Christopher Bell Wins Southern 500 After Late Pass

Christopher Bell achieved his first Southern 500 victory at Darlington Raceway in South Carolina, starting The Chase postseason on a high note. This win comes after he faced seven runner-up finishes in the previous 26 races.

Bell, driving the No. 20 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing, passed Kyle Larson with 12 laps remaining and finished 1.038 seconds ahead of teammate Ty Gibbs. The race included a brief red-flag period due to light rain, and Bell's victory marked Toyota's fourth consecutive Cup win at Darlington.

During the race, Tyler Reddick, Ryan Blaney, and Larson, who led on older tires, followed Bell. Points leader Denny Hamlin finished 18th, while William Byron faced engine issues and ended up 37th. The race featured several incidents, including a spin by Carson Hocevar that affected the final laps.