Take 5: Bojangles’ Southern 500 at Darlington

Grand, old Darlington Raceway put the 69th Bojangles' Southern 500 in the books Sunday night, with an energetic crowd soaking in the NASCAR Throwback spirit. The racing was similarly old-school, with a late plot twist that threw the anticipated ending into disarray. With Labor Day weekend still fresh, here are the five takeaways from the latest chapter in a stock-car racing tradition.

SWEET SWEEP: Brad Keselowski entered the weekend a collective 0-for-15 for his career across NASCAR national series at Darlington. After prevailing in the Monster Energy Series and Xfinity Series on consecutive days, he's 2-for-2 in his most recent starts at the 1.366-mile track. 'It's something that I'll carry forever,' said Keselowski, who sported a special Rusty Wallace throwback look on his No. 2 Ford. 'It's probably the biggest win of my career, especially with it being a weekend sweep at one of the toughest tracks on the circuit, and today was no different.'

SOME POP FOR PENSKE: Keselowski's first victory of the season was an especially bright note for Team Penske. The organization savored a 1-2 finish with Joey Logano snatching second from Kyle Larson in the late going for his second straight top-five outcome. Peaking at the right time? Logano said it's possible. 'I think in the last couple races, Bristol and here, I know they're unique racetracks,' Logano said, 'but to see the speed and momentum build, that's key right now.'

BUBBLING UP: Jimmie Johnson's worst finish of the season -- a 39th-place early retirement with a faulty oil pump -- kept him from sealing his postseason ticket at Darlington. Instead, he'll head to the regular-season finale at Indianapolis with a remote chance of missing the playoffs if there's a surprise winner and Hendrick Motorsports teammate Alex Bowman erases a 19-point gap. 'Yeah, there is no need to flip out now,' Johnson said. 'We have had a pretty rough year to this point. We have been working hard, unfortunately just haven't had the results. We will keep working hard. There is no quit in myself or this team.'

BIG 3 SCRAMBLE: Darlington Raceway held a night of mixed fortunes for Kevin Harvick, Kyle Busch and Martin Truex Jr., the three primary winners on the Monster Energy Series circuit this year. Harvick spent the majority of the race among the top 10 before finishing fourth. Busch was involved in the night's first incident, making contact with Joey Gase's No. 23 before righting himself for seventh place. Truex made a long, gradual recovery from a pit-road penalty for an uncontrolled tire before claiming 11th at the checkered flag.

PARTIAL CREDIT FOR HAMLIN: Denny Hamlin made a strong case for pre-race favorite Sunday at Darlington, given his exceptional knack for the South Carolina track and his prime starting position from the Busch Pole. Hamlin led the first 11 laps but never headed the field again, fading to an eventual 10th-place finish -- his fourth straight Darlington top 10. Hamlin remains winless in 2018, but he did make another step toward the playoffs, joining Stewart-Haas Racing's Aric Almirola as the two drivers clinching postseason berths Sunday with one race left before the field of 16 is set.