NASCAR Cup races tighten the championship after a 18‑caution spectacle at WWT Raceway, with Denny Hamlin maintaining a slim nine‑point lead.
The leaderboard adjustments are clear:
- Kyle Larson ascends five spots to secure second place following his first Cup victory in 51 starts.
- Christopher Bell holds third, 18 points behind the leaders.
- Chase Briscoe drops from fifth to eighth, while Daniel Suárez falls from thirteenth to sixteenth in the Chase standings.
- Shane van Gisbergen remains 17th; Brad Keselowski and Ross Chastain each gain a position on him thanks to strong runs at Gateway.
Kyle Busch earned 217 points before his untimely passing, and NASCAR has opted to exclude him from weekly driver rankings.
The Cup Series now heads to Bristol Motor Speedway for a 500‑lap showdown that could cement the points race.
Watch Race Rewind: Larson outlasts chaos for breakthrough win.
2026 NASCAR Cup Standings: Full Points After Gateway
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