NASCAR Cup Series Standings Shift After Sonoma Race Results

WHO:

Sportskeeda - Shane van Gisbergen, Chase Briscoe, Tyler Reddick, Denny Hamlin, Alex Bowman, Erik Jones, Austin Cindric, Kyle Busch.

Motorsport.com - Joe Gibbs Racing, Trackhouse Racing.

WHAT:

Sportskeeda - Shane van Gisbergen held off Chase Briscoe by 0.123 seconds to win the Toyota Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway.

Motorsport.com - After 18 of 36 races, Austin Cindric is currently on the bubble, 12 points ahead of Erik Jones, who is now 17th in the standings.

Motorsport.com - Kyle Busch scored 217 points before his tragic passing, and NASCAR has decided to no longer classify Busch in the weekly driver standings.

Motorsport.com - Denny Hamlin moved into the championship lead for the first time this season, now leading by a single point after the race.

Motorsport.com - Tyler Reddick secured the fastest lap bonus despite finishing last due to a power steering failure.

Motorsport.com - Shane van Gisbergen is now 14th in the standings, 36 points above the Chase cut-line.

Motorsport.com - Austin Cindric is currently on the bubble, 12 points ahead of Erik Jones, who dropped to 17th in the standings.

Sportskeeda - Shane van Gisbergen won the Toyota Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway, marking his second win of the 2026 season and the eighth of his NASCAR Cup Series career.

Motorsport.com - Tyler Reddick finished last due to a power steering failure, while Denny Hamlin finished 26th after suffering splitter damage.

Motorsport.com - Denny Hamlin moved into the championship lead by a single point after the race.

Motorsport.com - Shane van Gisbergen moved up three positions to 14th in the standings, now 36 points above the Chase cut-line.

Motorsport.com - Alex Bowman moved up three positions from 32nd to 29th after a top ten finish.

Motorsport.com - Erik Jones dropped three positions to 17th, falling outside of the Chase.

Motorsport.com - Austin Cindric is currently on the bubble, 12 points ahead of Erik Jones.

WHERE:

Sportskeeda - Sonoma Raceway.

WHEN:

Sportskeeda - The Toyota Save Mart 350 was part of the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season, which has had 18 races so far.

WHY:

Sportskeeda - Chase Briscoe admitted, “For the second consecutive season, I crossed the finish line exactly one spot short of a victory.”

Sportskeeda - Chase Briscoe admitted, “It was my fault we didn’t win,” referring to a costly late mistake that handed Shane van Gisbergen the Sonoma win.

Motorsport.com - Denny Hamlin's rise to the championship lead was attributed to his 26th-place finish, which erased an eight-point deficit.

Motorsport.com - Tyler Reddick's last-place finish was due to a power steering failure, and Denny Hamlin's poor finish was caused by splitter damage after a late-race spin.

HOW:

Motorsport.com - The championship standings were affected by the results of the race, with drivers moving up or down based on their finishing positions and points earned.

Motorsport.com - The championship standings were affected by the results of the race, with drivers moving up or down based on their finishing positions and points earned.

Shane van Gisbergen secured a thrilling victory at the Toyota Save Mart 350, finishing just 0.123 seconds ahead of Chase Briscoe at Sonoma Raceway. In the standings, Austin Cindric finds himself on the bubble after 18 of 36 races, holding a slim 12-point lead over Erik Jones, who is currently in 17th place. Chase Briscoe expressed his disappointment, stating, “For the second consecutive season, I crossed the finish line exactly one spot short of a victory.”