Bell Wins Darlington Thriller
Christopher Bell wins the Southern 500 to open NASCAR's revamped Chase format.
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Key Points
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Bell won Stage 2, while Tyler Reddick won Stage 1; nine of the top 10 finishers were Chase drivers, with Josh Berry in seventh as the highest-finishing non-Chase driver.
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The Southern 500 featured 12 different leaders, 28 lead changes and six cautions. Only two cars failed to finish: Chad Finchum’s No. 66 and Chase driver William Byron’s car, which suffered an engine failure.
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Before the Chase began, NASCAR reset the 16 drivers’ points: the regular-season leader started with 2,100 points, second place with 2,075, third with 2,065, and the 16th seed with 2,000. Each race win is worth 55 points, with stage points also counting.
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The 2026 format revives the Chase model NASCAR first introduced in 2004, replacing the elimination rounds and four-driver championship race with a points championship decided across the 10 postseason events.
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Darlington is known as “Too Tough To Tame,” reflecting the track’s reputation for testing drivers’ skill, strategy and stamina during the grueling Southern 500.
Christopher Bell won the Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway on September 6, ending a winless streak and kicking off NASCAR's new Chase format with his 14th career Cup Series victory AutoHebdoF1. Bell passed Kyle Larson with 12 laps remaining and crossed the finish line 1.038 seconds ahead of teammate Ty Gibbs, while Tyler Reddick finished third. The victory marks the start of NASCAR's redesigned 2026 postseason, which ditches elimination rounds for a pure points battle among 16 drivers over 10 races USAToday.
Bell's Late Pass Ends Long Winless Stretch
Bell made his winning move in the final laps, diving under Larson with 12 circuits to go on the 1.366-mile track known as "Too Tough To Tame" Yahoo. Larson had commanded the race with 99 laps led but faded to fifth place on older tires down the stretch. Nine of the top 10 finishers were Chase-eligible drivers, showing the strength of the postseason field USAToday.
Darlington Delivers a Chaotic 12-Leader Battle
The Southern 500 produced wild swings throughout its 367 laps. Twelve different drivers led the race, with 28 lead changes and six cautions creating constant jockeying for position Jayski. Tyler Reddick won Stage 1 while Bell captured Stage 2, banking stage points crucial in the new format. Only two cars failed to finish: Chad Finchum's No. 66 and Chase driver William Byron's Toyota, which suffered an engine failure USAToday.
How NASCAR's New Chase Format Works
The 2026 Chase eliminates the elimination rounds and four-driver finale that defined NASCAR's playoff format since 2014. Instead, all 16 drivers compete across 10 postseason races with their points totals determining the champion USAToday. Denny Hamlin started the postseason as points leader with 2,100 points, followed by Ryan Blaney with 2,075. The 16th seed received 2,000 points. Each race win is worth 55 points, with stage points also counting toward the final tally Jayski.
Rain Forces Earlier Start at Historic Darlington
NASCAR moved the race start time up 10 minutes to 5 p.m. ET due to an elevated chance of rain in the forecast AutoHebdoF1. The decision kept the Cook Out Southern 500 dry and allowed the full event to run without weather delays. Darlington's tight 1.366-mile oval with its distinctive egg-shaped design has tested drivers for decades, earning its nickname for the challenging racing it produces Jayski.
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