Latest Slidescroller coverage mentioning Denny Hamlin across Nascar.
Christopher Bell claimed the opening win of The Chase at Darlington Raceway while Denny Hamlin kept his points lead despite a contact incident with Michael McDowell.
The Southern 500 served as a pivotal early test for the Chase, where stage points, mechanical failures and strategic pit stops reshaped the standings, keeping the championship fight razor‑thin with nine races left.
The Southern 500 delivered a dramatic finish that reshaped the Chase standings, highlighted by Denny Hamlin’s narrow lead, Christopher Bell’s victory, and a series of strategic performances that underscore the importance of stage points.
Bell’s decisive pass of Kyle Larson and subsequent win at Darlington marked his first Cup victory in 15 attempts and reshaped the playoff landscape.
After years of dismissing fortune, Denny Hamlin now acknowledges that luck still influences NASCAR, especially as he tops the Cup Series standings under a new playoff format.
Wallace finished eighth, led 38 laps and earned 15 stage points, moving from 14th to 10th in the NASCAR Cup Series as he looks to reshape his team’s narrative ahead of the Chase.
Denny Hamlin retained a 12‑point advantage in the NASCAR Chase after finishing 18th at Darlington, while Christopher Bell won the race and now trails by the same margin.
Bell's triumph at Darlington Raceway marks the start of a tightly contested Chase, with the championship battle shaping up around a 12‑point margin and nine races remaining.
Bubba Wallace has secured his third berth in the NASCAR Chase and now looks to translate that momentum into a first career win at the Cook Out Southern 500, drawing on a season of strategic refinement and personal focus.
Chase Elliott praises NASCAR’s move to restore the traditional points system for 2026, saying it will deliver a more authentic championship battle and aid his quest for a second Cup title.
The Cook Out Southern 500 kicked off NASCAR’s postseason, resetting the standings for the Chase and setting the stage for a 10‑race playoff run.
Christopher Bell won the 2026 Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway, his first win of the season and the first Cup victory in the new Chase format since 2013.
Bell broke his lengthy winless run with a late‑race pass on Larson, while Hamlin holds the points lead heading into the final stretch.
Christopher Bell captured the Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway, snapping a 33‑race winless streak and securing his second crown‑jewel triumph, while the race reshaped the playoff picture ahead of the upcoming Chase event.
Christopher Bell captured his first NASCAR Cup Series postseason win at Darlington Raceway, taking the lead with under 15 laps remaining and holding it through a late‑race yellow flag to finish ahead of Kyle Larson and Denny Hamlin.
Christopher Bell broke his 33‑race winless streak by passing Kyle Larson with 18 laps remaining at Darlington Raceway, moving into second place in the Chase standings.
Christopher Bell broke his lengthy winless drought by overtaking Kyle Larson with 18 laps remaining, while nine of the top ten finishers belonged to Chase drivers.
Christopher Bell broke a near-year drought at the Southern 500, moving into second in the Chase and highlighting a season‑defining performance.
Bell’s victory at Darlington propels him to second in the points chase, with Hamlin closing the gap and several midfield drivers experiencing significant movement.
Christopher Bell broke a 33‑race drought by winning the Southern 500, edging Kyle Larson in the closing laps and positioning himself for the next Chase showdown in St. Louis.
The Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington reshaped the NASCAR Cup Series Chase, cutting Denny Hamlin’s lead in half and propelling Christopher Bell into second place, while the upcoming Enjoy Illinois 300 at WWT Raceway looms as the next critical test.
Bell’s victory at Darlington marks the end of a 33‑race winless streak and showcases the depth of the Chase field as the playoff picture tightens ahead of the St. Louis race.
Christopher Bell captured his maiden 2026 Cup win at Darlington, catapulting him into second place in the standings, while Denny Hamlin’s toe‑link issue and other mid‑field battles shaped the race’s dramatic conclusion.
Christopher Bell claimed victory at the Cook Out Southern 500, moving into second place in the Chase standings as the 2026 NASCAR season gets underway.