Here’s everything you need to know about the NASCAR Sprint Cup points format.
Most sports decide their championship based off wins and losses, but NASCAR uses a points system to decide their different series’ championships. The big championship in NASCAR is the Sprint Cup Championship.
To compete for a Sprint Cup Championship, drivers must be in the top-16 when the chase begins. A win secures a spot in the chase, but the top point finishers will fill out the remaining spots in the chase.
In NASCAR, 43 points is awarded to the driver, as that driver was the best the best of 43 drivers on the track. The winner also earns and additional three points for victory and an additional point if they also lead the most laps.
After that, the driver that finishes second receives 42 points and it goes all the way down the line with the driver that finished last earning just one point. These drivers can also earn a bonus point for leading a lap and also earn another bonus point if they also lead the most laps in the race.
With the chase field having 16 drivers and limited spots available based on points, every single point matters and trying to gain as many positions as possible on the track while is of the most importance.
There’s also occasions where a driver might miss the beginning of the season and have certain exceptions to make the chase. Last year, Kyle Busch missed the beginning of the season after breaking his leg and had to not only win a race, but also finish in the top-30 in points by the time the chase began.
Tony Stewart will be missing the beginning of his final season this year and will have to follow the same format that Busch did last year.