has completed all the laps hasn't really had any issues no dnfs no dnf where where where it's a track where you can have some like slugfest to finish you know it'd be easy to get turned into the wall on one of these green white Checkers or these crazy races so no dnfs is so impressive and I mean their signature is normally long and if anyone can take care of rear tires it's Denny Hamlin remember that wind back in Bristol when the tires were just disintegrating off these race cars who made it last the 11 of Hamlin by the way good year tells me the same tires will be at Bristol when we were there soon in the play off exciting times [Music] and green flag stops have started here at Darlington team showing their hand Ros Chastain finishing up his stop we talked about that Hail Mary Phil surgeon talked about they're going to stop three times this final stage Brad keslowski also in will stopped three times that six car just a little numb felt like he had NOA on the front end of the car was his report and remember when we stopped three times it's not because of sooco fuel you can run over 70 Laps on fuel you just don't want to try to run these Goodyear Tires more than 50 laps so to try to think only one more stop I think would just be asking too much by the way 12 sets of good years for this Southern 500 how do you use them how do you look after them all part of the overall and overarching management race management strategy here's Ty Gibbs in in the monster Toyota yeah Lee we talked about how there would be the race within the race so this is Chris Gale answering what Phil surgeon did a moment ago remember all of these drivers around the cut line right now where Tai Gibbs is feels pretty comfortable above the cut line but he's just covering what the one had done on the last stop coming in the lap before he's coming for four fresh Goodyear Tires Tony hman constantly reminding his driver Ty Gibbs take care of the right side of the car we're truly racing ourselves tonight it's Chase Brisco been a great night for him Dave and a win is still on the cards if he can do anything about Lon and keep Hamlin at Bay as well Lee he might have tapped the wall just a minute ago uh but the car has been just so so loose he's been encouraged by his crew chief keep fighting for us we'll fix you up on this top you can see the mark on the right rear quarter panel well that could have come from earlier as well it is Darlington after all but KW going to work now trying to hold their position here as Marty we see the five of Larson on Pit Road yeah Kyle Larson coming down Pit Road he saw Michael mcgow who fitted way earlier in this stage coming behind him and he said is that for position behind me and they said no don't worry about that McDow is a couple of laps down now we'll see where lson cyle out this pit crew has just been outstanding all night long Lee another slick efficient stop from the five crew this night could not be going any better for Kyle Larson who has led 207 laps of the Southern 500 and now this is the this game of the tortoise and the hair the game of Lea frog 14 pits lab later the five pits then Danny hlin when will he come so as we see the five leaf Pit Road here comes the 14 down the front stretch into turn one he's going to have a ton of pace up the banking of one and two the question is will the five be able to get off from the corner in front of him he will and he will relatively easily to be quite honest a great job by Kyle Larson on and off Pit Road to stay out in front of the 14 even with the 14 coming a lap earlier so now we wait and watch this has been kind of one of the ongoing story lines of how long will the 11 of Hamlin go when will he come in and what advantage will it pay two other cars we want to keep him eye on and that's right here bubble Wallace and Chris busher remember that's the battle for the final spot bubble Wallace needs to beat Chris busher assuming no new winner by 12 spots that's the math it's as simple as that he has to find positions so while we talk about hail marries to win the race busher should just be chasing the 23 whenever he pits just come with him watch what happened at Chris busher just a few moments ago boom into the [Music] wall that was the entrance of turn three now busher on to Pit Road K sa and they reminding him make no mistakes do not speed on this stop the crew to the right side Chris fired off just a little bit free on this run but he said do not tighten it up they'll take four fresh Goodyear tires and Ino fuel under green and the guy he's fighting to make the playoffs just saw his teammate and one of his team bosses go blowing on by Bubba Wallace in Brad kazlowski so interesting move by the 23 running long remember a yellow right now it would be a pit of the stomach feel for Chris buser because Wallace hasn't pitted yet he's on the lead lap now he's losing time this is that run long strategy that we see Hamlin kind of work out but I I don't hate this move by the 23 cuz I don't 12 positions available as good as the 17 is so now the 17 pitted he pitted first if you're crew chief in the 23 are you now saying we have to run long I think I think because they beat me to Pit Road they kind of flipped over my cards for me and I said oh man well now what I need you to do is run long we're going to chase and if you're going to chase anybody I'd follow whatever the strategy is the guy that owns the team so since Denny Hamlin's long I would jump on that train there has only been one caution for on track activity and that was on the second lap with Martin Truex Jr and Ryan blay the other two are for the stage breaks here we go Hamlin's answering our question in now query and William Byron's following him in both got the Pit Road clean that's the first challenge Right Here and Now Marty it's up to the pit crew they don't need the perfect stop just a solid four tires and here's the interesting part Steve Rudy Fugal has now flipped to the strategy that Chris gabart has played all night long in these two cars as you will see just one p stall apart William Byron has a little more trouble getting into his sty Denny Hamlin said this C's a little bit too free the longer he goes and William Byron has been so good on the long run tonight but a little bit too free at the end of that run and Hamlin on the 11 team gaining a good bit of an advantage over the 24 on that stop now the race win will be between these two and the five of lson now I expect Larson to definitely jump in front of the five we'll just have to or excuse me the five in front of the 11 we just have to see how the new tires pay off Bubba Wallace Jeff now comes to Pit Road as well Dave and before the cycle started Steve Bubba had only picked up one spot on on the track so you got to do something different right so I think that's why they switched strategies here and went to the one that Denny hlin and others were running as well one lap later Bubba Wallace comes to Pit Road expecting his pit crew to do a quick stop for him maybe a little bit of a change but really no complaint from the driver on the balance perhaps just keeping up with the track two tires on here come the other two fuel going in Christopher Bell on Pit Road 12 busy Pit Road Decisions by crew chiefs let's set the stage for the win five of Larson still a pit stop to go a little bit fresher tires about six laps on Denny Hamlin huge gap but a huge Advantage can the 11 chase down the five car it's nearly a half a lap but almost six or seven 10 seconds six or 7/10 of a second faster every lap on the newer tires [Music] [Music] who see Kyle Larson leads this race as he has been doing for 23 laps in the southern 500 he leads the regular season Championship points and he's got a bunch maximized the playoff Point situation it's been a positive night too for Ty Gibbs Marty as you see on the bubble points there he's 46 points to the good and