Fresh tires carried Christopher Bell past Kyle Larson and to his first 2026 victory, leading a Toyota sweep of the Darlington podium.
Christopher Bell used fresh tires to pass Kyle Larson late and win the Cook Out Southern 500 on Sunday, September 6. The result ended a 33-race winless streak in the opening race of the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series Chase.
Bell beat Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Ty Gibbs by 1.038 seconds after 367 laps at Darlington Raceway. Tyler Reddick finished third for 23XI Racing to complete an all-Toyota podium.
Fresh tires decided the Southern 500
Crew chief Adam Stevens put fresh tires on Bell's car during the final pit stop, trading track position for grip in the closing run. Bell charged back through the field, then passed Larson in the final laps.
The No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota won Stage 2 and led 46 laps. Post-race inspection found no issues, confirming Bell as the winner of the 501-mile race.
Bell ended a season of near misses
It was Bell's first victory of 2026 and his first Southern 500 win.
His previous Cup victory came in the 2025 Bristol Night Race on September 23, 2025. Bell then went 33 races without winning again, despite matching the record with seven runner-up finishes before Darlington.
Bell earned 73 points at the 1.366-mile oval through his stage result and race victory.
Gibbs climbed from 28th to second
Ty Gibbs started 28th in the No. 54 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota and drove through the field to become Bell's nearest challenger at the finish. The runner-up result was Gibbs' 11th top-five finish of the season.
Gibbs scored 36 points and posted his best Southern 500 finish, but he couldn't close Bell's advantage during the final run.
Reddick led early at Darlington
Reddick controlled much of the early running in the No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota. He won Stage 1 and led 74 laps, the most among the three podium finishers.
The late pit sequence handed the advantage to Bell. Reddick placed third for the second consecutive event and collected 46 points at Darlington.
Bell closed on Chase leader Hamlin
Denny Hamlin kept the Chase lead after Darlington. Bell exited the first playoff race 12 points behind him, while Ryan Blaney trailed by 16 points and Reddick sat 24 back.
Gibbs moved to sixth, 39 points behind Hamlin, after his drive to second. The Cup Series Chase continues at Gateway, with Hamlin taking a 12-point advantage over Bell into the second playoff race.
