FINAL 2010 Sprint Cup Driver Chase Standings:
[after Homestead, race 36 of 36, Chase Race 10 of 10]:
rank, car#, driver, points, behind
1) #48-Jimmie Johnson [6 wins], 6622; 5 Time Champion
2) #11-Denny Hamlin [8 wins], 6583, -39
3) #29-Kevin Harvick [3 wins], 6581, -41
4) #99-Carl Edwards [2 wins], 6393, -229
5) #17-Matt Kenseth, 6294, -328
6) #16-Greg Biffle [2 wins], 6247, -375
7) #14-Tony Stewart [2 wins], 6221, -401
8) #18-Kyle Busch [3 wins], 6182, -440
9) #24-Jeff Gordon, 6176, -446
10) #33-Clint Bowyer [1 win], 6155, -467
11) #2-Kurt Busch [2 wins], 6142, -480
12) #31-Jeff Burton, 6033, -589
(Bowyer without 150 pt penalty 6305, -281 would be 5th)
See drivers championship points standings on Jayski's Drivers Points Standings page.(11-21-2010)
2010 Sprint Cup Driver 'Classic' Points Standings:
[after Homestead, race 36 of 36....the OLD way]:
rank, car#, driver, points, behind
1) #29-Kevin Harvick, 5274
2) #48-Jimmie Johnson, 4989, -285
3) #11-Denny Hamlin, 4865, -409
4) #99-Carl Edwards, 4820, -454
5) #24-Jeff Gordon, 4669, -605
6) #18-Kyle Busch, 4647, -627
7) #17-Matt Kenseth, 4640, -634
8) #14-Tony Stewart, 4628, -646
9) #2-Kurt Busch, 4459, -815
10) #31-Jeff Burton, 4423, -851
11) #16-Greg Biffle, 4414, -860
12) #33-Clint Bowyer, 4376, -898
13) #5-Mark Martin, 4364, -910
14) #1-Jamie McMurray, 4325, -949
See drivers championship points standings on Jayski's Drivers Points Standings page.(11-21-2010)
How would had points looked in 2010 using NEW 'simplier' method?: Tom Bowles from Sports Illustrated redid the 2010 points, using the possible new and simplier points system that NASCAR may go to according to an AP report. Here is the final top 12:
#48-Jimmie Johnson: 388
#29-Kevin Harvick: 387
#11-Denny Hamlin: 386
#99-Carl Edwards: 340
#17-Matt Kenseth: 314
#16-Greg Biffle: 293
#14-Tony Stewart: 287
#24-Jeff Gordon: 279 (+1 spot over current system)
#33-Clint Bowyer: 272 (+1)
#18-Kyle Busch: 267 (-2)
#2-Kurt Busch: 265
#31-Jeff Burton: 232
But what about the bonus points, you're asking? That hasn't been divulged by NASCAR either, but let's pretend it's one point for leading a lap, two extra for leading the most and a three-point bonus for winning. So that would mean the max a driver could score per race is 48, leaving a possible 47-point swing between first and last place.(see full article at the Sports Illustrated)(1-19-2011)
Finishing Positions for the Chase drivers at Homestead:
[by points standings before the race]:
1) #11-Denny Hamlin, 14th [2nd in pts]
2) #48-Jimmie Johnson, 2nd [WON Championship]
3) #29-Kevin Harvick, 2nd
4) #99-Carl Edwards, WON
5) #17-Matt Kenseth, 9th
6) #24-Jeff Gordon, 37th
7) #18-Kyle Busch, 32nd
8) #16-Greg Biffle, 10th
9) #14-Tony Stewart, 8th
10) #2-Kurt Busch, 18th
11) #33-Clint Bowyer, 12th
12) #31-Jeff Burton, 31st
(11-21-2010)
Finishing Positions for the Chase drivers at Phoenix:
[by points standings before the race]:
1) #11-Denny Hamlin, 12th [15pt lead]
2) #48-Jimmie Johnson, 5th
3) #29-Kevin Harvick, 6th [down 46 pts]
4) #99-Carl Edwards, WON
5) #17-Matt Kenseth, 7th
6) #24-Jeff Gordon, 11th
7) #18-Kyle Busch, 13th
8) #14-Tony Stewart, 17th
9) #16-Greg Biffle, 4th
10) #33-Clint Bowyer, 21st
11) #2-Kurt Busch, 9th
12) #31-Jeff Burton, 19th
(11-14-2010)
Finishing Positions for the Chase drivers at Texas:
[by points standings before race]:
1) #48-Jimmie Johnson, 9th