he's worked his way up into the top three yeah Ty Gibbs and Chris Gale have met managed this race terrifically they pitted a little bit earlier in this cycle than everyone else did again kind of answering the call that Phil sergeon and Ross Chastain made and that got them some track position Gibbs so far in third and so far in the playoffs Kim and Chris berer also in the playoff picture that last spot as it runs plus n he currently is in the 14th position and I ask the team kind of what their thoughts were headed into this race and they said we didn't even want to be in this position this season has been so frustrating with near win their goal just make it through tonight make the playoffs then they'll treat it as a reset Dave they feel like they can do a lot of damage if they make the playoffs Bubba Wallace's crew chief booty Barker told me today if you're not prepared when you get here you can't catch up at Darlington well buet Wallace was prepared sat on the pole and led laps early but this driver has uh lost a bit of the pace here mid race it's going to be hard to get back he's got to get that distance between himself and bercher a lot larger Kim and currently Ross staying outside the playoff picture but runs the best he has all night in the fifth position due to strategy we talked about the hail meley F Phil surgeon played here likely stopping three times this final stage and how do they find themselves in this position well they have not earned enough stage points this season compared to what they did last season last season at this point 148 stage points 72 fewer stage points have been earned this season that is a huge huge gap it continued here tonight they did not earn stage points and that's what has put them in the position to have to try to throw this tail Mary get a win and find themselves in the title hunt coming into tonight it's a great Point Kim no stage points in six of the last seven races for Ross Chastain but he's gone from 22nd up to fifth but Jeff Stevie slightly off strategy to those guys that he's surrounded by yeah he really is and when we look at the busher Wallace battle I think the Big Challenge above a Wallace is yes he's out run busher most of the night or all night but you know there's only currently there's only 19 cars on the lead lap bucher's running 14th as long as Bucher stays in the lead lap and has you know he's got to keep reasonable face not have a bad night he can probably get done what he needs to get done yeah if I'm the 17 right now Chris busher and Scott Graves I am clearly just racing the 23 car I can't catch Gibbs I'm just trying to cover the 23 and cheer on lson or Hamlin or somebody that's already won a race you can't have a new winner oh 66 slow on the track problems for Timmy Hill and he'll be able to get to a safe spot yeah he's all the way at the bottom oh look at this big stack up here 10 of Noah greggson 38 of Gillan 38 as the freshest tires of the group really just off Pit Road he's in the 15th position let's have a look at what just went down with these guys Gregson on the low line syrix in there Gillan goes high right across the front of Eric Jones that was a lucky Escape [Music] only 70 laps to go in the cookout Southern 500 here at Darlington Raceway and this is the driver and the car that has been in total control for almost the entire way pulit a bubble Wallace and playoff hopeful Bubba Wallace led the opening 37 laps but then slipped back and as soon as Kyle lson got in front it was look out pretty much lights out whenever he's LED more than 200 laps he has a 30% conversion rate of winning pretty successful and it's looking like that to defend his Southern 500 win of a year ago and the split road maps are slowly coming back together the 11 of Danny Hamlin came out of Road well over 10 seconds back almost 13 to be quite honest now he's got it down to 5 Seconds back and now he's working past Brisco and I think this is when this strategy of running along gets difficult because he's better than the 14 he has better tires but you kind of have to like dispose of him if you get stuck in that air for a couple extra laps it just really puts you in a bad spot Hamlet knows it he's working all he can this is a good run right here good run here that's still not quite good enough what he needs is for Risco to run that bottom Lane in three and four Risco to the top that forces hling to go to the bottom jakar just does not rotate like it needs to in the middle good forward momentum here side by side with him Denny Hamlin on the inside of Chase Brisco and has continued this alternate strategy come from behind charge back up through the field to second place so we're around lap 300 there's this is kind of a point in the road for the one and the 54 who I think are pitting in extra time if that is true we're going to need to see them in the next two or three laps for the math to work out for Hamlin and Larsson we're about 15 to 20 laps from their pit stop so the question is very simple 4.6 seconds does Hamlin run Larson down before they come to Pit Road again that's kind of like the first demarcation point where you can kind of start grading the strategies [Music] enjoying the ride around Darlington Raceway with Denny think about next week can you imagine kicking off the playoffs at Atlanta I mean it's going to be these playoffs St with Atlanta and Watkins Glenn the roal tallad these first two rounds have I think the the most roller coaster potential right we could have moments wrecks anything could change kind of the complexion of these playoffs here's R's Kyle Bush he after that Thriller Last Week in Daytona where Harrison Burton won narrowly ahead of this man here that we're looking back at from Chris Bush's car he needed and still needs a win to get in but that's getting increasingly more difficult as Kyle Bush runs in 16th Place not only that but he's for 19 straight Seasons he's won to win he he has won a race and for a guy like Kyle Busch it's accustomed to winning this has been a very difficult year and Dave he does not want that streak to end no he does not and he does he'd like the car to get a little bit better but he says it's okay tight meaning it won't steer a little bit but that is good but then it just goes loose goes loose it the longer the Run goes on so haven't been able to quite fix that for Kyle Busch tonight uh another win here at Darlington looks far Out Of Reach Marty Dave at 231 laps LED and Counting there have been very few cracks in the armor for Kyle Larson tonight but the handling not quite as good on the five car listen in I can maybe stand be a little bitar when you could wrap the top of the wall off of four that was a really good pocket for Speed and I think you have to turn well enough to be able to do that it'll be very small on the next adjustment I've benefited with clean air here too so traffic up tighter so with a 3 and 1/2 second lead Jeff Kyle Larson and Cliff Daniels feel like the car can be even better but how does Cliff Daniels even know that there might be a little bit speed if Kyle lson takes that exit a little bit higher off turn four well those guys they they work so well together and I think actually what he was saying is that we need to make the car better so you can run higher on the exit of turn four he said there's speed if you can run high on exit you can't do it now so we're going to make a small adjustment the next time we stop well we have a big battle going right here you see on the bottom right that is Chris busher who has now been overtaken by the eight of Kyle bus and why that matters is cu this Gap right here is down to four I mentioned we needed 12 spots between the two well now on the bottom of the screen is a 23 of Bubba Wallace and if you look up here he's got three cars up to Chastain right in front of him that I think he can get here's reic coming back to him in a hurry