The addition of three stages to every points-paying race adds a new element. Drivers can earn race points through their performances in Stage 1 and Stage 2. Drivers who are running first through 10th at the conclusion of Stage 1 and/or Stage 2 will receive points, starting with 10 points for first place, nine points for second place, down to one point for 10th place. Points earned in those two stages are then added to what drivers earn after the Final Stage, which sets the full race results.
Points are accumulated over each of the 36 races. There is a reset for the 16 drivers in the playoffs after the regular-season finale at Daytona, the series’ 26th race of the season. There are additional points resets in the postseason after the completion of each three-race postseason round.
Additionally, a driver can earn bonus playoff points for the following:
Five playoff points to the race-winning driver
One playoff bonus point to the driver who wins Stage 1 and/or Stage 2 in every event
Those points are added on to a driver's total once the postseason starts. The accumulated playoff points will carry over at the start of the Round of 16, Round of 12 and Round of 8.
Other key items to know:
The driver who starts the race receives the points; a relief driver does not earn points.
Bonus points are not awarded in the final race of the season to the Championship 4 drivers.>
Below is a look at how a driver earns points based on finishing position at the end of the Final Stage.
>
| Position | Points |
| 1 | 40 |
| 2 | 35 |
| 3 | 34 |
| 4 | 33 |
| 5 | 32 |
| 6 | 31 |
| 7 | 30 |
| 8 | 29 |
| 9 | 28 |
| 10 | 27 |
| 11 | 26 |
| 12 | 25 |
| 13 | 24 |
| 14 | 23 |
| 15 | 22 |
| 16 | 21 |
| 17 | 20 |
| 18 | 19 |
| 19 | 18 |
| 20 | 17 |
| 21 | 16 |
| 22 | 15 |
| 23 | 14 |
| 24 | 13 |
| 25 | 12 |
| 26 | 11 |
| 27 | 10 |
| 28 | 9 |
| 29 | 8 |
| 30 | 7 |
| 31 | 6 |
| 32 | 5 |
| 33 | 4 |
| 34 | 3 |
| 35 | 2 |
| 36 | 1 |
| 37 | 1 |
| 38 | 1 |
| 39 | 1 |
| 40 | 1 |
A victory in the first 26 races all but guarantees a berth in the 10-race Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup a change that will put an unprecedented importance on winning a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race all season long
Expanding the Chase field from 12 to 16 drivers, with those drivers advancing to what now will be known as the NASCAR Chase Grid
The number of championship drivers in contention for the NASCAR Sprint Cup championship will decrease after every three Chase races, from 16 to start in the Chase Grid; 12 after Chase race No. 3; eight after Chase race No. 6; and four after Chase race No. 9
The first three races of the Chase (27-29) will be known as the Challenger Round
Races 30-32 will be known as the Contender Round
Races 33-35 will be the Eliminator Round and race No. 36 will be the NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship
A win by a championship-eligible driver in any Chase race automatically clinches the winning driver a spot in the next Chase round
Four drivers will enter the NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship with a chance at the title, with the highest finisher among those four capturing the prestigious NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship.
Eligibility for the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup: The top 15 drivers with the most wins over the first 26 races will earn a spot in the NASCAR Chase Grid provided they have finished in the top 30 in points and attempted to qualify for every race (except in rare instances). The 16th Chase position will go to the points leader after race No. 26, if he/she does not have a victory. In the event that there are 16 or more different winners over 26 races, the only winless driver who can earn a Chase Grid spot would be the points leader after 26 races.
If there are fewer than 16 different winners in the first 26 races, the remaining Chase Grid positions will go to those winless drivers highest in points. If there are 16 or more winners in the first 26 races, the ties will first be broken by number of wins, followed by NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver points.
As was implemented in 2011, prior to the start of the Chase, all Chase Grid drivers will have their points adjusted to 2,000, with three additional bonus points added to their total for each win in the first 26 races.
Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Structure After the third Chase race, the Chase Grid will be left with 12 drivers. After the sixth Chase race, the field will drop to eight drivers, and following the ninth Chase race, only four drivers will remain in championship contention for the NASCAR Sprint Cup title.
* Any driver who leads a lap during a race receives one bonus point.
* The driver who leads the most laps receives an additional one bonus point.
* The race winner receives three bonus points.
Maximum points per race: 48
Drivers can run for points in only ONE series and must declare at the start of the season which series they are running for points.
The Top 10 in points after Race 26 are locked into the Chase. 11th and 12th place in the Chase are awarded to drivers in the Top 20 in points with the most wins. So a driver in 19th place with 2 wins could make the Chase.
Chase Adjustments: The Chase - consisting of the season's last 10 races - will further reflect the importance of racing to win, via a variety of adjustments.
During the format's first three years, the top 10 drivers in points after the 26th race of the season (at Richmond International Raceway) qualified for the Chase; in addition, any other driver outside the top 10 but within 400 points of the standings' leader was also eligible.
