Bell wins Stage 2 of Southern 500

Stage 2 recap

Christopher Bell won Stage 2 of Sunday’s Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway (live on USA Network, HBO Max, MRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). It was his fifth stage victory of 2026.

Kyle Larson finished second, climbing from 16th over the final stint of the frame. Denny Hamlin, Bubba Wallace and Ryan Blaney completed the top five. Josh Berry, Chase Briscoe, William Byron, Tyler Reddick and Austin Cindric completed the top 10 and point earners. Berry is the only driver not competing in The Chase presented by Mobil 1.

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Ryan Preece finished 20th, struggling to climb through the field after multiple pit stops set him back after Stage 1. Chris Buescher finished 30th, striking the wall multiple times and reporting a bent toe link.

Reddick surged back to the lead on the Stage 2 restart, setting sail while Hamlin dropped to fourth. The No. 45 23XI Racing driver maintained out front until the pit cycle began at Lap 147.

He came down pit road at Lap 151, one lap after teammate Bubba Wallace. But Wallace’s stop was two tenths quicker, and that allowed him to leapfrog to the lead for the first time.

Moments before the pit cycle officially began, Brad Keselowski went for his second spin of the evening, but the race stayed green as he came to a stop on the Turn 4 apron.

MORE: Full Stage 2 results

Thirty-five laps later, the second green-flag pit cycle began. Thanks to an 8.8-second stop, Briscoe jumped Wallace during the cycle, and the two-time defending Southern 500 winner took his first lead of the night.

That didn’t last. With 15 to go in the stage, Bell, using four-lap fresher tires, passed his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate and cruised to the stage victory.

Three Joe Gibbs Racing drivers had pit-road issues just after the conclusion of Stage 2. Briscoe ran out of fuel after the stage-checkered flag, and both Bell and Hamlin had slow pit stops before the start of the final stage. Reddick also had a slow stop on the final green-flag pit cycle in Stage 2 that caused the No. 45 to fall outside the top five. Reddick was scored ninth at the stage break.

Stage 1 recap

Tyler Reddick won Stage 1 of Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway.

Bubba Wallace finished second, followed by Denny Hamlin, Christopher Bell and Ryan Blaney. Chase Briscoe, Ryan Preece, Austin Cindric, William Byron and Ty Gibbs completed the top 10 and points earners – all Chase presented by Mobil 1 drivers.

MORE: Full Stage 1 results

Hamlin jumped out to the lead at Lap 3, rocketing up from his fourth-place starting position in mere moments. Daniel Suárez, who started second, led the opening two circuits as polesitter and springtime Darlington winner Reddick settled in second place.

That lead didn’t last long, as Reddick reeled in his 23XI Racing co-owner and took the lead at Lap 30, successfully executing a slide job move in Turns 3 and 4.

Meanwhile, Suárez plummeted after the early short-run pace, falling to 17th once at Lap 35 yellow was displayed as a competition caution, which allowed for teams to check tire wear after Saturday’s practice and qualifying sessions were canceled. Suárez finished the stage 26th, worst of postseason drivers.

Reddick and Hamlin stayed status quo off pit road. Moments later on the ensuing restart, the Joe Gibbs Racing driver took point at Lap 45 for the second time on the night.

The first green-flag pit cycle began at Lap 71, when Chase drivers Bell, Blaney, Cindric and Joey Logano came for service. Hamlin and Reddick came two laps later, and again, status quo as Hamlin exited first.

The pit cycle finished at Lap 80 and Hamlin officially cycled back to the lead.

At Lap 94, Reddick snatched back the lead and held it when a Lap 107 caution ended the stage. Carson Hocevar and Brad Keselowski made contact in the midpack, causing the RFK Racing driver and co-owner to spin in Turn 4.

Of note, Wallace climbed seven spots during the final stint of the stage.

This story will be updated.