I mean the 20 23 is much better than the 45 the one and even the 54 in their tire situation so now it's down to three points I think this is going to be a high pressure high nerve situation for the 17 and the 23 over these last 60 laps could it be backto back races at Darlington Raceway that breaks Chris Bush's heart remember earlier in the year when he was fighting with Tyler reick and he was looking good for a victory and reic tried to slide job on him and ended up in the wall and he was Furious busher was furious with the driver of the 45 then so now it's down to two busher is two above the cut line Wallace to behind but the balance of power is massively swinging Bubba's way it is and this whole time Hamlin has run Larson down only 2.7 seconds behind 59 laps to go these leaders are sliding around on like 36 Laps on the Kyle arson machine we have Ross Chastain on 41 lap tires so between 30 and 40 lap tires Bubba Wallace said he has to do better he wanted it on his shoulders well he might just get that opportunity in this last 58 laps he's got 5 Seconds to make up to try and catch Ty Gibbs this is what I was talking about a few moments ago this was in the spring race and look at how incensed Chris busher was with Tyler redic reck's trying to plead his case and say I'm sorry man I didn't mean it it was just one of those things and p is like I needed that win you already in the playoffs I needed that are we going to be talking about that moment back in the spring at the end of this cut off race tonight in just 57 laps [Music] as you saw in nonstop we are under caution for just the second on track incident and it is Spire Motorsports Carson josar who started on the front row earlier today losing control of the 77 all by himself it was underneath Eric Jones not sure if anything happened before they got to turn three but just underneath him and he lot loses it so slick getting to the end of this tire run and rear grip just goes away and unfortunate couldn't be worse timing for the one of Ross Chastain who had just entered Pit Road I thought there was a chance Jeff that he could hit it perfect service his car and then you know leave the pit still on the lead lap but he Ed up going a lap down to Kyle arson by just a few seconds by the way about three laps three or four laps prior to that the five did have a glance with the wall you can see it there on the front right and and rear right and Denny Hamlin was just under 3 seconds in a rear of last and says thanks very much and now all of that kind of split strategy that's all out the window now it's 52 laps to go they're going to stretch this last set of tires barring another yellow um so now the question is you know what do you need 52 Laps on a set of tires would be the longest that most of these guys have tried to put on a set of tires tonight you're going to run the hardest on this restart so it's going to be hard to manage tires and pit Crews right green flag pit stops you know you can be a couple tents of a second even a half a second slower on the pit stop and it all kind of get figured out in the wash but not now now you're all on Pit Road together yeah that caution came out we saw Chris busher kind of backing up through the field a little bit having trouble that may have been a break for him and we'll we'll see how it works out but Chris was having issues with his car now they get in here get a chance to make some changes here we go pit Road's getting busy M they're coming your way Kyle lson said overall I think the track is just losing grip he said I need to be free here this is going to be a long run Cliff Daniels reminded him the pit crew has been Flawless all night let's see if they can deliver his again his teammate William Byron said undo the last adjustment you did I need that completely gone meanwhile Denny Hamlin said way too tight on that run we'll see if they make the right adjustments here Dave Chase Brisco gives up third he said I was tighter taking off then made myself lose rear grip trying to make it turn they're going to go halfway back on the last adjustment they made for tires and fuel here's the race off good work again from the five no worries the 11 Chase Brisco as well good work from Stuart har to get Josh Barry up one and Ty Gibbs Racing here at Darlington in the legendary Southern 500 who's going to leave their mark on this race tonight can Kyle Lon joins some of the sports most famous in defending his win and go backto back for NBC Sports on SiriusXM NASCAR radio channel 90 live Wednesday at 9:00 a.m. eastern guess who's on it this week this Wednesday our very own KP Kyle Petty Kyle what are you going to chat about and DJ what are the two of you make about what has gone down and are we headed for a tiebreaker for that final bubble position between Chris busher and Bubba Wallace you know we talk about it all the time it's a team sport sport it's a team sport and you see these guys on Pit Road they falter a little bit they give up five or six spots these guys the 23 of Bubba Wallace the 17 of Chris berer it's one onone it's Michael Jordan it's oneone that's all they care about 12 positions as we've heard Steve lart Say Yeah Bucher right now probably has more cars that he can pass as he looked ahead of that he's got to dig down his car was not good on that last run put themselves right in this position going to be exciting once again Kim how about that 17 and then a very slow stop left front wasn't fully installed couldn't get the lug tight they were also slow in the right re but just marginally the team told me here's what they told Chris on the radio after the stop uh I got enough man we uh Hest this up for you all night or not all night the last few stops so uh we're putting it on your shoulders here at this point we're out at the moment you got to get to theard so you heard it they're putting it on Chris's shoulders he's got 49 laps to get his way into the playoffs here tonight oh boy what a nailbiter between 231s Bubba Wallace and RFK racings Chris busher for that 16th and final spot to contest the final 10 Rounds the playoffs of this 2024 Cup Series it is Kyle lson and Denny Hamlin with 48 laps to go let's go on the inside and it's the first time in a long time that we've seen anybody really hassling Kyle Larson hins ahead they touch heading down the back straight here in [Music] Darlington Larson is unrelenting he does not want to relinquish the lead he has led for 245 laps tonight and is making life hard for Hamlin six times in these guys racing career at the cup level they have finished one two Denny Hamlin has won all six of them Kyle Larson's trying to change that tonight and there was four or five other times that they were going to run one two and there was contact and one of them didn't make it back around that's in the back of their minds as well these two race each other as hard as anyone in the field and Jeff as hard as you want to push right here 46 to go is Forever at Darlington if you slide those tires more than needed or more than required you will pay the penalty yes you will oh contact on the he gets into Todd gillin they ran out of real estate on the exit of two it started with the 38 sliding up pushing the 17 into the wall lucky for the 17 to avoid this let's have a look at what happened to the front row Motorsports driver yeah Gillan underneath busher trying to make the pass gets up the racetrack squeezes busher a little bit busher back down into him listen so how bad was that hit J I don't think it was I don't think it was that bad but what you know when when Bucher gets into the wall he then comes back it hits the wall then it comes back and hits the 38 it's going to be interesting to see what damage there is now the good news for busher is he's 15th only five cars behind him you see right here the frustration this is sports this is what we love right we could talk about technology