DOVER, Del. — Kyle Larson has a new challenger atop the NASCAR Cup Series playoff points standings as five races remain in the regular season after Dover Motor Speedway.

Photo: Ryan BIlle/TRE

Denny Hamlin earned five playoff points for his fourth Cup win of the 2025 season, currently tying him with Larson for the points lead if the playoffs started today.

1. Kyle Larson: 2031 points

Photo: Ryan Kemna/TRE

23 playoff points earned

15 from race wins at Homestead-Miami, Bristol, Kansas

Eight from stage wins

Eight points pending from being third in regular-season championship points standings after Dover

2. Denny Hamlin: 2031

Photo: Ryan BIlle/TRE

24 playoff points earned

20 from wins at Martinsville, Darlington, Michigan, Dover

Four from stage wins

Seven points pending from being fourth in regular-season standings after Dover

3. William Byron: 2022

Photo: Ryan Kemna/TRE

12 playoff points earned

Five from Daytona 500 win

Seven from stage wins

10 points pending from being second in regular-season championship pointsafter Dover

4. Christopher Bell: 2022

Photo: Sophia LaRiche/TRE

17 playoff points earned

15 from wins at Atlanta, COTA, Phoenix

Two stage wins

Five points pending from being sixth in regular-season standings after Dover

5. Chase Elliott: 2021

Photo: Ryan Kemna/TRE

Six playoff points earned with Atlanta win, Dover stage one win

15 points pending from being leading regular-season standings after Dover

6. Shane van Gisbergen: 2017

Photo: Sophia LaRiche/TRE

17 playoff points earned

15 from wins in Mexico City, Chicago

Two from stage two win in Chicago and at Sonoma

26th in regular-season standings after Dover

7. Ryan Blaney: 2013

Photo: Ryan Kemna/TRE

Nine playoff points earned

Five from Nashville Superspeedway win

Four from stage wins

Four points pending from being seventh in regular-season standings after Dover

8. Chase Briscoe: 2009

Photo: Sophia LaRiche/TRE

Six playoff points earned

Five from Pocono win

One from a stage win

Three points pending from being eighth in regular-season standings after Dover

9. Austin Cindric: 2008

Eight playoff points earned

Five from win at Talladega

Three from stage wins

19th in regular-season standings after Dover

10. Tyler Reddick: 2007

One point earned from a stage win

Six points pending from being fifth in regular-season standings after Dover

11. Joey Logano: 2007

Photo: Sophia LaRiche/TRE

Seven points earned from Texas win and two stage wins

11th in regular-season standings after Dover

12. Ross Chastain: 2006

Photo: Ryan Kemna/TRE

Six playoff points earned from Coca-Cola 600 win at Charlotte, stage one win at Sonoma

13. Josh Berry: 2006

Photo: Sophia LaRiche/TRE

Six points earned from Las Vegas win and a stage win

22nd in regular-season standings after Dover

14. Bubba Wallace: 2002

Photo: Ryan Kemna/TRE

Two points earned from stage wins

13th in regular-season standings after Dover

15. Alex Bowman: 2002

Photo: Ryan Kemna/TRE

Two points pending for being ninth in regular-season standings after Dover

16. Chris Buescher: 1997

Photo: Sophia LaRiche/TRE

Penalized five playoff points for Kansas infraction, negating one playoff point earned for a stage win

One point pending, 10th in regular-season standings after Dover

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Jonathan Fjeld is the co-owner of the The Racing Experts, LLC. He has been with TRE since 2010.

A Twin Valley, MN, native, Fjeld became a motorsports fan at just three years old (first race was the 2002 Pennsylvania 500). He worked as a contributor and writer for TRE from 2010-18. Since then, he has stepped up and covered 24 NASCAR race weekends and taken on a larger role with TRE. He became the co-owner and managing editor in 2023 and has guided the site to massive growth in that time.

Fjeld has covered a wide array of stories and moments over the years, including Kevin Harvick’s final Cup Series season, the first NASCAR national series disqualification in over 50 years, Shane van Gisbergen’s stunning win in Chicago and the first Cup Series race at Road America in 66 years – as well as up-and-coming drivers’ stories and stories from inside the sport, like the tech it takes for Hendrick Motorsports to remain a top-tier team.

Currently, he resides in Albuquerque, N.M., where he works for KOB 4, an NBC station. He works as a digital producer and does on-air reports. He loves spending time with friends and family, playing and listening to music, exploring new places, being outdoors, reading books and writing among other activities. You can email him at fjeldjonathan@gmail.com