2) #11-Denny Hamlin, WON takes points lead
3) #29-Kevin Harvick, 6th
4) #24-Jeff Gordon, 37th
5) #18-Kyle Busch, 32nd
6) #99-Carl Edwards, 19th
7) #14-Tony Stewart, 11th
8) #17-Matt Kenseth, 2nd
9) #2-Kurt Busch, 24th
10) #31-Jeff Burton, 36th
11) #16-Greg Biffle, 5th
12) #33-Clint Bowyer. 7th
(11-7-2010)
Finishing Positions for the Chase drivers at Talladega:
[by points standings before the race]:
1) #48-Jimmie Johnson, 7th
2) #11-Denny Hamlin, 9th
3) #29-Kevin Harvick, 2nd
4) #18-Kyle Busch, 25th
5) #24-Jeff Gordon, 8th
6) #99-Carl Edwards, 17th
7) #14-Tony Stewart, 31st
8) #31-Jeff Burton, 41st
9) #2-Kurt Busch, 30th
10) #17-Matt Kenseth, 16th
11) #16-Greg Biffle, 19th
12) #33-Clint Bowyer, WON
(10-31-2010)
Finishing Positions for the Chase drivers at Martinsville:
[by points standings before the race]:
1) #48-Jimmie Johnson, 5th
2) #11-Denny Hamlin, WON
3) #29-Kevin Harvick, 3rd
4) #24-Jeff Gordon, 20th
5) #18-Kyle Busch, 4th
6) #14-Tony Stewart, 24th
7) #99-Carl Edwards, 8th
8) #16-Greg Biffle, 33rd
9) #2-Kurt Busch, 16th
10) #31-Jeff Burton, 9th
11) #17-Matt Kenseth, 15th
12) #33-Clint Bowyer, 38th
(10-24-2010)
Chase Drivers Finishing Position at Charlotte:
[by points standings before the race]:
1) #48-Jimmie Johnson, 3rd
2) #11-Denny Hamlin, 4th
3) #29-Kevin Harvick, 8th
4) #24-Jeff Gordon, 23rd
5) #14-Tony Stewart, 21st
6) #2-Kurt Busch, 30th
7) #99-Carl Edwards, 12th
8) #31-Jeff Burton, 20th
9) #18-Kyle Busch, 2nd
10) #16-Greg Biffle, 5th
11) #17-Matt Kenseth, 6th
12) #33-Clint Bowyer, 17th
(10-16-2010)
Chase Drivers Finishing Position at Auto Club:
[by points standings before the race]:
1) #48-Jimmie Johnson, 3rd
2) #11-Denny Hamlin, 8th
3) #29-Kevin Harvick, 7th
4) #99-Carl Edwards, 34th
5) #24-Jeff Gordon, 9th
6) #2-Kurt Busch, 21st
7) #18-Kyle Busch, 35th
8) #16-Greg Biffle, 41st
9) #31-Jeff Burton, 23rd
10) #14-Tony Stewart, WON
11) #17-Matt Kenseth, 30th
12) #33-Clint Bowyer, 2nd
(10-10-2010)
Chase Drivers Finishing Position at Kansas:
[by points standings before the race]:
1) #11-Denny Hamlin, 12th
2) #48-Jimmie Johnson, 2nd
3) #29-Kevin Harvick, 3rd
4) #18-Kyle Busch, 21st
5) #2-Kurt Busch, 13th
6) #14-Tony Stewart, 4th
7) #16-Greg Biffle, WON
8) #24-Jeff Gordon, 5th
9) #99-Carl Edwards, 6th
10) #31-Jeff Burton, 18th
11) #17-Matt Kenseth, 7th
12) #33-Clint Bowyer, 15th
(10-3-2010)
Chase Drivers Finishing Position at Dover:
[by points standings before the race]:
1) #11-Denny Hamlin, 9th
2) #29-Kevin Harvick, 15th
3) #18-Kyle Busch, 21st
4) #24-Jeff Gordon, 11th
5) #2-Kurt Busch, 4th
6) #48-Jimmie Johnson, 1st
7) #99-Carl Edwards, 5th
8) #16-Greg Biffle, 19th
9) #31-Jeff Burton, 2nd
10) #14-Tony Stewart, 21st
11) #17-Matt Kenseth, 18th
12) #33-Clint Bowyer, 25th
(9-26-2010)
Chase Drivers Finishing Position at New Hampshire:
[by points standings before the race]:
1) #11-Denny Hamlin, 2nd
2) #48-Jimmie Johnson, 25th
3) #29-Kevin Harvick, 5th
4) #18-Kyle Busch, 9th
5) #2-Kurt Busch, 13th
6) #14-Tony Stewart, 24th
7) #16-Greg Biffle, 17th
8) #24-Jeff Gordon, 6th
9) #99-Carl Edwards, 11th
10) #31-Jeff Burton, 15th
11) #17-Matt Kenseth, 23rd
12) #33-Clint Bowyer, WON
(9-19-2010)
Final UNOFFICIAL 2009 Sprint Cup CHASE Standings
[after Homestead, Chase race 10 of 10; Season race 36 of 36]:
pos, car#, driver, points, behind, [wins], race finish
1) #48-Jimmie Johnson [7 wins], 6652, finished 5th