and strategy and fuel mileage but in the end it comes down to the humans driving the race cars and Chris busher you could see the emotion and is there damage right that's the concern right now I think you could pit though Jeff I'm pitting I'm 15th already there's 20 on the lead lap only five behind me there's three hard Laps on the tires that matters here I would absolutely come if I'm the 17 I like the tire Advantage we haven't seen very many yellows we have a ton of T why I say a ton two or three extra sets of tires I'm coming making sure because I can't be wrong I can't stay on the racetrack and then have a flat and allow the 23 to out me I agree a couple cars got back on the lead lap right there cuz they played a strategy Chase Elliott I believe he was the first car lap down so we're going to end up with 21 cars in the lead lap Bubba Wallace running seventh if he pits if busher pits he's going to have to find a way to get by several race cars to try to get himself back up where he needs to be to get into these playoffs I don't think it'll be a matter of fact I believe a bunch are going to pit you know I think I think the back eight or 10 cars are coming to Pit Road I think for busher there's no question in my mind I would come here the damage is just a more you know more reasons to come Road open we'll see it's green right here Kim make sure you tell us when you hear something W you from inside the 17 this is tense stuff and they do intend to come they do intend to come Kim so the question is what does Bubba Wallace do right Dave so you're down there in the 23 Camp can they afford to get three lap older tires than the 17 mom is the word so far Steve they're staying out you would think three laps is nothing but here it is oh lot of guys came I'm sorry they all faked me out but here they come from about eighth back and there is the 17 of Chris busher they'll do a quick assessment on this Kim and they said the pictures look okay they asked about the steering wheel Chris said it seems okay somewhat straight just scuffed up on the right side they think fresh tires aren't going to help them but Chris buer absolutely not happy with the 38 of Todd Gillan felt like he just fenced him for no reason that could have been the end of his playoff hopes at the moment they're still alive well now the pressure is flipped you know Boba Walla stayed on the racetrack and unfortunately there's always these splits and only a car or two behind him stayed with him so I know it's only three laps but we are not at Charlotte or Las Vegas we are at I mean this is the tire grading machine this wears tires faster than anywhere we go he has reic behind him but behind reic is going to be brand new goodye tires this is going to be a very stressful moment for Bubba Wallace the worst thing that you want as a race car driver is to be the first the last car without tires because you know the guy behind you he's lining up and he has a row of them with new tires it is when you look in your mirror and right now he's seeing his mirror he sees reading but then every body else that he sees behind him is a lap down he knows he's in trouble and what do you do how do you defend that it's almost impossible to defend it because they just have more grip than you do what does MJ think does he get both his cars in this playoff for the 2024 Cup Championship does the nervous energy at an MJ it only it only sets the stage better for me right I mean I mean he's so invested you could tell right there that that he's he's a little pacy you know got a little bit of nerves but that guy wanted the ball that's right he wanted to take the shot like he was the one that wanted the basketball at the end of the game to take it they just took it out above his hands now everybody else has the ball because he has old tires he can't go he the only thing he can do is go on super offense and try to get people between him and those new tires but he they are going to be coming behind him hard the only thing is we have to remember with 42 to go you know when I say they have a bunch of tires left they have two or three sets we'll get the exact count up and down Pit Road you know we've had a very clean race right so oh Dave you got the man himself he is I looked over at him and I asked him and he smiled because I know this is why you hired booty Barker to be the crew chief you didn't want this job what do you think now I trust him uh I think they had good game plan I think Bubba has done an unbelievable job thus far I mean we still got a lot to go I mean bush is tough you know you know he likes his track he's he did well last time here so I mean we we in sh we in shouting range so he's got to do his job you know he's got to go out and race um you know barring from any other cautions I think you know this is the last time we're going to pit so do you get nervous for him I'm absolutely terrified right now cuz I want him to do well out uh and Tyler too I know Tyler's a little sick but uh he's he's struggling trying to get through it and you know that's what Nascar is all about I enjoy it you know it's I don't have basketball anymore but this can this can replace it very easily I'm excited for today I know you text him to challenge him and encourage him if you could text him right now what would you tell him well I mean everybody wants something right but something don't come for free if you want more it's going to cost more that means you got to put the effort out there you got to go out and race so he understood that so hopefully he does hopefully he can pull this off wise words from team owner Nascar fan and a very nervous Michael Jordan well that was exactly what he texted Bubba I fired up yeah I mean he fired me up I was already excited I mean think about think about those types of words of encouragement and coaching and where they're coming from and if Michael was in the 45 what do you think he would do he would make that 45 as wide as this RAC track so that Chris busher had no way of getting close or anybody had any way of getting close to the 23 well the story is right here last pit where are the new tires right there two spots behind Bubba Wallace brand new tires on Belt 40 laps to go when the green flies here in Darlington let's see how those closing 40 laps Shape Up lson gets a great restart Hamlin pushed him last time and here comes Chase Brisco brisco's not done with yet look at that move sweeping around Denny Hamlin as lson clears them what a runoff turn two that was for Chase Brisco and now he's got Lon in sights and here comes Chris buer bottom right look at this traffic jam you see the 20 car underneath bubble Wallace he has new tires this shows you the difference between new tires and old tires and if Brisco wins none of that matters he's in eliminating busher and Wallace what a run from the 14 the Stewart house racing forward the high point machine he got his career best at Darlington last time out with a top five and now Chase Brisco he won his xinity race in spectacular style here and now he's all over Larson who just had a bubble larsson's loose you got to take advantage of it Chase Brisco saw him get loose he's got to push him into the corner make him run that car harder than he wants to bottom right push is getting close to Tyler reic which means he's getting close to Bubba Wallace where do we look which box do we look in it's all happening here at Darlington Raceway on cut off night who makes the playoffs and who doesn't busher on the inside of reing and Ross chasten let's not forget about the one as he keps storming by busher as well Brisco is thinking everyone has overlooked me keep talking about the cut line I'm to jump in with a win couldn't be in successive weeks we get a win and you're in situation Harrison Burton last weekend in Daytona could it could it be Chase Brisco here in Darlington Chase has had a fast race car