Denny Hamlin surged to the top of the NASCAR Cup Series standings after the Quaker State 400 at Atlanta, posting 791 points.
Tyler Reddick sits just 24 points behind Hamlin with 767 points, while Ryan Blaney follows in third with 726 points, trailing by 65.
The race marked the 20th points event of the regular season, leaving six races remaining before the playoffs fully take shape.
In the emerging Chase cutline, veteran Joey Logano occupies 17th, Ryan Preece 18th and Brad Keselowski 19th, each within striking distance of the playoff threshold.
Playoff picture sharpening
With the regular‑season finale looming, drivers such as Christopher Bell, Kyle Larson and Chase Elliott are jockeying for position, while newcomers like Shane van Gisbergen and Zane Smith look to break into the postseason.
Implications for the remaining schedule
The upcoming events will test consistency, especially for those teetering on the cutline, as a single misstep could drop a contender out of playoff contention.