NASCAR Standings After Indianapolis: Denny Hamlin Pulls Away as Playoff Battle Tightens

The Brickyard 400 reshuffled the NASCAR Cup Series standings in several key areas, with Denny Hamlin extending his championship lead, Carson Hocevar cracking the top five, and Ryan Preece inching closer to the Chase cut line.The Brickyard 400 produced a first-time crown jewel winner in Corey Heim, but one of the biggest beneficiaries of Sunday’s race wasn’t standing in Victory Lane.Denny Hamlin quietly strengthened his grip on the NASCAR Cup Series points lead, using a fifth-place fi