Denny Hamlin's lead dwindles as Kyle Larson and Christopher Bell gain ground

Denny Hamlin's lead in the NASCAR Cup Series Chase has diminished significantly after two races. Although he ended the regular season with an 89-point cushion, a poor finish of 18th at Darlington and a ninth-place finish at St. Louis have reduced his advantage to just nine points over Kyle Larson, who won at St. Louis. Christopher Bell's recent victory at the Southern 500 has also bolstered his status in the championship standings. The next races at Bristol and Kansas may present opportunities for Hamlin to regain control as he looks to stabilize his performance amid increasing pressure from Larson and Bell.

• 1:10 AMYahoo Sports — Denny Hamlin’s Lead is Shrinking Fast — and The Chase Field is Catching Up