Brandon Jones Scores Gritty Victory in Thrilling Xfinity Series Showdown at Darlington

In a race filled with drama, strategy, and intense position battles, Brandon Jones emerged victorious in Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity Series event at Darlington Raceway, edging out Cup Series star Chase Elliott by 1.105 seconds at the checkered flag.

Jones, piloting the No. 20 Toyota, executed a flawless final stage, capitalizing on late-race restarts and a fast pit crew to notch his first win of the season. The final 20 laps saw fierce competition among some of NASCAR’s most talented drivers, but it was Jones who held his ground when it mattered most.

The pivotal moment came on Lap 137, when Jones cleared traffic and assumed the lead for good. Elliott, running the No. 88 Chevrolet, slotted into second, while Justin Allgaier clawed his way back into the top three after a challenging pit stop earlier in the race. Allgaier attempted an inside move on Elliott with just eight laps to go but couldn’t complete the pass.

Prior to that, the race had been a chess match of strategy and survival. A multi-car incident on Lap 129 involving Anthony Alfredo, Leland Honeyman, Josh Williams, and Kyle Sieg brought out one of the race’s five cautions and reset the field for a dramatic final push. On the ensuing restart at Lap 136, Jeb Burton and Brennan Poole briefly led the field into Turn 1, but it was Jones who muscled past them off Turn 4 to regain control.

Jones’s win was built on consistency throughout the 147-lap contest. He led a total of 21 laps and spent the majority of the race inside the top five. His performance came after a strong start from the second position and a critical pit stop on Lap 131 that put him out front ahead of Elliott and Allgaier.

Meanwhile, Ross Chastain—who started 27th—made a bold charge through the field and led multiple laps, trading the top spot with Jones and Allgaier during the second stage. Christopher Bell, the pole sitter, showed early speed but faded in the later stages.

Stage 2 belonged to Allgaier, who led a race-high 54 laps and looked poised for victory until an incident during a pit stop dropped him to 15th. Despite the setback, the JR Motorsports driver fought back to finish in the top three.

The race featured 11 lead changes among eight different drivers and five caution periods for 30 laps, typical of Darlington’s challenging, tire-chewing surface and narrow racing grooves. The intense competition and rapid shifts in momentum kept fans on edge all afternoon.

With his victory, Jones not only adds another trophy to his collection but also builds valuable momentum heading into the heart of the Xfinity Series season. For Elliott, it was a strong showing in a rare Xfinity appearance, while Allgaier once again proved he’s a weekly threat despite the late-race heartbreak.

As the series moves forward, Darlington’s battle-scarred walls and historic grit once again served as the backdrop for another classic—one that Brandon Jones will never forget.