What Is The Point System For NASCAR Cup Series?

The NASCAR Cup Series is the premier stock car racing series in the United States, featuring the best drivers and teams competing for the championship title. With a field of up to 40 teams, including 36 Chartered teams guaranteed a spot in every race, the competition is fierce and the stakes are high. At the heart of this exciting series is the points system, which determines the champion at the end of the season.

In this article, we’ll take a closer look at how the NASCAR Cup Series points system works.

Points Earned During the Race

In the NASCAR Cup Series, drivers earn points based on their finishing position at the end of each race. The winner of the race receives 40 points, while second place earns 35 points, and so on. Even the drivers who finish at the back of the pack receive a single point for their efforts.

In addition to the points awarded at the end of the race, drivers can also earn points by finishing in the top 10 at the end of each race stage. The winner of each stage receives 10 points, with the remaining top 10 finishers earning points on a sliding scale, from 9 points for second place down to 1 point for 10th place.

Points Awarded at the End of the Race:

1st place: 40 points

2nd place: 35 points

3rd place: 34 points

4th place: 33 points

5th place: 32 points

6th place: 31 points

7th place: 30 points

8th place: 29 points

9th place: 28 points

10th place: 27 points

11th place: 26 points

12th place: 25 points

13th place: 24 points

14th place: 23 points

15th place: 22 points

16th place: 21 points

17th place: 20 points

18th place: 19 points

19th place: 18 points

20th place: 17 points

21st place: 16 points

22nd place: 15 points

23rd place: 14 points

24th place: 13 points

25th place: 12 points

26th place: 11 points

27th place: 10 points

28th place: 9 points

29th place: 8 points

30th place: 7 points

31st place: 6 points

32nd place: 5 points

33rd place: 4 points

34th place: 3 points

35th place: 2 points

36th through 40th place: 1 point each

Playoff Points

To add an extra layer of excitement to the NASCAR Cup Series, drivers can also earn playoff points throughout the season. The winner of each stage earns one playoff point, while the race winner receives five playoff points. These playoff points are added to a driver’s point total after the points reset at the beginning of the playoffs, and at each subsequent stage if the driver remains eligible for the championship.

The playoff points system rewards consistent performance throughout the season and provides an additional incentive for drivers to push for stage and race wins. For a complete explanation of how the playoffs work, check out the Cup Playoffs page.

Driver Eligibility To ensure fair competition, NASCAR has implemented rules governing driver eligibility for earning points. A driver is only permitted to earn points in one of the three main series: the NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR Xfinity Series, or NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. However, drivers are allowed to earn points in both the Touring/International Series and the National Series simultaneously.

Before competing in their first event of a season, drivers must elect which series they would like to accumulate points in. In the event that NASCAR authorizes a driver to change their chosen series, they will forfeit any points earned up to that point and start at zero points and zero finishing positions for tie-breaker purposes in the newly selected series. Unless otherwise authorized by NASCAR, a driver may only change their points series once per season.

Conclusion The NASCAR Cup Series points system is designed to reward consistent performance and create an exciting, competitive environment for drivers and fans alike. By understanding how points are earned during races, the importance of playoff points, and the rules governing driver eligibility, fans can better appreciate the strategic decisions and thrilling moments that define this iconic racing series. As the season unfolds and the championship battle heats up, the points system ensures that every race matters and that the ultimate champion is truly deserving of the title.