2) #5-Mark Martin [5 wins], 6511, -141, 12th
3) #24-Jeff Gordon [1 win], 6473, -179, 6th
4) #2-Kurt Busch [2 wins], 6446, -206, 4th
5) #11-Denny Hamlin [4 wins], 6335, -317, WON
6) #14-Tony Stewart [4 wins], 6309, -243, 22nd
7) #16-Greg Biffle, 6292, -360, 14th
8) #42-Juan Montoya, 6252, -400, 38th
9) #39-Ryan Newman, 6175, -477, 23rd
10) #9-Kasey Kahne [2 wins], 6128, -524, 17th
11) #99-Carl Edwards, 6118, -534, 7th
12) #83-Brian Vickers [1 win], 5929, -723, 20th
For the drivers points standings, see my Drivers Points Standings.(11-22-2009)
Final UNOFFICIAL 2009 Sprint Cup CLASSIC
the OLD way - Driver Points Standings [after Homestead, race 36 of 36]:
pos, car#, driver, points, behind
1) #48-Jimmie Johnson (X), 5156
2) #24-Jeff Gordon (X), 5090, -66
3) #14-Tony Stewart (X), 5085, -71
4) #11-Denny Hamlin (X), 4806, -350
5) #5-Mark Martin (X), 4762, -394
6) #2-Kurt Busch (X), 4758, -398
7) #16-Greg Biffle (X), 4541, -615
8) #42-Juan Pablo Montoya (X), 4503, -653
9) #18-Kyle Busch, 4457, -699
10) #39-Ryan Newman (X), 4447, -709
11) #99-Carl Edwards (X), 4398, -758
12) #17-Matt Kenseth, 4389, -767
13) #9-Kasey Kahne (X), 4388, -768
14) #33-Clint Bowyer, 4359, -797
15) #00-David Reutimann, 4221, -935
16) #83-Brian Vickers (X), 4122, -1034
(X) a chase driver.(11-22-2009)
ALL TIME CHASE WINS 2004-2010
- Jimmie Johnson 19 [won at least 1 race in 2004,2005,2006,2007,2008,2009,2010]
- Carl Edwards 8 [2005,2007,2008,2010]
- Greg Biffle 7 [2004,2005,2006,2007,2008,2010]
- Tony Stewart 6 [2006,2008,2009,2010]
- Denny Hamlin 4 [2009,2010]
- Jeff Gordon 3 [2005,2007]
- Clint Bowyer 3 [2007,2010]
- Ryan Newman 2 [2004,2005]
- Mark Martin 2 [2005,2009]
- Dale Earnhardt Jr. 2 [2004]
- Kevin Harvick 2 [2006]
- Jeff Burton 2 [2006,2008]
- Kurt Busch 2 [2004, 2009]
- Jamie McMurray 2 [2009,2010]
- Kasey Kahne 1 [2006]
- Joe Nemechek 1 [2004]
- Dale Jarrett 1 [2005]
- Kyle Busch 1 [2005]
- Matt Kenseth 1 [2007]
- Brian Vickers 1 [2006]
(Thru Homestead race 10 of 10 in 2010; race 70 of 70 overall in seven seasons, 11-21-2010)
Non-Chase Drivers [for that season] who have won during the Chase:
2004 - 2 times
Joe Nemechek, Kansas, 10/10/2004
Greg Biffle, Homestead, 11/21/2004
2005 - 3 times
Dale Jarrett, Talladega, 10/02/2005
Jeff Gordon, Martinsville,10/23/2005
Kyle Busch, Phoenix, 11/13/2005
2006 - 5 times
Tony Stewart, Kansas, 10/01/2006
Brian Vickers, Talladega, 10/08/2006
Tony Stewart, Atlanta, 10/29/2006
Tony Stewart, Texas, 11/05/2006
Greg Biffle, Homestead, 11/19/2006
2007 - 1 time
Greg Biffle, Kansas, 9/30/2007
2008 - none
2009
Jamie McMurray, Talladega, 11/1/2009
2010
Jamie McMurray, Charlotte, 10/16/2010
NEWS/NOTES/RULES
Some Chase drivers choose favorite songs for the Chase: Throughout the NASCAR season – and especially during the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup – NASCAR's top drivers learn a lot about their competitors while they battle each other on the track nearly every weekend from February to November. On the track, they know their competition inside and out – off the track may be a different story, especially when it comes to their taste in music. After being on the road 38 weeks each year traveling the NASCAR circuit, each driver has had plenty of time to fine-tune the playlists on their iPods even if they can't listen to their favorite songs while racing at 180 mph around NASCAR tracks across the country each weekend.
