Kyle Petty brands the 2024 Southern 500 as probably the ‘most dramatic and best ever’

Ex-NASCAR driver Kyle Petty seems really impressed with how the 2024 Southern 500 played with more drama towards the end of the race.


Kyle Petty brands the 2024 Southern 500 as probably the ‘most dramatic and best ever’

Kyle Petty and Chase Briscoe (Via IMAGO)

The 2024 NASCAR Cup regular season finale at Darlington Raceway was huge success in terms of entertainment and the race product. Many fans were critical of the sanctioning body’s decision to replace the Coke Zero Sugar 400 as the finale, but with last Sunday’s race NASCAR proved that they made the right call.

The dramatic end of the race saw Chase Briscoe of Stewart Haas Racing ending the teams two-year winless streak and getting them a place in the playoffs, while breaking Kyle Busch’s heart as he secured P2 for the second race in row. Ex-racer Kyle Petty was pretty impressed by how the whole race played out.

YouTube video

He shared his opinion on the race via his regular race review for NASCAR’s YouTube channel. Petty asserted that it was one of the most dramatic races he has seen in a long time and the boldly asserted that it is the best southern 500 he has ever seen. He event suggested to make the track the season opener and the finale venue.

FS Video
The Southern 500 — it should be the starting race of the season and the closing race of the season; the cutoff race and we should run all 10 of the playoff races at Darlington. What a fantastic Southern 500. I have nothing negative to say. Let me tell you something: Most dramatic race I think I’ve seen in a long, long time. Maybe the best Southern 500 I’ve ever seen.
Kyle Petty said via NASCAR YouTube.

Kyle Petty shared the Kyle Larson factor that made the race dramatic

Hendrick Motorsports’ Kyle Larson was the driver to beat on Sunday and he did get beaten. He led 200 laps in the race, the most by any drivers on the day, but at the end of the race he finished P4. He was almost no-existent on the last 10-15 laps of the event showcasing how the whole race changed within a few laps.

Kyle Larson and Tyler Reddick
Kyle Larson and Tyler Reddick (Via IMAGO)
There was so much going on. Yes, yes, yes, Kyle Larson dominated but hey, did anybody know where he went the last 10-15 laps? We didn’t even mention him post-race. The guy leads 200 laps at Darlington, and you don’t mention him.
Kyle Petty said.

The drop in position late in the race ended up crucial for Kyle Larson as he lost the regular season championship to Tyler Reddick by just one point. It will hurt his championship chase a lot as he lost 15 bonus playoff points. That was just one of the many dramatic incidents that race featured.

In case you missed it: