Hamlin Leads the Chase After Darlington
Denny Hamlin holds the lead in NASCAR’s The Chase after the Cook Out Southern 500, with Christopher Bell and Ryan Blaney close behind and nine races remaining.
Sep 7, 2026
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Ryan Blaney
Latest Slidescroller coverage mentioning Ryan Blaney across Nascar.
Christopher Bell Ends 33‑Race Winless Streak with Southern 500 Victory at Darlington
Bell broke a 33‑race drought by passing Kyle Larson with 18 laps left, while Denny Hamlin’s early incident dropped him to 18th, reshaping the playoff picture ahead of the St. Louis showdown.
Sep 7, 2026
Christopher Bell Ends 33‑Race Winless Streak at Darlington, Propels into Chase Lead Battle
Christopher Bell broke a 33‑race winless streak by winning the Southern 500 at Darlington, passing Kyle Larson in the final laps and moving into second place in the Chase standings.
Sep 7, 2026
Bell’s Southern 500 Win Propels Him into Championship Fight
Christopher Bell’s narrow triumph at the Cook Out Southern 500 elevates him to second in the standings, underscoring Toyota’s expected 2026 championship challenge.
Sep 7, 2026
Denny Hamlin Holds Points Lead as Christopher Bell Wins Opening Chase Race at Darlington
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.
Sep 7, 2026
Southern 500 Highlights Tight Chase Battle and Strategic Challenges
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.
Sep 7, 2026
Hamlin Holds Lead as Bell Wins Southern 500, Chase Tightens
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.
Sep 7, 2026
Christopher Bell Wins Southern 500, Ends 33‑Race Winless Streak
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.
Sep 7, 2026
Denny Hamlin Admits Luck Shapes NASCAR, Even as He Leads the Points
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.
Sep 7, 2026
Christopher Bell Opens 2026 NASCAR Cup Series Chase with Darlington Victory
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.
Sep 7, 2026
Ford Closes Gap on Toyota Ahead of 2026 NASCAR Season, Blaney Says
With five victories in the final seven regular‑season races, Ford has surged past Toyota in the 2026 NASCAR standings, and Ryan Blaney says the team’s renewed communication and car setup are key to sustaining the momentum into the Chase.
Sep 7, 2026
Christopher Bell Secures First 2026 NASCAR Cup Win at Darlington, Ending Year‑Long Winless Streak
Christopher Bell captured his maiden 2026 NASCAR Cup victory at Darlington Raceway, ending a near‑year winless stretch and marking a pivotal moment in a season that had been dominated by consistent near‑misses.
Sep 7, 2026
NASCAR Revives the Chase with Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington
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.
Sep 7, 2026
Christopher Bell Wins First 2026 NASCAR Cup Race at Darlington
Bell broke his lengthy winless run with a late‑race pass on Larson, while Hamlin holds the points lead heading into the final stretch.
Sep 7, 2026
NASCAR Launches $5 Swear Jar as Part of ‘Hell Yeah’ Revival Effort
NASCAR's 'Hell Yeah' campaign introduced a $5 swear jar for radio profanity, accumulating $1,115 at Darlington after 223 swears, while drivers Ryan Blaney and Christopher Bell were central to the story.
Sep 7, 2026
Christopher Bell Ends 33‑Race Winless Streak at Southern 500
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.
Sep 7, 2026
Christopher Bell Ends Winless Streak with Southern 500 Victory
Christopher Bell broke a near-year drought at the Southern 500, moving into second in the Chase and highlighting a season‑defining performance.
Sep 7, 2026
Christopher Bell Takes Lead in NASCAR Cup After Dramatic Darlington 2026 Showdown
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.
Sep 7, 2026
Christopher Bell Ends 33‑Race Winless Streak with Southern 500 Victory
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.
Sep 7, 2026
NASCAR Cup Series Chase Shifts After Darlington, Hamlin and Bell Battle for Lead
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.
Sep 7, 2026
Christopher Bell finally breaks winless streak at Darlington with Cook Out Southern 500 victory
Bell's triumph at Darlington Raceway ended a year-long win drought, highlighted by a 46‑lap lead and a pass of Kyle Larson, while rivals William Byron and several Chase contenders faced setbacks.
Sep 7, 2026
Christopher Bell Secures First 2026 NASCAR Win at Cook Out Southern 500
Christopher Bell claimed his first victory of the 2026 season at Darlington Raceway, breaking a 51‑week drought, as William Byron struggled with mechanical issues and fell to 16th in the Chase, with the next race set for St. Louis on September 13.
Sep 7, 2026
Christopher Bell clinches first Chase win at Southern 500, ending 33‑race drought
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.
Sep 7, 2026
Christopher Bell clinches first 2026 NASCAR Cup victory at Darlington
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.
Sep 7, 2026