Taking favorite songs personally submitted by this year's championship contenders, here is the ultimate Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup playlist. From Elvis to Eminem, this 12-song compilation may surprise some of their most avid fans:
1. "Not Afraid" – Eminem (Denny Hamlin)
2. "Nothing Else Matters" – Metallica (Jimmie Johnson)
3. "Walk the Line" – Johnny Cash (Kevin Harvick)
4. "CC Rider" – Elvis (Clint Bowyer)
5. "Jukebox Hero" – Foreigner (Carl Edwards)
6. "Everything" – Buck Cherry (Greg Biffle)
7. "Another Way to Die" – Disturbed (Matt Kenseth)
8. "Love The Way You Lie" – Eminem (Denny Hamlin)
9. "It's Now Or Never" – Elvis (Clint Bowyer)
10. "Say It Ain't So" – Weezer (Kevin Harvick)
11. "Enter Sandman" – Metallica (Greg Biffle)
12. "Miracle" – Nonpoint (Matt Kenseth)
Bonus Track: "Wired to the T" – Dorrough (Mark Martin)
From selections like these, it's easy to see these drivers know "It's Now or Never," and won't be waiting on a "Miracle" as they put "Everything" on the line in order to hoist the NASCAR Sprint Cup trophy on Nov. 21.(Catalyst)(9-28-2010)
NASCAR won't inspect more Chase cars after races: NASCAR has considered taking all 12 Chase For The Sprint Cup cars following each race for more thorough inspections, but hasn't seen widespread issues that would require such extensive follow-up, NASCAR Vice President of Competition Robin Pemberton said Friday. NASCAR takes the race-winning car and at least one other car to its research and development center in North Carolina after every race to make sure the car and how the body sits on the frame meets NASCAR regulations. It was in that inspection at the research and the development center that it found the race-winning car of Clint Bowyer to be illegal on Wednesday, three days after he won the first Chase race at New Hampshire. The failure of his car has prompted talk that NASCAR should take more Chase cars, and possibly all 12, following each event in the Chase. "We've done several hundred cars, and if a team has an issue, problem or [is] headed in the wrong direction, we talk about it and they go fix the problem," Pemberton said prior to practice Friday at Dover International Speedway. "We haven't had anything [illegal] in almost two years and that was light sheet metal. We haven't really had a problem. … If someday it winds up being there, fine. But right now our processes work quite well. We feel like the majority of the garage has done things correctly. From time to time, we find things that are not out of the box but are to the zero-margin. It hasn't been an epidemic in any way shape or form." The equipment used to conduct the complicated frame inspections cannot easily be moved to the track and that's one of the reasons why it is done at the research center. The plates the cars sit on during the inspection weigh thousands pounds and all of the equipment would need to be recalibrated if moved off site, Pemberton said. He said there are no plans to try to do those inspections at the Chase-determining race at Richmond nor the season finale at Homestead.(Scene Daily)(9-24-2010)
12th place & the Chase: what happens if #33-Clint Bowyer finishes 43rd/last and only getting 34 points?