Also, after Race 26, the top 12 drivers in the points will qualify for the Chase.
The Chase drivers will be "seeded" to start the Chase based on the number of wins amassed during the regular season.
Race winners throughout the 36-race season will now receive 185 points, a five-point increase. Counting the five-point bonuses available for leading at least one lap and leading the most laps, a race winner now can earn a maximum of 195 points, creating a possible maximum of 25 points between first- and second-place finishers.
The 2006 season of Kasey Kahne provides a dramatic illustration of the adjusted Chase format's implications. Kahne qualified for last year's Chase, but started it in 10th place - despite having won a series-high five races. Under the new format, Kahne would begin the Chase in first place, with 5,050 points. Mark Martin and Jeff Burton, seventh and eighth at the outset of last year's Chase, would instead start in 11th and 12th, each with 5,000, since they had no race victories entering the Chase. Also, Tony Stewart and Greg Biffle, who failed to make the Chase last year - they were 11th and 12th and beyond the 400-point cut-off - would qualify under the adjusted format. Stewart would be fifth with 5,020 points, Biffle 10th with 5,010.(NASCAR PR)(1-22-2007)
In Nextel Cup-After 26 races (10 to go ) all drivers within 400 points or a minimum of ten teams will have their points changed to the chart at the below.
The rest of the field will keep the points as is. There is a $250,000 bonus to the driver that finishes 11 th, no matter how many cars are in the system.
The top ten in final standings get a minimum of $1,000,000
Winner gets minimum of $5,000,000
The marketing plan features a countdown from ten races to go to
the last race of the year.
The point money for positions 11-25 will increase.
Chase for the Championship is the logo.
There will be special recognition for the 11 th place finish at the
banquet in New York.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Previously, only 36 cars qualified on speed and the rest of the field of 43 was set by car owner points.
The change reduces the number of provisional starting positions from seven to five for each race.
The past champion's provisional will remain in place for the 43rd and final starting position when applicable.
New car owners and teams not in the top 35 in car owner points will not be eligible for a provisional spot until after their entry makes an attempt to qualify at four races. In the past, those outside the top 35 and new car owners earned four provisionals following their first attempt to qualify for a race.
Additional changes include:
Each provisional used by a car owner during the season - regardless of standing - counts against the owner's season allotment earned. Previously, the top 25 car owners were not charged for provisionals used after the fourth race of the season.
In the event the number of entrants is equal to or less than the number of starting positions available for an event, provisionals assigned to fill starting positions 39 through 43 will not count toward the maximum season allotment.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
One point awarded for attempting to make the race;
10 points to highest finishing rookie,
9 points for the next highest, down
to one point for the tenth finishing rookie;
Any top 10 finish by a rookie is awarded specific points based on finish, 10 for first 9 for second, down to 1 for a 10th place finish.
Bonus points are awarded four times during a season. After the 10th, 20th, 30th and the final race - based on final Cup points standings of the season as follows: 10 pts to the rookie who earned the most Nextel Cup {formerly Winston Cup} points in the current 10-race segment(third segmant was 9 races), the points incrementally decrease by one point until one bonus point is awarded the tenth highest rookie who earned the most points in the segment;
NASCAR officials also have a 50-point bonus at the end of the season in a caucus vote by four NASCAR executives and the prior year Nextel Cup {formerly Winston Cup} Champion. The panel that grades each rookie candidate in three areas including conduct with officials in the garage and pit areas, conduct and awareness on the track, and personal appearance and relationship with the media on a 10-1 points system.(meaning each member of the panel votes with 10 pts to the rookie each member felt was the best, 9 points for the next rookie, down to 1 point, if 10 rookies run)
A driver loses their rookie status for the following year after starting in eight Nextel Cup {formerly Winston Cup} Events in a single season
Note: this is just a guide to show how the ROTY points are BASICALLY calculated.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
2. Any driver to lead at least one lap will get a 5-point bonus added to the points they get for where they finish.
3. The driver that leads the most laps gets 5 additional bonus points. So they get 10 points added to their total.
4. All races on the schedule count towards the season's points total. There is no "best of" or "dropped" races in the Nextel Cup {formerly Winston Cup} Championship.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
2. Teams are awarded a provisional spot based on the teams position in the OWNERS points. OWNERS and DRIVERS points are different. Teams that use more then one driver during a season still generate OWNERS points for the same team/owner.
Teams who have attempted ALL the Cup races get the provisional awarded first, then it goes down the order by attempts, then OWNERS points.
3. How are provisionals awarded at the beginning of the season?
New teams start out the season with ZERO provisionals until the fifth race , UNLESS, the driver is a past Nextel Cup {formerly Winston Cup} champion, then the team can use the final provisional spot. The team is deducted a provisional if used in this manner.
4. Each existing team starts the season with four(4) and earns one more after their eighth, 16th, 24th and 32nd attempted race. So if a team is out of provisionals going into the 8th race and they make a qualifying run, they earn a provisional and can use it in that race if their speed does not get them into the field.
