Erik Jones Shocks NASCAR Cup Field with Playoff Upset at Darlington

Non-playoff qualifier puts Petty, the No. 43 car in victory lane at Darlington Raceway for first time in 55 years.

• Non-playoff qualifier Erik Jones in the No. 43 Petty/GMS Chevrolet was the last of 11 leaders on Sunday night at Darlington.
• Denny Hamlin finished second to lead the Playoff qualifiers in the first race of the 10-race Playoffs.
• The win marked the first time the No. 43 car had reached victory lane in since 2014 and the first time at Darlington since Richard Petty won this same race in 1967.

It had been 55 years to the day since NASCAR’s legendary, iconic No. 43 had gone to victory lane in the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway. On that September 1967 afternoon, Richard Petty led all but 19 of the 364 laps in beating David Pearson in the 18th annual Labor Day weekend event.

Sunday night’s Playoffs-opening 500 was far more competitive, with winner Erik Jones in the No. 43 Petty/GMS Chevrolet the last of 11 leaders. They swapped the point 21 times before Jones held back Denny Hamlin over the final 23 laps for his first victory this season. It was the 200th victory for car No. 43, but only the first since Aric Almirola won the July 2014 race at Daytona Beach.

Jones is the 17th winner through 27 Cup Series races this year.

He beat Hamlin by a quarter-second, with Tyler Reddick third, then Joey Logano, and Christopher Bell completing the top-five. The rest of the top-10: Michael McDowell, Brad Keselowski, William Byron, Bubba Wallace, and Alex Bowman.

Jones’s three career victories now include the July 2018 Pepsi 400 at Daytona Beach and the 2019 Southern 500 at Darlington. The two previous victories came for Joe Gibbs Racing, the team that fired him after the 2020 season. In a doubly-sweet irony, Jones moved from third to second for the final restart when JGR driver Martin Truex Jr. went to the garage. Moments later, Jones moved from second to the front when JGR driver Kyle Busch also went to the garage. Once on the front row for the last restart, Jones beat Hamlin – another JGR driver – to the checkered flag

Jones says he’s always enjoyed Darlington – something not many drivers can say – but he didn’t think Sunday night would be especially good. “We’ve been so close all year, but I didn’t think today was going to be the day,” he said. “It was going to be a tough one to win… but there is no better-fitting place. I love this track; I love this race. I was pumped to be on that winners’ trophy once, but it’s pretty cool to be on it twice.

Kyle Busch led the most laps before his engine let go during a late caution period.

Jared C. TiltonGetty Images

“That’s the calmest I’ve ever been in a race car going for a win. I think back to the last time winning here, and I was driving my guts out, my nerves were pounding, my stomach was hurting, and today it was just business as usual. I feel good about this track and knew Denny would run me clean; it was going to be tough to pass me. What a dream come true.”

It was not a good night for many of the 16 Playoff drivers. Chase Elliott, who started the race leading the championship standings, crashed early and was a DNF deep in the field. Defending champion Kyle Larson had mysterious engine issues and limped home in 12th. Truex Jr. and Busch led a combined 203 laps, but both ended up in the garage almost within sight of the checkered flag. Kevin Harvick bailed out of his car while it burned at the edge of the track.

The last driver to win a race in the No. 43 was Aric Almirola. He won the July race at Daytona in 2014.

The Playoffs continue next weekend at Kansas Speedway. Logano is the new series leader by six points over Byron.

Erik Jones won for the third time in his NASCAR Cup career on Sunday night at Darlington.

Jared C. TiltonGetty Images

Results

NASCAR Cup Series

73rd Annual Cook Out Southern 500

Darlington Raceway

1. (15) Erik Jones, Chevrolet, 367.

2. (11) Denny Hamlin (P), Toyota, 367.

3. (4) Tyler Reddick (P), Chevrolet, 367.

4. (1) Joey Logano (P), Ford, 367.

5. (2) Christopher Bell (P), Toyota, 367.

6. (10) Michael McDowell, Ford, 367.

7. (25) Brad Keselowski, Ford, 367.

8. (3) William Byron (P), Chevrolet, 367.

9. (8) Bubba Wallace (P), Toyota, 367.

