NASCAR points standings: Cup Series points update after Iowa race, Chase picture

Denny Hamlin is closing in on the NASCAR Chase top seed after a top-five finish on Aug. 9 at Iowa with three races left before the playoffs begin.

Hamlin finished fifth, behind winner (and teammate) Ty Gibbs among four Joe Gibbs Racing Toyotas in the top six positions.

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Tyler Reddick ceded second to Gibbs after a Lap 4 crash ended the No. 45’s day before it really started.

Austin Cindric’s points cushion for the final Chase spot is down to 29 points ahead of Ryan Preece.

Here’s the updated NASCAR Cup Series points standings:

IOWA RESULTS: Who won NASCAR Cup Iowa race? Winner is Ty Gibbs, plus full results

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Inside the NASCAR Iowa race with our best Iowa Corn 350 photos

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Inside the NASCAR Iowa race with our best Iowa Corn 350 photos

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Inside the NASCAR Iowa race with our best Iowa Corn 350 photos

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Inside the NASCAR Iowa race with our best Iowa Corn 350 photos

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Inside the NASCAR Iowa race with our best Iowa Corn 350 photos

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Inside the NASCAR Iowa race with our best Iowa Corn 350 photos

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Inside the NASCAR Iowa race with our best Iowa Corn 350 photos

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Inside the NASCAR Iowa race with our best Iowa Corn 350 photos

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Inside the NASCAR Iowa race with our best Iowa Corn 350 photos

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Inside the NASCAR Iowa race with our best Iowa Corn 350 photos

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Inside the NASCAR Iowa race with our best Iowa Corn 350 photos

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Inside the NASCAR Iowa race with our best Iowa Corn 350 photos

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Inside the NASCAR Iowa race with our best Iowa Corn 350 photos

NASCAR points standings, Cup Series points update after Iowa race

Unofficial after Iowa Corn 350, 23 of 26 regular-season races complete; top 16 drivers make the Chase following the Daytona summer race

1. Denny Hamlin 923 points, +426 to 17th place (locked into Chase)

2. Ty Gibbs +323 (locked into Chase)

3. Ryan Blaney +316 (locked into Chase)

4. Tyler Reddick +306 (locked into Chase)

17. Ryan Preece -29 behind 16th

28. John Hunter Nemechek -153

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: NASCAR points standings: Cup Series points update after Iowa race, Chase picture