NASCAR - Sprint Cup Series (Formerly Nextel Cup and Winston Cup Series) Driver Champions

NASCAR - Sprint Cup Series (Formerly Nextel Cup and Winston Cup Series)

Through points awarded based on the race finish, leading a lap and leading the most laps, drivers are awarded points in each race. The NASCAR Sprint Cup driver with the most points after the season is complete is declared the champion. A large dollar bonus is awarded with this championship, and positions below.

Effective for the 2007 season:

First Place - 185 points
Second - 170 points
Third - 165 points
Fourth - 160 points
Fifth - 155 points
Sixth - 150 points
Seventh thru 11 - 4 points fewer for each position
12th and below - 3 points fewer for each position

Additional Bonus Points

- 5 points for leading a lap (limit one per race)
- 5 points for leading the most laps in a race

For the final 10 races, the championship field will be reduced to the top 12 positions. That group will keep their ranking, but their totals will be adjusted. The leader will start with 5,000 points, plus 10 points for each win in the first 26 races of the season. The awarded points system for the final 10 races will be the same as the previous 26 races. The non-championship contenders will race for points and money but are not eligible for the Nextel title.

Other Nascar Sprint Cup Series (Formerly Nextel Cup and Winston Cup Series) Cup pages on Rauzulu's Sttreet

Sprint Cup Series (Formerly Nextel Cup and Winston Cup Series) Information
Sprint Cup Series (Formerly Nextel Cup and Winston Cup Series) Series Teams
Sprint Cup Series (Formerly Nextel Cup and Winston Cup Series) Past Champions

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NASCAR - Sprint Cup Series (Formerly Nextel Cup and Winston Cup Series) Champions(1950-Present)

NASCAR Nextel Cup (previously Winston Cup) Series Champions

Year	Winner	Points Margin	Runner-up

2007	Jimmie Johnson	77	Jeff Gordon
2006	Jimmie Johnson	56	Matt Kenseth
2005	Tony Stewart	35	Greg Biffle
2004	Kurt Bush	8*	Jimmie Johnson
2003	Matt Kenseth	90	Jimmie Johnson
2002	Tony Stewart	38	Mark Martin
2001	Jeff Gordon	349	Tony Stewart
2000	Bobby Labonte	265	Dale Earnhardt
1999	Dale Jarrett	201	Bobby Labonte
1998	Jeff Gordon	364	Mark Martin
1997	Jeff Gordon	14	Dale Jarrett
1996	Terry Labonte	37	Jeff Gordon
1995	Jeff Gordon	34	Dale Earnhardt
1994	Dale Earnhardt	444	Mark Martin
1993	Dale Earnhardt	80	Rusty Wallace
1992	Alan Kulwicki	10	Bill Elliott
1991	Dale Earnhardt	195	Ricky Rudd
1990	Dale Earnhardt	26	Mark Martin
1989	Rusty Wallace	12	Dale Earnhardt
1988	Bill Elliott	24	Rusty Wallace
1987	Dale Earnhardt	489	Bill Elliott
1986	Dale Earnhardt	288	Darrell Waltrip
1985	Darrell Waltrip	101	Bill Elliott
1984	Terry Labonte	65	Harry Gant
1983	Bobby Allison	47	Darrell Waltrip
1982	Darrell Waltrip	72	Bobby Allison
1981	Darrell Waltrip	53	Bobby Allison
1980	Dale Earnhardt	19	Cale Yarborough
1979	Richard Petty	11	Darrell Waltrip
1978	Cale Yarborough	474	Bobby Allison
1977	Cale Yarborough	386	Richard Petty
1976	Cale Yarborough	195	Richard Petty
1975	Richard Petty	722	Dave Marcis
1974	Richard Petty	n/a+	Cale Yarborough
1973	Benny Parsons	n/a	Cale Yarborough
1972	Richard Petty	n/a	Bobby Allison
1971	Richard Petty	n/a	James Hylton
1970	Bobby Isaac	n/a	Bobby Allison
1969	David Pearson	n/a	Richard Petty
1968	David Pearson	n/a	Bobby Isaac
1967	Richard Petty	n/a	James Hylton
1966	David Pearson	n/a	James Hylton
1965	Ned Jarrett	n/a	Dick Hutcherson
1964	Richard Petty	n/a	Ned Jarrett
1963	Joe Weatherly	n/a	Richard Petty
1962	Joe Weatherly	n/a	Richard Petty
1961	Ned Jarrett	n/a	Rex White
1960	Rex White	n/a	Richard Petty
1959	Lee Petty	n/a	Cotton Owens
1958	Lee Petty	n/a	Buck Baker
1957	Buck Baker	n/a	Marvin Panch
1956	Buck Baker	n/a	Herb Thomas
1955	Tim Flock	n/a	Buck Baker
1954	Lee Petty	n/a	Herb Thomas
1953	Herb Thomas	n/a	Lee Petty
1952	Tim Flock	n/a	Herb Thomas
1951	Herb Thomas	n/a	Fonty Flock
1950	Bill Rexford	n/a	Fireball Roberts

* Designates new scoring method of last 10 races.