How the NASCAR Points System Works

The NASCAR Nextel Cup series uses its own system of scoring. The NASCAR points system works to help give drivers points based on how well they do, and those points will go into determining who makes it into the Chase for the Cup at the end of each season. Here’s a look at how the NASCAR points system is used.

Winning races is the most important part of getting points in the NASCAR points system. A winner of a race will receive 180 points. If a driver makes it to the Chase for the Cup playoff series then that person will get five additional points for each win, thus making winning even more important in the regular season. Second place gets 170 points, third place gets 160, and lower places get less amounts of points in the NASCAR points system.

Points are given for laps as well. The minimum score in terms of points for a winner is 185, with the next driver getting 170 points. After that points will be spread out by five each from second to sixth place (165 points for third, 160 for fourth, etc.). After the sixth place finisher the points will be spread out by four between sixth and eleventh. After that points are spread by three.

A driver that leads in a race for the most laps will get five extra points to their score, and a maximum of ten points can be allowed based on how many laps the driver leads the race in. Lap leadership for the NASCAR points system is determined at the end of each lap, and the driver that crosses first is the lap leader regardless of how well the driver has done over the course of the race.

In the NASCAR points system points are given to individual drivers. In the case that a replacement driver is needed for someone because of an injury, the replacement driver will not get points but the original driver will.

The NASCAR points system is different compared to what was used in the past. It used to be that instead of a NASCAR points system purses were given out, meaning that drivers could win money for being successful in races and would be the year’s champion based on how much money they won. Generally, points were awarded based on how much money was won. Today points are used and not money as the guidline.

The Chase for the Cup is the last part of the NASCAR points system. This is the newest part of the NASCAR points system, as it works to give the best drivers of the year a closer playing field for the last ten races of the year. The top twelve drivers at the end of the year in terms of points will have their point numbers reset to 5,000 each, with five bonus points to drivers for each win they have. For instance, if Kevin Harvick won three races during the year and made the Chase for the Cup he’d have 5,015 points.

AROUND THE TRACK WITH NASCAR NEWS - SportingNews.com

Bristol Herald Courier

AROUND THE TRACK WITH NASCAR NEWS SportingNews.com - 5 hours ago The bottom of the Top 35 is alive and well and is very exciting for the drivers trying to stay in the Top 35 and the drivers trying to make it in to the Top ... Drivers try to play it cool before Chase starts FOXSports.com Will goes for gold in Top Fuel Indianapolis Star Bowyer hoping to cement points lead with another strong run at ... ESPN Chattanooga Times Free Press - TriCities.com all 299 news articles

Power Rankings: Time for the best to shine - FOXSports.com

Washington Post

Power Rankings: Time for the best to shine FOXSports.com - Aug 20, 2008 The .533-mile oval will not only test drivers skills, but also their patience. Who will succeed? Here's a look at the top performing drivers in the NASCAR ... Emulating Muhammad Ali, Carl Edwards seeking NASCAR title The Canadian Press Special Section: Edwards Has Spent His Life Driving Toward One Goal TriCities.com Streaking at Bristol RotoTimes.com Knoxville News Sentinel - SportingNews.com all 816 news articles

Top IRL cars damaged NASCAR slams Gibbs' team for cheating - San Francisco Chronicle

Top IRL cars damaged NASCAR slams Gibbs' team for cheating San Francisco Chronicle,  USA - Aug 21, 2008 He extended his record for combined victories in NASCAR's three top series to 17, and he joined Mark Martin and Carl Edwards as the only drivers to win at ... Racers in agreement that Olympics and motorsports should mix - Racing ESPN IndyCar's Dixon could uncork title-clincher Sunday in wine country San Diego Union Tribune Dixon could clinch IRL season title at Infineon San Francisco Chronicle all 7 news articles

Logano: Sprint Cup Bound - Hartford Courant

TSN.ca

Logano: Sprint Cup Bound Hartford Courant, United States - 26 minutes ago On Wednesday, NASCAR handed down a number of penalties to the team after both of the JGR Nationwide cars, driven by Logano and Stewart, were found with ... Gibbs penalties don't quite send message teams need to hear SI.com Toyota’s Impact on NASCAR Continues to Expand TriCities.com AUTO RACING Cheating at MIS leads to penalties Detroit Free Press WBOY-TV - Baltimore Sun all 1,372 news articles

Drivers will jostle for Chase position at wild track in Bristol - USA Today

Drivers will jostle for Chase position at wild track in Bristol USA Today - 6 hours ago Matt Kenseth, Tony Stewart, Jeff Gordon, Kevin Harvick and Greg Biffle are the top five at Bristol Motor Speedway in driver rating, a NASCAR compilation of ... Top 5 and 5 to watch: Bristol SportingNews.com Top Bristol driver rating goes to Kenseth Rotoworld.com Sharpie 500 Driver Rating Pro Fantasy Sports PaddockTalk - Knoxville News Sentinel all 12 news articles