In the NASCAR Cup Series, whether it’s during the 26-race regular season or in the 10-race playoffs, there’s no question that every point counts.
Drivers in recent seasons have failed to make the playoffs by a mere three or four points, which in some cases is the difference between one finishing position in just any one race in the regular season.
Here are the main ways drivers earn NASCAR points:
- Race wins and position: race winners receive 40 points, with point values decreasing deeper into the finishing order
- Stage wins and position: drivers in positions 1-10 at the end of each race stage earn bonus points
- Race and stage wins: points used to set the playoff starting order are awarded for each race and stage win during the 26-race regular season
Since 2016, when the charter system was established, a maximum of 40 cars/drivers are allowed in the race day field (with 36 chartered teams guaranteed starting spots)
A race winner earns 40 points, on down to one point each to the final five drivers at the back of the field. A similar points system determines owner standings for the overall performance of their teams across the 36-race schedule.
Drivers can also earn up to 20 additional points based on how they finish in each of the first two stages in 25 of the first 26 races. The Coca-Cola 600, the longest race of the season, is the only race to have three stages because of its length, meaning drivers can earn up to 30 bonus points in that event. (Additional bonus points earned in each of the first 26 races are solely for a driver’s eventual position in the playoffs, but are not included in regular season race-to-race standings.)Also of note: the driver who starts a race must also finish it to receive points; a relief driver does not earn points.
Here’s how the NASCAR points system works:
STAGE POINTS:
Drivers finishing first through 10th in both Stage 1 and Stage 2 (and Stage 3 in the Coca-Cola 600) earn bonus points. The stage winner is awarded 10 points, the second-highest driver earns 9 points, down to the 10th-place finisher, who earns one additional bonus point. If a driver wins both stages and the race, he/she earns a maximum of 60 points (or 70 points if they win all three stages and the race in the Coca-Cola 600).
BONUS POINTS:
Additional points are awarded in the first 26 races that are not included in overall driver point standings, but are compiled to determine where a driver will start in the 16-driver, 10-race playoffs. A driver earns five playoff points for each win in the first 26 regular-season races. Also, every driver who wins Stage 1 and/or Stage 2 in the first 26 races earns one playoff bonus point for each stage win. All bonus points are added to a driver’s total once the playoffs begin. Bonus points are not awarded during playoff races.
PLAYOFF POINTS RESET:
Following the 26th race of the season, point totals are reset for the 16 drivers who qualify for the playoffs. Points are also reset after each of the first three playoff rounds. The four bottom-ranked drivers after each of the first three, three-race playoff rounds are eliminated from advancing any further. That means 12 drivers move on to Round 2, eight drivers advance to Round 3 and four drivers remain for the one-race Championship 4 round.
HOW POINTS ARE AWARDED PER 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 place — 1 point
37th place — 1 point
38th place — 1 point
39th place — 1 point
40th place — 1 point