10. (16) Alex Bowman (P), Chevrolet, 367.

11. (22) Aric Almirola, Ford, 367.

12. (7) Kyle Larson (P), Chevrolet, 367.

13. (9) Ryan Blaney (P), Ford, 367.

14. (30) Cole Custer, Ford, 367.

15. (21) Ty Gibbs(i), Toyota, 367.

16. (6) Austin Cindric # (P), Ford, 367.

17. (13) Austin Dillon (P), Chevrolet, 367.

18. (36) Daniel Suarez (P), Chevrolet, 367.

19. (14) Justin Haley, Chevrolet, 366.

20. (12) Ross Chastain (P), Chevrolet, 366.

21. (28) Harrison Burton #, Ford, 366.

22. (29) Ty Dillon, Chevrolet, 366.

23. (24) Daniel Hemric(i), Chevrolet, 365.

24. (34) Corey LaJoie, Chevrolet, 365.

25. (26) Landon Cassill(i), Chevrolet, 365.

26. (27) Chris Buescher, Ford, 365.

27. (19) Chase Briscoe (P), Ford, 363.

28. (31) Todd Gilliland #, Ford, 363.

29. (35) BJ McLeod(i), Ford, 361.

30. (5) Kyle Busch (P), Toyota, Engine, 345.

31. (17) Martin Truex Jr., Toyota, Water Pump, 336.

32. (32) Cody Ware, Ford, Accident, 331.

33. (18) Kevin Harvick (P), Ford, Exhaust, 274.

34. (33) JJ Yeley(i), Ford, Exhaust, 236.

35. (20) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Chevrolet, Accident, 164.

36. (23) Chase Elliott (P), Chevrolet, DVP, 113.

Average Speed of Race Winner: 120.406 mph.

Time of Race: 4 Hrs, 9 Mins, 49 Secs. Margin of Victory: .252 Seconds.

Caution Flags: 9 for 58 laps.

Lead Changes: 21 among 11 drivers.

Lap Leaders: J. Logano (P) 1-37;L. Cassill(i) 38;J. Logano (P) 39-65;W. Byron (P) 66-74;B. Wallace (P) 75-76;W. Byron (P) 77-117;K. Busch (P) 118-152;D. Hamlin (P) 153;R. Chastain (P) 154;B. Wallace (P) 155-156;B. Keselowski 157-167;K. Busch (P) 168-193;C. LaJoie 194-197;K. Busch (P) 198-208;M. Truex Jr. 209-220;K. Busch (P) 221-293;M. Truex Jr. 294-319;K. Busch (P) 320;D. Hamlin (P) 321-325;M. Truex Jr. 326-335;K. Busch (P) 336-344;E. Jones 345-367.

Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led): Kyle Busch (P) 6 times for 155 laps; Joey Logano (P) 2 times for 64 laps; William Byron (P) 2 times for 50 laps; Martin Truex Jr. 3 times for 48 laps; Erik Jones 1 time for 23 laps; Brad Keselowski 1 time for 11 laps; Denny Hamlin (P) 2 times for 6 laps; Bubba Wallace (P) 2 times for 4 laps; Corey LaJoie 1 time for 4 laps; Landon Cassill(i) 1 time for 1 lap; Ross Chastain (P) 1 time for 1 lap.

Stage #1 Top Ten: 24,11,18,20,19,1,8,43,12,45

Stage #2 Top Ten: 18,19,12,22,24,20,48,99,43,34

Updated Playoff Standings

1. Joey Logano 2,065
2. William Byron 2,059
3. Denny Hamlin 2,057
4. Christopher Bell 2,055
5. Tyler Reddick 2,050
6. Ryan Blaney 2,047
7. Kyle Larson 2,044
8. Ross Chastain 2,042
9. Chase Elliott 2,041
10. Alex Bowman 2,037
11. Kyle Busch 2,035
12. Daniel Suarez 2,029
13. Austin Cindric 2,027
14. Austin Dillon 2,025
15. Chase Briscoe 2,019
16. Kevin Harvick 2,016

Keyword: Erik Jones Shocks NASCAR Cup Field with Playoff Upset at Darlington