Christopher Bell scores first win of 2026 NASCAR season in Chase-opening Southern 500

Lady Luck and the Lady in Black finally smiled on Christopher Bell on Sunday, as the Norman, Okla., native broke a 33-race winless streak and scored his first victory of the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season in the Southern 500. 

Bell scored the 14th win of his Cup career and his second in a crown jewel race after coming down pit road for fresh tires after a brief rain delay with less than 30 laps to go. He passed Kyle Larson, who had opted to stay out on older tires, with 12 circuits remaining and held on from there to earn his first Darlington triumph. 

"It's been too damn long," Bell told USA Network. "It's been a long time coming. Darlington has been one I've always wanted to win since I got into the sport. It's a driver's track... I knew we'd be able to win it. We can win any week, it just hadn't happened yet. When I was sitting in the infield care center in Michigan, I thought my season was over... we're still in it, baby!"

Ty Gibbs, also on new tires, rallied in the closing laps to finish second, with polesitter Tyler Reddick, Ryan Blaney and defending series champion Larson, whose winless drought is now at 51 races, rounding out the top five. Chase Briscoe, Josh Berry — the highest-finishing non-Chase driver — Bubba Wallace, Joey Logano and Ryan Preece completed the top 10. 

Notable results

Other notable finishers include Carson Hocevar in 11th, Austin Cindric in 13th, Chase Elliott in 14th, Chris Buescher in 20th and Daniel Suarez in 21st. 

Points leader Denny Hamlin finished 18th after his No. 11 Toyota was damaged after a run-in with Michael McDowell, while William Byron finished 37th after an engine failure.

Hamlin leads Bell by 12 points in the Chase standings with nine races left in the season, while Byron's misfortune leaves him last (16th) in the Chase standings going into the Sept. 13 race at Gateway.