NASCAR Cup Series fields can be a maximum of 40 teams, with the 36 Chartered teams guaranteed a position in every race.

Points are earned based on a driver’s finishing position at the end of the race.  Points can also be earned by finishing in the top 10 at the end of a race stage.

In addition, the winner of each stage earns one playoff point the race receives five playoff points. Playoff points are added to a drivers point total after the points reset at the beginning of the playoffs, and each stage thereafter if the driver is still eligible for the championship. See the Cup Playoffs page for a complete explanation.

Points are awarded as follows at the end of the race:

Finish Points
 1  40
 2  35
 3  34
 4  33
 5  32
 6  31
 7  30
 8  29
 9  28
 10  27
 11  26
 12  25
 13  24
 14  23
 15  22
 16  21
 17  20
 18  19
 19  18
 20  17
 21  16
 22  15
 23  14
 24  13
 25  12
 26  11
 27  10
 28  9
 29  8
 30  7
 31  6
 32  5
 33  4
 34  3
 35  2
 36  1
 37  1
 38  1
 39  1
 40  1
Stage points are earned as follows:
 Stage Finish Points
1 10
2 9
3 8
4 7
5 6
6 5
7 4
8 3
9 2
10 1

Rule 12.4 – Award of Points

A. A driver will be permitted to earn driver Points in only one of the following three Series:

  • NASCAR Cup Series
  • NASCAR Xfinity Series
  • NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.
B. A driver will be permitted to earn Points in both the Touring/International Series and the National Series.
C. Prior to competing in his/her first Event of a Race season, a driver must elect which Series he/she would like to accumulate driver Points. (See Section 2.1 Application Process)
D. In the event NASCAR authorizes a driver to change which Series he/she would like to accumulate driver Points, he/she will forfeit any driver Points earned up to that point and start at zero Points and zero finishing positions for tie breaker purposes in the newly selected Series. Unless otherwise authorized by NASCAR, a driver may only change driver Points once per season.