Christopher Bell wins Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway
2 sources • 1 min read • Latest: Sep 8, 2026, 2:07 AM
Last updated Sep 8, 2026
Christopher Bell captured the Southern 500 victory at Darlington Raceway on Sunday, marking his first win of the season. Following a late pass on Kyle Larson, Bell secured the victory despite facing a challenging season that included a wrist injury. Ty Gibbs finished in second place, while Chase Briscoe claimed sixth. The result significantly narrowed the gap in the Chase standings, with Bell moving to within 12 points of leader Denny Hamlin. The NASCAR postseason continues next week at World Wide Technology Raceway in Illinois. This win ensures that all four Joe Gibbs Racing drivers have secured victories during the current season, a feat the organization has not achieved since 2019.
- •Christopher Bell secured his first victory of the season at the Southern 500.
- •Ty Gibbs finished second at Darlington Raceway.
- •Bell moved to within 12 points of Chase leader Denny Hamlin.
- •All four Joe Gibbs Racing drivers have now achieved a win this season.
- •The next race takes place at World Wide Technology Raceway.
- 2:07 AMYahoo Sports — Chase Lookahead: JGR shows power with Bell winning Southern 500 in postseason’s opening Chase race
- 4:04 PMYahoo Sports — Chase Lookahead: JGR shows power with Bell winning Southern 500 in postseason's opening Chase race
"The Chase leader and favorite, the newest Southern 500 champion and two rising young racers who had top-six finishes at Darlington Raceway to open NASCAR’s postseason on Sunday night — the hardest challenge for the four Joe Gibbs Racing drivers might be vying against one another for the Cup Series title. “Our teams have hit it,” said Christopher Bell, whose late pass on leader Kyle Larson led to his first Southern 500 crown. “Yeah, we need to make the most of it now, because we know how it goes.”
"Joe Gibbs Racing showed its dominance again with Christopher Bell’s victory in the Chase-opening Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway.
Sources
External links- Yahoo SportsSep 8, 2026, 2:07 AMChase Lookahead: JGR shows power with Bell winning Southern 500 in postseason’s opening Chase race
Joe Gibbs Racing showed its dominance again with Christopher Bell’s victory in the Chase-opening Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway.
- Yahoo SportsSep 7, 2026, 4:04 PMChase Lookahead: JGR shows power with Bell winning Southern 500 in postseason's opening Chase race
The Chase leader and favorite, the newest Southern 500 champion and two rising young racers who had top-six finishes at Darlington Raceway to open NASCAR’s postseason on Sunday night — the hardest challenge for the four Joe Gibbs Racing drivers might be vying against one another for the Cup Series title. “Our teams have hit it,” said Christopher Bell, whose late pass on leader Kyle Larson led to his first Southern 500 crown. “Yeah, we need to make the most of it now, because we know how it goes.”
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