Chase Briscoe’s win was essentially the most dominant Southern 500 victory in 54 years

Darlington Raceway simply hosted the 76th operating of the Southern 500 — a coveted crown jewel that has been a part of the NASCAR Cup schedule since 1950.

By successful it the way in which he did, Chase Briscoe assured himself a spot within the historical past books. He turned simply the eighth completely different driver to win back-to-back Southern 500s, and the primary since Greg Biffle did it in 2005-2006. 

Briscoe can also be the primary driver to efficiently defend his 500 win with two completely different groups since Cale Yarborough in 1973-1974. Nevertheless, Yarborough was nonetheless driving the identical automotive, whereas the possession merely modified heads. Bobbby Allison is the one different driver to have achieved the identical feat.

However Briscoe did not simply seem close to the top and win Sunday’s race. He completely dominated (regardless of a really shut end), sweeping each levels from pole place and main 309 of 367 laps. The Southern 500 hasn’t seen that stage of dominance since 1971, when Allison led 329 of 367 laps en path to the victory. 

As for Darlington races normally, you’d have to return to 1986, when Dale Earnhardt gained the TranSouth 500 after main 335 of 367 laps.

Bobby Allison celebrates victory in 1971 Southern 500 at Darlington, joined by nation music artist and fellow racer Marty Robbins

Picture by: ISC Photographs by way of Getty Photographs

So, the place precisely does Briscoe’s Southern 500 efficiency rank within the wealthy historical past of Darlington Raceway?

It is definitely up there, and since he did not lose the race within the closing moments to a hard-charging Reddick, Kyle Larson nonetheless holds the unlucky distinction of essentially the most dominant Darlington efficiency that did not finish in victory. In 2018, he led 284 of 367 laps within the Southern 500, solely to lose the result in Brad Keselowski throughout a late-race pit cease, and by no means get it again.

The place does Briscoe’s win fall on the listing?

However as for essentially the most dominant showings by Darlington race winners, Briscoe’s victory ranks seventh all-time by laps led, and eighth all-time by proportion of laps led at 84.2% of whole laps run. 

Essentially the most dominant displaying by laps led alone really occurred within the very first race held at Darlington, when inaugural Southern 500 winner Johnny Mantz led 351 of 400 laps. He used sturdy truck tires that lasted far longer and did not actually put on, whereas the competitors was always on pit highway looking for recent rubber.

Richard Petty competing within the 1967 Southern 500 at Darlington

Picture by: Bob D’Olivo/The Fanatic Community by way of Getty Photographs

By proportion of laps led, the glory goes to ‘The King’ himself, as Richard Petty led 96.6% of the laps en path to his victory within the 1966 Insurgent 400. If we have been trying solely on the Southern 500, it is nonetheless Petty, who led 94.8% of the laps to win the 1967 Southern 500. 

Briscoe’s win is not fairly at these ranges, however in trendy NASCAR, the extent of dominance he confirmed extremely uncommon to see in any race on the schedule. Larson holds the report there, main 92.8% of laps (462 of 500) when he gained the Bristol Night time Race in 2024.