The 2026 NASCAR Cup Series championship is absolutely up for grabs after last week’s Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway. Joe Gibbs Racing’s Christopher Bell finally broke through, grabbing a win after racking up a record seven second-place finishes earlier in the season. That victory shot the No. 20 Toyota right up to second in the standings, sitting just 12 points behind his teammate, Denny Hamlin.
Bell’s Breakthrough and Hamlin’s Hangover
Bell’s performance at Darlington was electric. You gotta respect a guy who keeps knocking on the door seven times, then finally busts it down. That win changes everything for the momentum in the Chase. But on the flip side, what about Hamlin? The dude won at World Wide Technology Raceway last year, back when we called it Gateway, but last week he had a totally disappointing 18th place finish. You know that’s eating at him. He’s clinging to that points lead, but Bell is right there. The pressure is seriously on for Hamlin to rebound, especially on a track where he’s tasted victory before.
The Stakes are Real on the 1.2-Mile Oval
This isn’t some exhibition race, folks. We’re talking about the second race of the Chase, and every single point matters. The top nine drivers in points are separated by only 72 markers, which in this series is basically nothing. One bad turn, one missed pit stop, and your whole championship dream could be on life support. World Wide Technology Raceway in Madison, Illinois, that 1.2-mile oval, isn’t just another stop; it’s a make-or-break moment for a lot of these teams to find every point they possibly can. This Sunday, September 13, at 3 p.m. ET, is going to be intense.
Catch All the Action on Sling
If you’re like me and you can’t miss a single lap of this intense championship chase, you’re gonna want to tune in. Six of the nine remaining NASCAR Cup Series races are airing live on USA, including this critical race at World Wide Technology Raceway. You can stream every second of the action with a Sling subscription, which carries USA. They’ve even got these new pass options which are pretty cool if you’re not ready for a full commitment. You can grab a 1-Day Pass for $4.99, giving you instant 24-hour access. Or, if you want to cover the whole weekend, there’s a 3-Day Pass for $9.99 that runs from Friday to Sunday. You can even get a 7-Day Pass! All of them give you access to the Sling Orange package, so you won’t miss any of the drama on the track. This includes upcoming races on USA like Bristol on September 19, Kansas on September 27, Las Vegas on October 4, Charlotte on October 11, and Phoenix on October 18.
So, what’s at stake this weekend? Everything. Will Hamlin bounce back and protect his slim lead, or will Bell continue his surge and take over the top spot? We’re about to find out. The engines fire up at 3 p.m. ET this Sunday, September 13, at World Wide Technology Raceway. You do not want to miss it.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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