taking off most of the night Kyle Larson has been a step away from him as the tires get older have they made the right changes on the 14 car 35 to go don't look now but in fourth place is Christopher Bell with those fresher tires he has driven all the way up to Fourth 1.7 seconds back can he he has enough time 35 laps is enough time Brisco can feel the urgency he has to figure Away by Larson Chris Bush is having a difficult time getting by Tyler reck in that bottom box Bubba Wallace sits in 11th and still sits seven points a drift of that cut line let's have a listen to some Brisco radio keep the pressure on him buddy he's tagged the fence T keep the pressure on him keep the pressure on him him he's tagged the wall twice and that's exactly what Chase Brisco is doing nothing between the top two a car length at best between Kyle lson and Chase Brisco I mentioned Bell what about Kyle bus up fifth on new tires 19 years in a row 33 laps will the newer tires bring him into the battle and this Morgan and Morgan machine is remaining resilient Kyle has had top fives in the last two races and look at Brisco top box that was the closest Brisco has gotten to Larson getting into turn one Brisco figured something out in three and four that time let's see if he can do it again cautions out oh and it's for Co Carson hos ofar again significant damage on the front right and for the likes of Kyle Bush and Christopher Bell this brings everybody closer together and from what we just saw with three lap fresher tires I think there is no conversation for anyone on Pit Road but to make the pressure higher Jeff you keep talking about it now we're at 21 cars on the lead lap with another free pass will'll be at 22 what that means is if you're Chris busher three and four on the last Corner could be five positions that could be eliminating you from the playoffs you know you get to a point where there's not enough cars in the lead La you start to feel safe we're going the other way at this point well they are but now you have an opportunity for your pit crew to step up right now you have an opportunity to be honest that's what he needed bubble Wallace Chris busher he didn't want to see that caution he was getting everything he needed Bubba Wallace did want to see it so everything worked the way we assumed it was going to it show tires matter go back and look at Carson hos of our again problems in oh he had a right front something happened with the right front and I think Gillan got it may have got into him as well Todd Gillan was in the wrong spot at the wrong time unfortunately and that was a pretty wild ride for Carson hos so Kyle Petty said it earlier this is a team sport and we see it in the shops we see it on the work all the work done to prepare the race cars but now we're getting ready to see it on Pit Road now we're getting ready to see which team is ready for this moment which team can step up get their guy out of Pit Road in the lead or pickup spots and you cannot if you're bucher's team you can't afford a mistake here you if you're Wallace's team you can't afford a mistake think about Bobba Wallace winning the poll you know I mentioned earlier hours ago about how the number one pit stall was almost a disadvantage under green but why does everybody want it for these situations you know this race has these long green flag runs but history would say we have these cautions and now only being 22 ft from that camera drop the Jack you roll forward you get scored that could be one position then you multiply that in the choose it moves you up another row it can change the outcome of a race just by one or two spots off the pit lanane close call earlier for Chris busher with Todd gilland he was able to escape that dive in get fresh tires no damage done to his 17 builds submarines decom Ford here they come Kimmy they're coming your way yes and Scott graes a crew chief for the 17 telling them focus on on a nice smooth stop Chris saying he was a little Freer but not much that run just leave it no adjustments on that machine Marty Kyle Larson said I was way too loose on that run Cliff Daniels going to answer with a chassis adjustment he also asked if the 14 wins how does that change the playoff picture he wants to know everything Dave Chase Brisco challenging for the win says just don't tighten me up Bubba Wallace so tight so tight he needs a big adjustment on the 23 as his crew now goes to work Michael Jordan nervous for his driver how nervous is he for the pit grw as to now they go for four here bubble was 13th when he came in cars go by him here where will he cycle back out here's the race off two positions gained by Gibbs Bush lost one Barry gained one big jump from Austin Dylan this race the southern 500 is 367 laps long this race the win and playoff spot is going to be decided in the last 29 laps yes and we and we know we've talked about the point battle all night long and sitting here up front two guys that can spoil it Chase Brisco he wins he gets in Kyle Bush he wins he gets in and they are both in position you may have noticed when everybody was diving for Pit Road Ross Chastain swerved right and kept his Bush Chevy out on track Kim yes and Chastain staying out remember he came down on lap 3:24 this again was another Hail Mary type call Phil Sergeant the crew chief telling him you only have nine Laps on those tires the call was watermelon for Ros J stain staying out Kim here is that radio from Bubba Wallace but there's a Twist afterwards listen all right man what you got balance W what your name I'm so tight I'm so tight I know it's cuz it's three star starts and I got to push hard our balance is tight I get it but man I can't do anything here's the twist he was silent on the radio for nearly a minute after that and then he came back to the crew okay I'm back Bubba has to do work inside the car inside the helmet to win races he knows that and he was doing it right there this is massive pressure so much on the line how about this TJ Kyle unbelievable it's going to be decided in the last 20 plus laps for the southern 500 not only for this race win but the complexion of the playoffs yeah I think one thing you have to look at KP these drivers have been out here over three and a half hours already I mean it's stressful we talk about the stress you know they they condition themselves for races like this but mentally you can be drained too but you have to step up somehow yeah and and at the same time these drivers have been out there and they're stressed and the pressure is going up these guys on Pit Road have just been in a rhythm just been in a rhythm and now all of a sudden you're asking them to jump this wall Time After Time and perform at the top level man it's it's it's tough and we're sitting on the pit box and I can feel the tension up here yeah headed to the chws guys well that's the question DJ you know the choos is normally which lane is better but now with the one-on old tires Jeff I know what you do if you're lson but behind Larson where do you dare restart if you're Brisco you got to go with Larson there you go even Hamlin's going to go with Larson Ty gives all the way back in fifth is the first one to line up behind Ross Chastain and even further behind everybody's going to the bottom so just remind everyone how this works right the restart rule the one is the leader of the race so he enters the restart Zone he has the option to decide when to fire when to accelerate he can go from the first line to the second I'm a big fan I've said it forever go early I want you to go way back here as soon as you get into the Zone I want you to go now the problem is if he goes and Spins the tires he may not look like he's accelerating but Kyle Larson can hear that and once he Accel once he steps on the throttle Larson can go body and Cliff Daniels wanted to remind Kyle lson of the desperation that's sitting