SPORTS · AI-ASSISTED SUMMARY

Bell Takes Lead from Larson to Win Chase-Opening Southern 500

WHY IT MATTERS

Bell’s early playoff win boosts his championship prospects and sets a competitive tone for the rest of the Chase.

What happened

Christopher Bell took the lead from Kyle Larson with 18 laps remaining and held it to win the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway, the first race of NASCAR’s Chase for the Cup. The victory came on Sunday night and marked a decisive move in the playoff field. The win gives Bell a strong start to the Chase, positioning him as a front‑runner and adding momentum to his season. It also keeps the competition tight at the top of the standings as teams prepare for the next rounds.

LINKED SOURCES

Bell ends 33-race winless streak, takes Darlington

ESPN · Discovery only; ESPN copyright terms apply · Source updated

AI-assisted summary · THELAST.NEWSPublished September 7, 2026 at 2:00 AMUpdated September 7, 2026 at 2:00 AMRevision 11 linked source

THELAST.NEWS is published by Dmitry Yakushev, Cyprus. Briefs are prepared with the help of AI from linked sources and are not individually reviewed by a human editor unless marked otherwise.