New teams are allotted their provisionals starting at the fifth race of the season.
In reality, teams are not really allotted provisionals but are charged one if used, unless they are in the top 25 in OWNERS points. The rule is 'a team can use four charged provisionals starting spots in the first 7 races of the season. If a team is in the top 25, they will not be charged a provisional. So if a team was out of the top 25 in owners points and is charged all four provisionals and then gets into the top 25, that team can still use a provisional spot because it will NOT be charged.
Unused provisionals in the previous year are not carried forward to the next season.
5. How do the OWNERS get points? How do they differ from the DRIVERS points?
All teams, who pass inspection and fail to make the race, get OWNER points based on the fastest non-qualifier to the slowest earn the position/points immediately below the last car in the field. These points will be included with those earned from the races to establish car/owner priority in gaining a provisional for the race. The driver get NO points for making an attempt, this is why OWNERS points and DRIVERS points for the same team will sometimes differ, if a driver misses a race. Points are awarded as follows: fastest who fails to qualify gets 31 points, then it goes in order: 28,25,22,19,16,13,10,7,4,1 - all remaining car owners get 1 point for the team race attempt.
The second round (races 30-32) will be called the Contender Round. Likewise, if a driver in the top 12 in points wins a race in the Contender Round, the driver automatically advances to the next round. The remaining available positions 1-8 that have not been filled based upon wins will be based on points. Each will then have their points reset to 4,000.
The third round (races 33-35) will be called the Eliminator Round. If a driver in the top eight in points wins a race in the Eliminator Round, the driver automatically advances to the next round. The remaining available positions 1-4 that have not been filled based upon wins will be based on points. Each will then have their points reset to 5,000.
Additionally, drivers who are eliminated in the Contender and Eliminator Rounds will have their points readjusted. Each eliminated driver will return to the Chase-start base of 2,000 (plus any regular season wins bonus points), with their accumulated points starting with race No. 27 added. This will allow all drivers not in contention for the NASCAR Sprint Cup title to continue to race for the best possible season-long standing, with final positions fifth-through-16th still up for grabs.Points Structure & Chase Rules for 2011 - 2013
If a driver runs a Cup race but has declared for points in another series he earns ZERO points in the Cup race regardless of where he finishes.
Finish
Points
Finish
Points
1
43
23
21
2
42
24
20
3
41
25
19
4
40
26
18
5
39
27
17
6
38
28
16
7
37
29
15
8
36
30
14
9
35
31
13
10
34
32
12
11
33
33
11
12
32
34
10
13
31
35
9
14
30
36
8
15
29
37
7
16
28
38
6
17
27
39
5
18
26
40
4
19
25
41
3
20
24
42
2
21
23
43
1
22
22
Points Structure & Chase Rules effective in 2007 to 2010
Starting this season, the 400-point cut-off is eliminated.
All 12 drivers will have their point totals re-set to 5,000; each will then receive a 10-point bonus for each race victory they had during the first 26 races.
Points adjustment: In line with the Chase adjustments, wins throughout the season will be more valuable.How the Nextel Cup Points System Worked 2004 through 2006.
Rules
1 st 5050 2 nd 5045 3 rd 5040 4 th 5035 5 th 5030 6 th 5025 7 th 5020 8 th 5015 9 th 5010 10 th 5005 11 th 5000 12 th 4995 13 th 4990 14 th 4985 15 th 4980 2006 Chase for the Cup Countdown
10 New Hampshire 9 Dover 8 Kansas 7 Talladega 6 Charlotte 5 Martinsville 4 Atlanta 3 Texas 2 Phoenix 1 Miami Nextel Cup - Provisionals
Car owners in the top 35 positions of the 2005 owner championship standings will receive four provisionals at the outset of the season and will receive an additional one after attempting to qualify for six events, for a season maximum of 10. The previous season maximum was eight.How the Rookie of the Year Works:
How the Winston Cup Points System Worked - 1971 through 2003.
Official
Nextel Cup {formerly Winston Cup} Points System
Finish
Points
Finish
Points
Finish
Points
Finish
Points
1
175
12
127
23
94
34
61
2
170
13
124
24
91
35
58
3
165
14
121
25
88
36
55
4
160
15
118
26
85
37
52
5
155
16
115
27
82
38
49
6
150
17
112
28
79
39
46
7
146
18
109
29
76
40
43
8
142
19
106
30
73
41
40
9
138
20
103
31
70
42
37
10
134
21
100
32
67
43
34
11
130
22
97
33
64
winston Cup - Provisionals
Provisional starting positions 37-42 will be awarded based on OWNERS points. The 43rd spot is awarded to any Past Champion who is not otherwise eligible. If no past champion needs the provisional it falls back to the next un-qualified team in the owners points. The previous season OWNERS point standings will be used through the fourth race of the season. Starting with the fifth race the current season OWNER points standings are used to determine provisional starting spots.