William Byron leads 2025 NASCAR Cup Series standings after an intense Coca Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, where shifting results stirred up the leaderboard on Sunday night. Byron delivered a standout performance for Hendrick Motorsports, securing enough points to move back into first place in the series despite a late-race challenge.
Lead Changes Unfold in a Tense Coca Cola 600
At the Charlotte Motor Speedway, Byron seemed poised for victory after dominating all three race stages in his No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet. With just six laps remaining, Ross Chastain of Trackhouse Racing executed a decisive pass, snatching the lead and ultimately crossing the finish line first. Although Chastain’s move denied Byron the win, Byron’s points haul from stage results allowed him to reclaim the top spot in the Cup Series, ahead of teammate Kyle Larson.
Larson, who had held first place going into the weekend, fell to second in the standings. His ambitious attempt at double duty—competing in both the NASCAR race and the Indianapolis 500 on the same day—made for a grueling Sunday, disrupting his Cup Series momentum. As a result, Chastain’s victory for Trackhouse Racing propelled him from eleventh to eighth in the overall standings.
Standings Shift After Coca Cola 600 Drama
The latest Cup Series leaderboard reveals significant movement among the top drivers and teams. William Byron now leads with 499 points, followed by Kyle Larson with 470. Christopher Bell of Joe Gibbs Racing remains third. Chase Elliott holds fourth spot for Hendrick Motorsports, while Tyler Reddick represents 23XI Racing in fifth place.
Ross Chastain enjoyed the biggest jump among the frontrunners, moving up three places to eighth after his surprise Coca Cola 600 victory. Ryan Blaney from Team Penske faced the largest drop in the top 10, sliding from fourth to seventh after a disappointing finish of 38th place in the race. Joey Logano and Alex Bowman complete the top 10, with Bowman slipping two places.
Current 2025 NASCAR Cup Series Standings
1. William Byron – Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet – 499 points
2. Kyle Larson – Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet – 470 points
3. Christopher Bell – Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota – 425 points
4. Chase Elliott – Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet – 415 points
5. Tyler Reddick – 23XI Racing Toyota – 392 points
6. Denny Hamlin – Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota – 390 points
7. Ryan Blaney – Team Penske Ford – 363 points
8. Ross Chastain – Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet – 350 points
9. Joey Logano – Team Penske Ford – 338 points
10. Alex Bowman – Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet – 333 points
11. Chase Briscoe – Stewart-Haas Racing Ford – 314 points
12. Bubba Wallace – 23XI Racing Toyota – 312 points
13. Ricky Stenhouse Jr – JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet – 284 points
14. Ryan Preece – Stewart-Haas Racing Ford – 280 points
15. Austin Cindric – Team Penske Ford – 279 points
16. Josh Berry – Wood Brothers Racing Ford – 269 points
17. AJ Allmendinger – Kaulig Racing Chevrolet – 267 points
18. Kyle Busch – Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet – 266 points
19. Michael McDowell – Front Row Motorsports Ford – 259 points
20. John H. Nemechek – Legacy Motor Club Toyota – 257 points
The full standings feature a mix of seasoned stars and rising competitors, including Erik Jones, Noah Gragson, Justin Haley, Daniel Suárez, Ty Dillon, Brad Keselowski, and Jimmie Johnson. Each driver’s performance continues to impact their team’s place in the overall points tally as the 2025 season progresses.
Ongoing Developments Across the Grid
The recent shakeup at the front is matched by ongoing challenges faced by drivers and teams, such as Ryan Blaney’s difficulties and Christopher Bell’s adaptation to team changes. Penalties ahead of the Coca Cola 600, including a notable disqualification, also influenced this week’s results and will remain a talking point among fans and teams. The Coca Cola 600 continues to be an inflection point, with every lap at Charlotte Motor Speedway impacting championship ambitions and reshuffling the hierarchy of the Cup Series.
With William Byron leading the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series standings after the dramatic events at Charlotte, all eyes now turn to upcoming races where contenders like Kyle Larson, Ross Chastain, and Christopher Bell will aim to challenge for the top. The uncertainty and competitive spirit that define NASCAR remain firmly in place as the season unfolds.
