Erik Jones brings the drama in return to Victory Lane

  • Erik Jones, driver of the #43 FOCUSfactor Chevrolet, takes the checkered flag to win the Cup Series Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Sunday. Jones became the first nonplayoff driver to win the first postseason event since NASCAR introduced the elimination format in 2014. (Logan Riely/Getty Images)
    Erik Jones, driver of the #43 FOCUSfactor Chevrolet, takes the checkered flag to win the Cup Series Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Sunday. Jones became the first nonplayoff driver to win the first postseason event since NASCAR introduced the elimination format in 2014. (Logan Riely/Getty Images)

    In a race that had more twists and turns than a Victorian melodrama, Erik Jones put the vaunted No. 43 Chevrolet back in Victory Lane for the first time since 2014. In the season‘s first Cup Series Playoff race, Jones held off Denny Hamlin in a 20-lap run to the finish to win the Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway for the second time.

    The Sunday night race took its toll on more than a hand…