Analysis: Cup regular-season title picture up in the air after Coca-Cola 600

After not starting the Coca-Cola 600, Kyle Larson fell out of the points lead due to not being eligible for driver points in the event.

With the Coke 600 paying out the most points during the regular season, see how the Cup Series standings flipped following Memorial Day weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway. 

RELATED: Cup standings | Coke 600 recap

1. Denny Hamlin

Points behind before Charlotte: 39

Points ahead after Charlotte: 5

Hamlin assumed the points lead following Sunday's race after a fifth-place finish on top of 13 stage points. The No. 11 rallied in Stage 2 after falling outside the top 20 due to pit-road indifferences with Chris Buescher.

Hamlin now has favorable tracks of Gateway and Sonoma next up to extend his lead. 

2. Martin Truex Jr.

Points behind before Charlotte: 30

Points behind after Charlotte: 5

Arguably the most consistent driver in the Cup field this season, Truex stays in second in Cup points despite a so-so Coke 600 outing. Truex was able to nab six points in the opening stage before fading as the lights turned on at Charlotte and scored a 12th-place result when the race was called due to inclement weather.

While Truex has yet to win in 2024, mark down Sonoma in two weeks as a possible breakthrough for the No. 19 team. 

3. Kyle Larson

Points ahead before Charlotte: 30

Points behind after Charlotte: 6

Only being six points back behind Hamlin for the Cup points lead may not sound like a tall task for Larson, but now there's significant work to do for the No. 5 team now chasing Truex and Hamlin. 

Larson is 100% capable of re-taking command at the top of the table but will need to bring his best to outdo his on-track rivals. 

4. Chase Elliott

Points behind before Charlotte: 49

Points behind after Charlotte: 17

One teammate's bad luck is another's treasure as Elliott has risen into the mix for the regular-season title leaving Charlotte. Elliott brought home a seventh-place finish in the Coke 600 and tallied eight stage points. 

Elliott's average finish is at a whopping 9.6 clip this season, and if that trend continues for the No. 9 stable, Elliott has a good shot to put his name on the regular-season trophy again. 

5. William Byron

Points behind before Charlotte: 86

Points behind after Charlotte: 31

In terms of the regular-season title, Charlotte offered second wind for Byron as his 2024 campaign took a bit of a lull after kicking off the season with three wins in eight races. 

A third-place outing in the Coke 600 has Byron and the No. 24 team back on the right track to compete with their fellow teammates for the regular-season title and those coveted 15 bonus playoff points.