Darlington doesn’t play fair, and its nickname, ‘The Lady in Black,’ sticks for a reason. This year, Chase Briscoe cemented his dominance with a sweep and locked his ticket to the next round, while established favorites like Joey Logano and Alex Bowman found themselves staring up at the cut line. Meanwhile, desperation started humming under the hood for some drivers. And now, Denny Hamlin, who is sitting comfortably in second, has offered his verdict on how the big teams of NASCAR will perform.

The playoff picture after Darlington already has a pulse. Chase Briscoe’s Southern 500 domination didn’t just put him in the points lead; it set the tone for the Round of 16. Denny Hamlin, Kyle Larson, and a pack of heavy hitters are chasing, but the danger zone is crowded. Joey Logano, Alex Bowman

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