#1-McMurray, 13th in drivers points, could take over 12th if he finishes 10th or better
#5-Martin, 14th, would need to finish 9th or better
#39-Newman, 15th, would need to finish 5th or better
#9-Kahne, 16th, would need to finish 2nd or better
(not taking into account, leading laps or the most laps)(9-5-2010)
Chase Clinch Sceneios going into Atlanta: #29-Kevin Harvick and #24-Jeff Gordon have already clinched berths in the 2010 Chase for the Sprint Cup. A number of drivers can add their names to that coveted list. Leaving Atlanta, a driver must be 196 points ahead of 13th place to officially clinch a spot in the Chase. A few seem likely to do that; others have a chance; still others might have to wait until Richmond to cement a spot. Here’s the breakdown:
There’s no such thing as a sure thing. But these guys are as close as it gets. Below are the finishing positions each driver would need to guarantee a Chase spot this weekend, regardless of how any other driver finishes:
3) #18-Kyle Busch
40th or better, no laps led
42nd or better, at least one lap led
43rd or better, most laps led
4) #99-Carl Edwards
21st or better, no laps led
23rd or better, at least one lap led
25th or better, most laps led
5) #11-Denny Hamlin
20th or better, no laps led
22nd or better, at least one lap led
23rd or better, most laps led
Likely Candidates - Here are a few drivers who have a better than average shot at clinching this weekend:
6) #14-Tony Stewart
19th or better, no led
21st or better, at least one lap led
23rd or better, most laps led
7) #31-Jeff Burton
17th or better, no laps led
19th or better, at least one lap led
21st or better, most laps led
8) #17-Matt Kenseth
15th or better, no laps led
17th or better, at least one lap led
19th or better, most laps led
Finally there are the remaining drivers who can clinch this weekend. They may have to wait until Richmond to lock up their spot:
9) #48-Jimmie Johnson
10th or better, no laps led
11th or better, at least one lap led
13th or better, most laps led
10) #2-Kurt Busch
9th or better, no laps led
10th or better, at least one lap led
11th or better, most laps led
11) #16-Greg Biffle
4th or better, no laps led
5th or better, at least one lap led
7th or better, most laps led
12) #33-Clint Bowyer
Currently 100 points ahead of 13th, Bowyer would need to gain 96 points. Therefore, there is no finish that would guarantee a Chase spot. He would need to finish strong, and get some help.(NASCAR)(8-31-2010)
The "Race to the Chase": Securing a spot in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup means doing the math: 10 tracks plus 10 weeks equals intense competition. The "Race to the Chase" – the 10-week stretch that begins Sunday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway and ends Saturday, Sept. 11 at Richmond International Raceway – determines the lineup for the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. After race No. 26 at Richmond, the top 12 drivers in the standings compete for the NASCAR Sprint Cup title during the final 10 events. They lock down those spots during the Race to the Chase, a summer gauntlet that includes many highlights, notably the traditional Fourth of July weekend race at Daytona International Speedway and the Brickyard 400 at historic Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The demands begin immediately. Sunday's LENOX Industrial Tools 301 at 1.058-mile New Hampshire takes place on a flat track distinguished by its deceptively difficult turns and tight radiuses. The July 3 event at Daytona features 2.5-miles of high-banked, high-speed action – with all the accompanying holiday fireworks. The July 11 event at Chicagoland Speedway, a 1.5-mile tri-oval, is a growing tradition – Saturday-night action for a third consecutive year. Following an off week, the Race to the Chase resumes July 26 at Indianapolis and its flat, 2.5-mile rectangle. The Aug. 2 event also takes place on a 2.5-mile surface, but Pocono Raceway's triangle is very different with its three distinct turns and long straightaways. NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers hit the road on Aug. 9 for the 2.45-mile road course at Watkins Glen International. They follow on Aug. 16 at Michigan International Speedway, a flat, wide 2-mile track that accommodates numerous strategies. The Race to the Chase ends with three Saturday-night showdowns – the Aug. 21 race at .533-mile Bristol Motor Speedway, the Labor Day weekend event on Sept. 5 at 1.5-mile Atlanta Motor Speedway and race No. 26 – the cutoff event – at .75-mile Richmond, another short-track staple. Bonus points become paramount during the Race to the Chase. Chase-eligible drivers are seeded by their win totals through the first 26 races (10 points per win). The driver with the most wins earns the top seed.(NASCAR)(6-24-2010)
Here’s a look at how close things have been after three races in previous Chases:
2009: Six drivers within 100 points of lead
2008: Three drivers within 100 points of lead
2007: Three drivers within 100 points of lead
2006: Five drivers within 100 points of lead
2005: Five drivers within 100 points of lead (a sixth was exactly 100 back)
