Jones, who had run in in the top-10 most of the race, inherited the lead on Lap 345 of 367 when Kyle Busch – who exited pit road with the lead – suddenly saw the engine blow in his No. 18 Toyota while the race was still under caution.
Jones then led the way on the restart on Lap 348 and spent the final 20 laps holding off a fierce challenge from Denny Hamlin, finally clearing him by 0.252 seconds at the checkered flag to claim the win.
The victory by Jones – who failed to qualify for the 16-driver NASCAR Cup Series playoffs – is his first this season.
The victory came 55 years to the day for the last victory at Darlington for the Petty GMS Racing No. 43, which was by current team co-owner Richard Petty.
“I get a hat. He told me I get a hat if I win,” Jones said of Petty. “But Richard hasn’t been to Victory Lane at Darlington probably since he last won here. It’s just awesome. Just so proud of these guys.
“We’ve been so close all year, and I didn’t think today was going to be the day. It was going to be a tough one to win, I knew, but no better fitting place. I love this track. I love this race.
“On that trophy twice, man. I was pumped to be on it once, but to have it on there twice – pretty cool.”
Asked about the wild finish, Jones said, “We had a lot of good stuff go our way. We got the lead there with (Busch) losing a motor, and man, we’ve got a good shot if we can just get clear, and we had a good car, we just weren’t quite with the pace of some of those guys up front.
“We took the lead, I’m like 20 laps, I can just run hard, and those last two I was losing the balance a lot. I had been running really hard. But it was just enough. So, just really proud.”
With his win, Jones prevented one of the 16 playoff drivers from claiming an automatic lock into the second round, which would have come with a victory.
With two races remaining in the first round, Austin Cindric, Chase Briscoe, Austin Dillon and Kevin Harvick are the lowest four in points and in danger of being eliminated.
Tyler Reddick ended up third in the race, Joey Logano fourth and Christopher Bell rounded out the top-five.
Completing the top-10 were Michael McDowell, Brad Keselowski, William Byron, Bubba Wallace and Alex Bowman.
Stage 3
Following the break between Stages 2 and 3, the lead-lap cars all pit with Busch again the first off pit road.
When the race resumed on Lap 237, Busch was followed by Martin Truex Jr., Ryan…
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