The race was decided by a series of cautions that caused utter chaos, with strategies in tatter.
But when the dust settled, it was the #14 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford that emerged victorious.
Earlier this year, it was announced that SHR will shut down at season’s end, but before it does, the team will have one more shot to win a third Cup Series title.
“Everybody knows I’m a diehard Tony Stewart fan,” said Briscoe through tears.
“To get this #14 car back in Victory Lane for all 320-something employees, and to be able to race for a championship in their final year is unbelievable.
“It’s like deja vu there at the end with Kyle [Busch], with the Xfinity race here in 2020.
I was so loose. I didn’t know if I was going to be able to do it.”
Reflecting on SHR’s impending closure, Briscoe added.
“The day we found out the team wasn’t going to exist anymore, we went over to the shop floor and we all looked at each other and we said, ‘We’re in this to the end, we’re not gonna give up’.
At the restart, Busch quickly cut his way through the pack.
He ran down Briscoe, desperately looking for a way around him, but never got alongside.
Briscoe clawed his way to the checkered flag, winning the Southern 500 and earning just the second win of his NASCAR Cup Series career.
Busch ended the regular season with back-to-back runner-up finishes, missing the playoffs for the first time since 2012.