2004: Four drivers within 100 points of lead/(Virginian-Pilot)(10-5-2009)
How you start the season, important to make the Chase: People have caught on to how important a good start is in the Chase format, but right here is where you first read about that. We noticed it two years ago and the trends have not changed. Of the 54 drivers who've made the Chase in its first five years, 50 have been in the top 20 after four races. Forty-four have been in the top 15. And 72%, 39 of 54, were in Chase position after four races (the top 10 in 2004-06 or the top 12 the past two years). The four drivers in five years who have come from outside the top 20 after four races to make the Chase were Matt Kenseth and Jeremy Mayfield in 2005, Kevin Harvick in 2006 and Martin Truex Jr. in 2007. A lot was expected out of #5-Mark Martin. If he does turn things around and somehow comes from 34th in the driver standings to make the Chase, it would be historic. Kenseth had 339 points after four races in 2005 and still came back to make the top 10. No driver has made the Chase with a lower four-race points tally. Martin has just 286 points so far this year.(Charlotte Observer/David Poole). A few drivers outside the top 20 expected to compete for the Chase: #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. (24th), #39-Ryan Newman (32nd) and #5-Mark Martin (34th).(3-14-2009)
NASCAR may give "regular-season" bonus in the future: NASCAR is considering creating a reward for the winner of the "regular season" in response to the huge points lead Jeff Gordon built before the Chase for the championship. NASCAR chairman Brian France said earlier this week he is willing to explore the idea of rewarding the driver who is leading the points at the end of the 26th race of the season. Gordon built a lead of more than 300 points, but lost all of it when the field was reset this week for the Chase for the championship. NASCAR spokesman Jim Hunter said Friday that the sanctioning body will discuss the issue during the off season. Among the ideas being kicked around are awarding additional bonus points to be used in the seeding, more prize money or a trophy different from the Nextel Cup.(Associated Press/Yahoo Sports)(9-15-2007)
OWNERS: The Owners championship takes the same format as the drivers championship. Owners have their own Chase, so if a team uses more then one driver and is in the Top 12 after 26 races, that TEAM [not driver] would run for the Chase for the owners championship. The drivers would NOT. This means a driver in the Chase would have a team that is NOT in the chase.
- NASCAR Announces Adjustments to ‘Chase’ Format and Points System:
Race victories became more important than ever starting in 2007 as a result of adjustments to the points system and the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup format announced late in 2006 by NASCAR. The adjustments are designed to establish more balance between winning and consistency, but there is a new emphasis on the former. “The adjustments taken today put a greater emphasis on winning races,” said NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France. “Winning is what this sport is all about. Nobody likes to see drivers content to finish in the top 10. We want our sport – especially during the Chase – to be more about winning.”
No Changes in 2010, these rules are the same in 2010:
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 [2004-2006], the top 10 drivers in points after the 26th race of the season (currently 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.
Starting in the 2007 season, the 400-point cut-off is eliminated.
Also, after Race 26, the top 12 drivers in the points will qualify for the Chase.
> 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.
> The Chase drivers will be “seeded” to start the Chase based on the number of wins amassed during the regular season.
Points adjustment: In line with the Chase adjustments, wins throughout the season will be more valuable.
> Race winners throughout the 36-race season 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 can earn a maximum of 195 points, creating a possible maximum of 25 points between first- and second-place finishers.
- How does the Sprint Cup award points to drivers and owners?
Each driver who competes in a Cup race is awarded points in the following manner: starting at 175 points, dropping 5 points from spots 1-6, 4 points from 7-11 and 3 points from 12th and lower. 43rd is worth 34 points. Bonus points are giving to any driver who leads a lap and to the driver that leads the most laps is awarded an additional 5 bonus points (in a case of a tie, both drivers get the extra points). Owners are awarded points in the same manner, PLUS they get points for attempting a race, where as drivers do not. All teams who pass inspection and fail to make the race get owner points that descend in the order of quickest non-qualifier to the slowest. Those teams earn the position/points immediately below the last car in the field. So if a team misses the race but was the fastest non qualifier the owners would get 31 points and an other drivers would follow the 3 point drop scale, down to a minimum of 1 point. See chart