right beside him on the front row listen a lot of coaching going on on to the guys around you on obviously the situation that they're in you know the situation that they're in at the end of the day for us execute the job that you need to do a fascinating restart coming up diff Steve you said if Ros Chastain spend the tires Ros Chastain will spend the tires that's almost impossible not to own old tires Kyle Larson has to take advantage of that and Ty Gibbs has to be aware and not run into the back of him all right get ready be 26 laps to go Ross Chastain in the one doing whatever he can to try and stay alive and hope that he has a chance but everybody that he's surrounded by on Fresh tires here we go Gibs on that Highline lson on the low line Brisco feels he has a chance Gibbs is looking good on points to make it Brisco wants to race his way in like Chastain does here goes Brisco on the inside the big move from Chase Brisco this could be the difference between making the playoffs or not wow the one of Chastain got an amazing start better than I expected 54 kind of paid that off but what a move by the 14 down the backstretch that was epic Chastain did a great job of keeping speed into that restart Zone still falling back on those old tires but look at Kyle bus and that AC car Brisco tried to check out but Kyle bus he wants to play ever since the Olympic break RCR has been getting better Lee could it be Bush's day we haven't seen him most of the night he was on that strategy earlier of Denny Hamlin but just not as effective to get as high up the order as Denny was and look at this three wide wow we got a caution multicar incident Ty Gibbs Josh Barry Bubba Wallace it's over Wallace's playoff hopes bush is trying to dodge the Carnage William Byron's Car is torn apart and Noah gron in it as well how badly damaged is that 23 are the Playoff hopes over or not this is far from ideal for Bubba Wallace the good news is it's rolling he didn't have to get assistance back all four tires aired up took a really big shot Square to the bumper you all right Square to the bumper is actually better the weakness on this car is really the right and left rear toe link as far as mechanically now without a doubt Arrow has got major issues but the first thing is can you complete laps cuz busher still has to finish this race as well watch this how did it unfold Josh Barry pushing his way through the the middle of Denny Hamlin and Ty Gibbs keep watching it yeah three wide into turn one at Darlington never works it's just not enough room somebody had to lift there Josh Barry extremely aggressive shooting the middle here and it's just to two wi through there Steve is difficult and now they just all stack into each other and Bubba W was doing a really nice job some front of in contact but then Noah Gregson nowhere to go he was the one that made the heavy contact to the back of the 23 so you see right here Flames out the pipes he's on The Brak some front end contact but I don't think this was enough to kind of end it right you're going to see him run into the 24 I mean it's not great but then right there the big shot by the 10 it looks so easy in slow motion what you could do different let's ride on board [Music] even the front end contact you saw the hood Buckle so you know the damage probably a little more severe than I initially thought and while we've been consumed with where Bubba Wallace has been and Chris busher for that final spot what changed the whole complexion of it was Chase Brisco with the move of the race look at Michael Jordan's reaction here when he saw Bubba right in the middle of all of that yeah he knows what that means but to your point if you know a 14 win Brisco win it takes this away yeah this whole conversation's move point at that because the 54 of Tai Gibbs who was also involved in that would get that 16th and final position what a move that was by Chase Brisco here's Dave and keeping an eye now on the 23 repairs as they go to look at it Steve to me the biggest thing is getting rid of that parachute in the rear if everything else is straight tow links are not broken there it is right there the right rear wouldn't you think just getting that in decent shape would be the main thing yeah I think you're right Dave that's the main thing but at this point uh they know that this car can't keep up on Pace and really if you're Chris busher in 10th you have to start asking yourself can you risk being in the next restart which is an awkward conversation but you know it they have to ask themselves do they think they need to win the race they're riding around in 10th because as you pointed out Lee you know Brisco win or Kyle bus win kind of eliminates the points conversation so I don't think the 17 can just sit back I mean we still have 21 laps to go all right let's take you back and show you the move is it the defining move of the race check this out Chase Brisco with the ultimate slingshot see you here I come and here I go yeah Larson and Gibbs got side by side trying to deal with Chastain who had older tires and they just lost momentum see right here they just get slow Chase Brisco did a nice job of laying far enough back Steve to take advantage of it goes to the bottom and we've seen good Pace from that 14 car all night on short runs yeah and you see the excitement on top of the box This Crew we talk about emotion this company is shutting down they're not around this is more than just a race win these guys are are battling for you know livelihood jobs but who com to pit roow that was another three laps we've seen this Split Decision Kyle bus he loves brand new tires and I love this call and this could save Ross Chastain as well Kim this might give him another lifeline and there was heavy heavy debate on whether or not to bring the one car of Ross Chastain down ultimately they decided their best bet was fresh tires just a little tight Gip level down is what Ross reported Marty kind of Nothing to Lose here for Denny Hamlin coming down Pit Road with four fresh goody year tires because they knew that other cars would pit Tai Gibbs for now safe in the playoffs but they're going to sit here and check the damage on the 54 car Dave the eight appears unscathed he's going for four tires and Fuel and send him back out there who would have thought kws would have had a chance I bet I can tell you who Kyle Busch thought Kyle Busch had a chance and they've got him up front where it counts now catching up with Richard Boswell on top of the 14 box first of all what a move by your guy yeah I can't say enough about Chase you know he promised us last week that he was going to bring everything he had all night tonight and he's an amazing race car driver you know there's 323 employees at Stuart hos racing that didn't ask for the nonsense that's that's going on all year and we want to win a damn race and we want to do it for all those employees and this one we can control and we're going to do our very best tonight to control it and try and make those 323 employees prowder did you have any idea as the race unfolded early Richard that the car would be this good N I knew we'd be good here you know we we were good here in the in the fall race last year and in the spring race this year and I knew Chase was in kill mode and I know when I know when we get him in that spot he's he's as good as anybody I've ever seen so just super proud of him super proud of this team pit crew has absolutely stepped up tonight super proud of them Engineers car Chief everybody on this team's just done an amazing job so just try to try and figure it out finish it out in these last 19 laps Racers know how to race what a show and how about the winless streaks that could be broken here 7 3 races since Stuart har last had a win how about Kyle Bush 46 and 93 that's since Phoenix his only win in cup for Chase Brisco it could be a victory here for either