Racing Insights: Who will dream up a Darlington crown-jewel victory?
The Chase presented by Mobil 1 has arrived, and 16 hungry NASCAR Cup Series drivers head to Darlington Raceway looking to start their postseason fortunes on the right foot. But that's much easier said than done at the 1.366-mile egg-shaped oval, as car control and handling will be at a premium over 367 laps in the 77th running of the Cook Out Southern 500.
Denny Hamlin enters The Chase with the No. 1 seed, and he certainly knows a thing or two about getting around the track "Too Tough to Tame." He's a five-time winner at the South Carolina venue, and another crown-jewel victory would kick off his elusive first championship pursuit on a high note.
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Experience tends to pay dividends at Darlington, and The Chase field has plenty of that. But drivers still feeling the sting of missing the postseason have plenty to prove, as they look to pull off a holiday-weekend upset. Take a look at Racing Insights' full field projections for the Southern 500, as well as three drivers to keep an eye on as day turns to night in Darlington County.
DRIVERS TO WATCH
CHASE BRISCOE: The two-time defending winner of this race tops the list for obvious reasons. Briscoe can join Jeff Gordon as the only drivers to win three consecutive Southern 500s should he park in Victory Lane Sunday evening. He led 309 laps last year -- 84 percent of the race -- starting a torrid playoff run that resulted in a Championship 4 appearance. Although he only finished 12th in the spring, the Mitchell, Indiana native seems to come to life when pressure ramps up. Briscoe enters The Chase as the No. 5 seed, riding six finishes of sixth or better in his last nine -- including a Chicagoland Speedway triumph.
CHRIS BUESCHER: It might be fair to chalk up Buescher under the sleeping giant category. The Prosper, Texas, driver is going on two years since his last victory, but it hasn't been for a lack of consistency. And Darlington is quietly one of his best circuits. He's finished inside the top 10 in six of the last seven South Carolina races, including the last four -- which ties the longest active streak. His results of late haven't been sexy, but ten top 10s on the campaign -- along with a late-season surge from RFK Racing teammate Ryan Preece -- prove the organization has speed entering the postseason. At one point, the three RFK cars ran 1-2-3 in the springtime event.
ERIK JONES: Here's the likely Chase spoiler. Bar none, Darlington is Jones' best track. He's a two-time Southern 500 winner, which accounts for two of his three Cup Series victories. Jones' six top fives at the "Lady in Black" are his most at any venue, which includes a third-place effort in last year's race. After a dismal four-race stretch that took the Michigander out of Chase contention, Jones is looking to get back on track and start building momentum into next season as Legacy Motor Club expands to a three-car fit.