Christopher Bell and Chase Briscoe hold the third and fourth spots in the NASCAR Chase standings with four races remaining, putting both drivers within range of points leader Kyle Larson as the championship fight tightens. Bell sits 51 points back after a fourth-place run at Phoenix II on Sunday, while Briscoe trails by 65 points on the strength of back-to-back wins earlier in the Chase.
Larson still leads the field, but his day at Phoenix Raceway ended in a DNF, a result that did not change his position atop the standings but did little to extend his cushion. Denny Hamlin remains the closest challenger at 49 points back, with Bell, Briscoe, Ryan Blaney and Joey Logano rounding out the group still mathematically alive with a month of racing to go.
Bell’s Phoenix Performance Keeps Him In The Hunt
Bell led 85 laps at Phoenix II, more than any other driver in the field, before settling for a fourth-place finish behind winner Tyler Reddick, runner-up Ryan Blaney and the rest of the top three. The lap total shows Bell had the speed to contend for the win even though he did not finish on the podium. Sitting 51 points behind Larson with four races left in the Chase, Bell’s margin for error narrows with each stop on the schedule.
Briscoe’s Winning Streak Fuels His Case
Briscoe has won two of the Chase races so far, taking checkered flags at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and Charlotte Motor Speedway. According to Reuters, he is seeking his third straight win in the Chase, a run that would mark a significant push toward Larson atop the standings. Briscoe’s 65-point deficit is the largest among the top four drivers, but his recent form shows he can close that gap in a single race when he wins.
Larson’s DNF And The State Of The Lead
Larson’s Phoenix II result was a DNF, a finish that stands out against the steady points accumulation needed to hold a championship lead. He remains the standings leader, which reflects the cushion he built earlier in the Chase. Hamlin, 49 points back, is the only driver closer to Larson than Bell, putting pressure on Larson to avoid another finish like Phoenix as the season winds down.
Blaney’s Pole And Track Position Strategy
Ryan Blaney qualified on pole at Phoenix with a lap at 137.143 mph, his fourth Busch Light Pole Award at the track, fifth of the 2026 season and 17th of his career. Blaney sits fifth in the standings, 85 points behind Larson. Speaking about the value of starting up front, Blaney said, “It’s really, really important, just from our side, to put yourself up toward the front early in the race, try to get some points early and try to keep track position.
Job one done today, so I’m proud of everybody for doing a good job and taking that first step, and then a whole new challenge tomorrow. Hopefully, we can keep going.”
Blaney backed up that strategy with a second-place finish at Phoenix II, crossing 0.801 seconds behind Reddick. Logano sits sixth, 92 points behind Larson, giving the group of five chasers within 92 points of the lead.
The Counterpoint: Larson’s Standing Advantage
Despite the DNF, Larson remains the man to catch. A single bad finish at Phoenix did not cost him the top spot, which suggests the points cushion he carried into the race was substantial enough to absorb one off day. Hamlin’s 49-point gap and Bell’s 51-point gap are both sizable totals to make up over four remaining races, and neither driver can afford a finish resembling Larson’s Phoenix result if they hope to close the distance.
What To Watch In The Final Four Races
Four races remain in the Chase for the NASCAR Cup Series championship. Briscoe’s recent wins at Las Vegas and Charlotte show he can make up ground in bunches, while Bell’s lap-leading performance at Phoenix II signals he has the speed to contend weekly even without a win. Reddick’s victory, his first in six months, adds another name capable of shaking up results as the field heads toward the championship finale. The next Chase race will determine whether Larson can rebuild his margin or whether Bell, Briscoe and Hamlin continue to close the gap.
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