of these guys that gets them in to the Nascar Cup series playoffs starting next week in Atlanta we couldn't ask for a more dramatic ending to the southern 500 so many story lines we have Brisco as you point it out but I look you have PRI in fourth busher fifth kazlowski sixth Elliot and legano found their way back into the top 10 Kyle bus on those pressure tires last time he had three lap pressure tires he drove right into the top five I mean 19 laps to go is a long time the other side to this is how many more restarts will we see Tire count I jinxed this when I said they had enough because it's starting to run thin on some of these teams some only have one or two sets left in the pit so you know when are you going to put on the last set it it never ends it doesn't matter what the first two stages of the Southern 500 those are like the survival modes yeah you just have to get to this place think about the team look at cor joy in 11 me cor Joy's in 11th we we saw him struggling to find his way right at the tail end of the lead lap I mean we have so many different players in this field Chase Elliott I mean Chase Elliot's lap down we saw him running in the 20s most of the night Ser of caution some smart strategy got him back in the game and we saw Kyle bus pit he is the first car on tires he's going to restart ninth all right Brisco picked the top yep that give gives lson the bottom of the racetrack let's took more up about Kyle Lawson here's Marty can I add one thing more to the mix here Lee sure back in 12th Tyler reic pitted for brand new tires and right now as it sits there's the regular season Championship Standings he is only three points behind Kyle Larson with those fresh Goodyear Tires could this move by Billy Scott after Tyler re has been sick all night long earned then the regular season title another thing to watch in these final 18 laps so much unfolding so much on the line what's this restart going to look like how hard would lson go let's go to some 14 radio we can do this keep telling yourself that we've got this taking the green with 17 to go for the southern 500 and a chance at a championship we got this pump up mode motivation mode Ryan priest his Stewart har teammate is back on that second row pace car off track is clear the green will fly with 17 to go here in Darlington for the win of the Southern 500 for an entry to the Nascar Cup series playoffs how ready is Chase Brisco gets a flyer watch that yellow and black car the eight of Kyle Bush on the inside of keslowski now lining up priest he goes to the inside of priest Christopher bell is out chasing Brisco a great start by the 14 Jeff matched by the start of the eight lots of positions in one set of Corners yeah did a great job he kind of caught Larson sleeping a little bit but look at go bu Kyle Bush is coming hard three laps pressured tires and a long windless streak on the line easily disposes of the five of Larsson the 263 laps LED tonight looks like nothing vers the eight heartbreak last week for Kyle bus here we go in inside Christopher Bell the last two races he's finished in the top five There's real momentum with this 18 at Richard child racing clears him Bush to second two guys in the top two if they win they're in and this isn't just fresh tires on anyone this is on Kyle bus a 63 race winner multi-time champ future Hall of Famer and has made the playoffs the last 11 years straight he's got to make this work though he's got to take advantage of these new tires right now I agree Jeff the longer they run the newness goes away they definitely equalize and Chase Brisco is not going to make this easy and the closer Bush gets to Brisco the worse his car is going to drive Brisco shot out of a cannon on the restart so impressive that was a really good Corner one and two for Kyle bus he needs to run a little lower he should be run lower with than Brisco with these newer tires that'll give him clean air also this lap will be The Telltale how much faster for the eight we need a tenth 10th and a half if he wants a chance that time by about a half a tenth the math says that's not fast enough 13 to go here in Darlington Chase Brisco Kyle Bush it's a two driver two car race to make it into the playoffs oh there there you go I like that middle lanee still lower like you asked Jeff but I thought he could roll the corner yeah Brisco got loose right there ran that High Line little bit loose off the corner half a second between them that's [Music] all are you kidding 11 laps to go next time by five 00 mil and the margin between the top two Is 4/10 of a second and that was a big Advantage Kyle that time in three and four that lane is working holding even in one and two over a tenth of a second gain it seems like the newer tires are still holding on kind of broke even and one and two maybe a little bit better by Bush now he's got to run that low line again Risco blocks him he goes to the bottom is Kyle bus going to be denied in backto back weeks is he going to do something about it he's drawing closer to chase Brisco there's only 2 and2 T of a second in it Brisco tried to take the air away from him but he went slower doing that he's got a decision to make I think he's got I think you Brisco you got to go back to the top over here in one in three and four coming to nine to go still so much time oh I love the high entry for the eight he'll turn down the hill get the run and he'll have the momentum on the 14 the fans are on their feet Lee nine laps to go here in Darlington not only to win the southern 500 but to win your way into the playoffs all right so this time Risco guest what's he going to do this time he goes to the [Music] top I think this is what Brisco has to do I think it's going to be difficult for Kyle bus to pull the pass off on the exit of four I know you hate to do it you hate to give him clean air but you're just going to have to prove to me that you can drive underneath me the two-time Cup Series champion is chasing down a driver who has one cup Victory and he's within a car length maybe two behind Chase Brisco eight to go traffic in front just out of the frame the 54 of tys going to try to get out of the way classy move let these two figure it out yeah I love what Brisco did right there he ran the line that he's the fastest in Bush tried to run up there with him it did not work Brisco needs to stay to the top in three and four and Bush needs to get back to the bottom a week ago after finishing second to Harrison Burton Kyle Busch said my only option was to wreck him I wasn't going to do it does he still feel the same way here at Darlington we got to know right now if Kyle bus has enough because he did exactly what he needed to do Brisco did what he needed to do and Brisco still is able to maintain Pace hey fellas back in 2020 when Kyle when uh when Chase Brisco won that exfinity Series race who did he fend off Kyle Bush can bush get revenge for that here tonight I like what the Eight's doing in one and two that higher exit is definitely working it's allowing him to be closer at this end of the racetrack the 14 right on the wall but he can't touch it see that's where that's where Brisco is better he's better up top offw of four he just is able to carry that momentum think about Richard shers right now the disqualification of Austin Dylan winning at Richmond the loss of the appeal then the loss last week Kyle bus Richard childr has been on a roller coaster [Music] ride eight goes to the top that time coming to four to go it was an advantage credit to chase Brisco to handle this pressure that has been relentless pretty much since the restart with the storming Kyle [Music] Bush oh good run by Bush right here Mason forward momentum on him three laps to go and just under 3/10 of a second between these two Risco got in too low that time out push to make a little bit of gain on him this sellout crowd has been