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Post-Race Recap: Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington

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Hey race fans!

Wow. What a night under the lights at Darlington for the first race of the 2025 playoffs and let me tell you, it did not disappoint.

This race had it all: drama, domination, heartbreak, and a whole lotta grit. Some of my fantasy picks crushed it, others… well, let’s just say they’ll be on probation next week.

Let’s break down how my lineup fared and where things stand as we leave the Lady in Black in the rearview mirror.

Chase Briscoe: Back-to-Back Brilliance at Darlington

He swept both stages, led a whopping 309 of 367 laps, and made Darlington look like his personal playground. That’s two straight Cook Out Southern 500 wins for Briscoe, and he’s the first to do that since Jimmie Johnson in 2006. Unreal.

He punched his ticket to the Round of 12 in serious style and made me look like a genius for putting him in my fantasy lineup. Chase Briscoe, you have my respect and my gratitude.

Tyler Reddick: So Close, So Clutch

You already know Reddick is my ride-or-die pick and man, did he deliver. Despite scraping the wall on Lap 1, he recovered like a boss and battled back to finish second. That’s his fifth top-five and seventh top-ten at Darlington, and it moved him a full 10 spots up in the standings. He’s now 35 points above the cut line, talk about a comeback. Tyler’s got that playoff fire burning bright, and I’m here for it.

Denny Hamlin: Pole Spot Redemption

Denny put down a stellar lap—on the pole again by a hair: 28.694 seconds at 171.381 mph, his second pole of the year and at Darlington, making it pole number 45 for his Toyota career. The man is consistent qualifying-wise. And even with a pit hiccup mid-race, he salvaged a strong P7 finish. That’s respectable points and playoff momentum.

Bubble Watch: Briscoe Rises, Berry Burns, Bowman Struggles

The playoff cut line always adds spice and this week it brought the heat. Briscoe launched himself into the next round, no questions asked.

Josh Berry

Berry’s drive was short-lived. He qualified P3, his best effort in a while, but crashed on Turn 2 during Lap 1 and finished 38th. Oof. That’s fantasy points flushed. He’s now 62 points below the playoff cut line, and his team is gonna need some heroics to keep the season alive.

Alex Bowman: Pit Road Woes

Alex had speed on his side but got bitten by the pit road gremlins. A long pit stop buried any rhythm he had. He salvaged points, but only just. Not the kind of return we needed; playoff strategy calls for more than surviving mistakes.

Austin Dillon: Driven and Alive

Talk about survival instinct. Dillon wasn’t in a flashy lane, but he stayed clean and finished respectably, likely somewhere in the mid-pack. And you know what? When your goal is just to hold a spot in the playoffs, sometimes showing up and staying out of trouble is your best play.

What’s Next? The Enjoy Illinois 300 at Gateway!

With Darlington now in the rearview, it’s time to shift our focus to World Wide Technology Raceway for the Enjoy Illinois 300.

This 1.25-mile oval is unique in shape and rhythm, and it often rewards drivers who balance aggression with tire conservation.

Gateway’s mix of short track style cornering and flat braking zones means we’ll likely see a few strategy gambles and maybe even some tempers flare.

Expect playoff drama to heat up even more as drivers jockey for position in the next elimination round.

I’ll be back soon with my fantasy picks for Gateway, so don’t forget to top off your fuel and check your lineups.

Catch you in the garage, race fans!

—Bryan

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Bryan
"🏁 Cruising the fast lane for over a decade at DrivingOnMarbles.com! 🚗 Passionate about all things NASCAR and dedicated to connecting fellow fans. Gear up and join the race with me! 🏎️💨 #10YearsAndCounting"