Denny Hamlin kept his lead in the NASCAR Cup Series Chase after the Darlington race on September 6, holding a 12‑point advantage over Christopher Bell.
Bell’s victory at Darlington marked his first win since the Bristol race a year earlier, while Hamlin, nursing a broken toe‑link injury, fought his way to an 18th‑place finish and collected 16 stage points that helped blunt his deficit.
Chase Outlook
The updated standings show Hamlin at 2,135 points, Bell at 2,123, with Ryan Blaney third at 2,119, Ty Gibbs fourth at 2,096, Kyle Larson fifth at 2,086, a tie between Joey Logano and Chase Elliott at 2,063, and Daniel Suarez 14th with 2,041 points.
The ten‑race Chase will next take place at Gateway in Missouri, where the playoff picture will continue to evolve as the competitors battle for position.