Christopher Bell Wins 2026 NASCAR Cup Southern 500 at Darlington

Christopher Bell triumphed in the 77th running of the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway, marking the start of the 2026 NASCAR Cup Chase for the championship. He overtook Kyle Larson with 12 laps remaining, securing a victory that ended his winless streak dating back to September.

Bell finished the race 1.038 seconds ahead of his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Ty Gibbs and 2.533 seconds in front of Tyler Reddick from 23XI Racing. Bell also claimed victory in Stage 2, while Reddick won Stage 1. Notably, nine of the top ten finishers were Chase drivers, with Josh Berry being the highest-placed driver outside the postseason in seventh.

Despite leading for a race-high 99 laps, Larson fell to fifth place in the final run due to older tires. The race featured 28 lead changes among 12 different drivers and included six caution periods. Two cars, Chad Finchum and William Byron, did not finish the race due to mechanical issues.