NASCAR has another new points leader after Atlanta

Another driver who had never led the NASCAR Cup Series point standings prior to the 2023 season finds himself on top after Sunday’s race at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

Hendrick Motorsports’ William Byron would have been the leader of the NASCAR Cup Series point standings heading into Sunday evening’s Quaker State 400 Presented by Walmart at Atlanta Motor Speedway had he and the No. 24 team not been docked 60 points for a greenhouse violation following the April race at Richmond Raceway.

Byron won Sunday’s rain-shortened 185-lap race around the four-turn, 1.54-mile (2.478-kilometer) Hampton, Georgia oval to become the first driver to win four races this season, and in doing so, he officially shot to the top of the point standings, passing Joe Gibbs Racing’s Martin Truex Jr.

Byron now owns a 21-point lead in the standings — and has scored 81 points more than Truex has on the race track this season.

The driver of the No. 24 Chevrolet is in his sixth season in the NASCAR Cup Series, and Sunday’s race was his 199th start.

This is the first time that he has officially led the point standings in his Cup Series career. Byron is the seventh driver to lead the standings in 2023, and he is the fifth driver to lead the standings this year after having never led before at any point in his career.

The other four drivers who have spent time at the top of the standings this season for the first time in their careers are JTG Daugherty Racing’s Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Trackhouse Racing Team’s Ross Chastain, Hendrick Motorsports’ Alex Bowman, and Joe Gibbs Racing’s Christopher Bell. The other two points leader this season include Truex and Team Penske’s Ryan Blaney.

FanDuel Sportsbook, which is offering fans an instant $200 for signing up and betting $20, lists Byron as the second favorite to win this year’s NASCAR Cup Series championship at +700.

With odds and availability always subject to change, lock in your $200 now before it’s too late!

Can Byron hang on to his points lead at New Hampshire Motor Speedway? The Crayon 301 is set to be broadcast live on USA Network starting at 2:30 p.m. ET this Sunday, July 16. Begin a free trial of FuboTV now and don’t miss it!