William Byron Leads NASCAR Cup Points After Chicago Race

Following the Chicago Street Race, William Byron retains the NASCAR Cup Series regular-season points lead, though it has narrowed to 19 points with seven races remaining. Chase Elliott trails Byron by 13 points, while Kyle Larson is 19 points behind in third place. Shane van Gisbergen secured a win at the Grant Park 165, increasing his playoff points to 11, the fifth highest among Cup drivers. The NASCAR season tournament is progressing, with Ty Gibbs and Alex Bowman as the only remaining single-digit seeds heading into the quarterfinals at Sonoma Raceway, where four matchups will determine the semifinalists. Gibbs, considered a strong road-course driver, will face Zane Smith, while Bowman will compete against Ty Dillon. The upcoming races at Sonoma and Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park are critical as drivers vie for playoff positioning in the season's final stretch.