treated to one heck of a finish and it's not over yet oh touch the wall once Here Comes Kyle Bush two laps to go [Music] [Music] these two were beating and banging on each other four years ago in the Infinity Series race and it was Brisco who came out on top now look at Kyle bus on that low line and he hits the wall Brisco hits the wall there is nothing between these two at the end of 500 miles one lap to go presented by Credit One Bank can Brisco hang on or has Kyle Bush got something both guys are going to break a very long winless streak but who will it be Kyle bus throwing everything at Chase Brisco he can it's a win and you're in and the 29-year-old from Mitchell Indiana Chase Brisco wins the southern 500 and is going to the playoffs two weeks in a row we have been treated to a win and you're in this time it's Chase Brisco dude holy [Applause] F how cool is that there's only 10 races left from here on for the Stewart har racing Corporation and Chase Brisco just raced his way into the playoffs that's how much it means right there he's in tears I just won the southern 500 that's what it's all about he eared it I mean he had two of the very best in our sport that he had to beat and he made it happen credit to Kyle bus he gave it everything that was an amazing final run but it's Chase Brisco who prevails his wife Marissa is having twins in October what an end of 2024 it is for the Brisco household you like that one Stevie what a battle what a battle you said it to win the southern 500 is one thing to do it with the pressure knowing that Stuart hos is going away and 10 races is another and then to cap it off to hold off you know Kyle Bush 63 wins two championships that resum chasing you down it's just quite amazing and we see this at of Brisco this Raw Talent when he gets the opportunity he puts it on display and these fans in Darlington all steering standing and cheering him on as he salutes I love The Classy backwards Victory lap Darlington just doesn't disappoint it's it's just amazing how the end of these races you said it Lee at the end of five you know 480 miles here we are racing like this it's just just never disappoints and courtesy of that win unfortunately these two guys don't have a say in the matter these two being Chris Pusher and Bubba Wallace when there was a new winner with Martin TRX being locked in even though casing out tys gets the last spot they're out this man's in and by the way the drama continues the points are in and Tyler reck has won the regular season by one single point one point [Music] [Applause] a win for the ages at [Applause] Darlington Chase Brisco and Stewart hos racing are in the 2024 playoffs great [Music] [Music] job just the emotion unquestioned the biggest win of his career the crew congratulating wife Marissa and his son coming in in tears as well [Music] [Music] [Applause] the beard Chase how much of this was for you and how much of this was for the 300 plus employees at Stewart hos who don't have a job at the end of the year both last week was the most embarrassing race I ever ran in my life and I told Richard I said I don't even want to talk about it I promise you I will make it up to you next week and just uh man I everybody knows I'm a DI Tony Stewart fan and to get this 14 car back in Victory Lane and and uh you know for all 320 something employees to to be able to race for a championship in their final year it's a man unbelievable so yeah God is just so good it's uh it's like deja vu there at the end with Kyle with the xor r here in 2020 and I was so loose I didn't know if I was going to be able to do it but uh yeah just can't than highpoint.com man detractors Rush Truck Centers uh Rai uh Zep just everybody that uh makes this steal go and go to Atlanta and try to uh steal another one what does it say about you and the entire 14 team that you never number one gave up but never number two never quit on each other yeah it's just this group I mean the day that we found out that you know the team wasn't going to exist anymore we went over to the shop floor and we all looked at each other and said we're in this to the end we're not going to give up and we had we kept saying all week we got one bullet left in the chamber and that uh that bullet hit Kyle Bush was catching you was that the hardest you've driven in your entire life yeah I was sideways counter steering felt like I was in a Sprint car so yeah just um yeah uh this night just literally went perfect you know the Picker did an incredible job and uh I was crying like after the jcker I just won the southern 500 this is a Crown Jewel and what makes this race so special is all you race fans every time we come here it's sold out it's awesome and uh we love you guys and last time I went here was during Co so I didn't get experience the fans so grateful that you guys are here and uh yeah can't wait to celebrate for a driver who loves the history of racing this one means a lot on so many levels for Chase Brisco now a playoff participant Dave Kyle your team gave you the fresher rubber did you think that'd be enough um yeah I did when I made it through a few of those guys right there on the start I thought we'd have a shot to get there and I think I just needed him to have maybe three or four more laps older tires for uh for me to be able to break through the Wake once I got within his air um I really I really didn't have enough to uh to power through that to get closer I was kind of sliding already so um hate it for our guys everybody on our team um everybody at RCR and this Morgan and Morgan Chevrolet they turned it around the last uh four or five weeks and and we've run a lot better and that's been much uh improved and and beneficial to our team and the organization so um something to build on and and get better for you know we just missed a lot in the early part of the year and through the middle part of the year to uh to put ourselves in this spot to be on the outside looking in so um to come in here for a last ditch effort and um and have a shot I mean early in the race I wouldn't have thought we had a shot so felt like we really overachieved there towards the end and and got a really good finish for for what what we had or what I thought we had and uh we'll take it and and keep building on it it's kind of a tale of two seasons right because you had legitimate shots the last month or so in Atlanta yeah um you know so it's um you know it's just short you know come up short and um you know maybe I a washed up old dog but um hopefully I can find a few more trophies I think not but I think you'll be looking for that Victory to keep the streak alive in the last 10 races here right yeah no doubt I mean that's you know I I wanted it last week I wanted it this week I wanted it in Atlanta I wanted it in Vegas you know there's been a lot of opportunities Dayton 500 we were up front all day so um I I can count them you know at least on on a hand maybe I need two hands to count opportunities that have slipped away so uh we're achieving right now and and getting success from Those runs and and pulling in the finishes that we need it's a good look from the eight right now to too bad they couldn't capitalize tonight guys what a phenomenal run it was from Kyle Bush this guy fought as hard as he could as well Bubba Wallace excellent qualifying yesterday started on the pole gave it his all but it's not to be he will not be in the playoffs next weekend on the flip side his teammate who battled sickness all race long is the regular season champ ion by one point over Kyle Lon could we have any more drama in the southern 500 that was incredible the margin of Victory 3 and 1 1210 of a second after 500 mil an incredible racing performance by Chase Brisco to win his Maiden Southern 500 an emotional win for so many for more than Brisco what a night here at Darlington and we've got plenty more to come [Music]