NASCAR Points Explanation
Last updated: 1-23-2026
Rule 12.1 – Points Season Overview
A. Unless otherwise authorized by NASCAR, the Points season will officially conclude following the 36th Championship Event, including all Post-Race inspections.
Rule 12.2 – Event Prize Money Structure
A. All Events will be contested for prize money as outlined in the Official Entry Blank and/or applicable Team Owner Agreement.
B. Race purses and In-Race contingency and special awards, will be distributed based on the Final Race Results for an Event.
C. All prize money earned by a driver or other eligible Competitor(s) will be paid by NASCAR to the associated Team owner.
D. The Team owner, not NASCAR, is solely responsible for distributing prize money to the driver and/or other eligible Competitor(s) on the Team. If the Team owner fails to distribute funds, the affected Competitor(s) must seek recourse directly from the Team owner.
E. A Team that uses the Open Exemption Provisional will not be eligible for any prize money associated with the Event, including the Race purse and contingency awards.
F. NEM and its affiliates are not responsible for the filing or payment of any federal, state, local, or foreign taxes related to prize money, Point Fund distributions, special awards, or contingency earnings. These remain the responsibility of the driver and/or Team owner.
Rule 12.3 – Point Fund Awards and Distribution
A. NEM reserves the right to establish, maintain, compile, publish, and operate all Points systems, Point Funds, and awards under its own rules and regulations.
B. All NASCAR Members agree to abide by NEM’s decisions regarding the administration of Points and Point Funds.
C. NEM has established a Team Owner Point Fund for the Series.
D. Awards from the Team Owner Point Fund will be determined and distributed in accordance with this Section.
E. Distributions will be based on final Points standings, as outlined in the Charter Member Agreement and Open Team Owner Agreement.
F. Point Fund and year-end award payments will be distributed based on the accumulation of Points over the entire Race season (see Section 12.4 Driver and Team Owner Points System) and are not tied to any single Event or contingent upon participation in specific Events.
G. Awards earned by a driver will be paid by NEM to the Team owner of the entry vehicle for which the driver competed.
H. The Team owner – not NASCAR or NEM – is solely responsible for distributing awards to the driver. If a driver does not receive proper distribution, his/her sole recourse is against the Team owner.
I. The Team Owner Point Fund will be distributed by NASCAR to each eligible Team owner, per vehicle, as outlined in the applicable Team Owner Agreement.
Rule 12.4 – Driver and Team Owner Points System
A. A driver will be permitted to earn driver Points in only one of the following three Series:
- NASCAR Cup Series.
- NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series.
- NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.
B. A driver will be permitted to earn Points in both the Regional/International Series and one National Series.
C. Before competing in his/her first Event of a Race season, a driver must declare which Series he/she will accumulate Points in (see Section 2.11.1 Driver License).
D. If NASCAR authorizes a driver to switch his/her declared Series, the driver will forfeit all previously earned Points and will restart with zero Points and zero finishing positions for tiebreaker purposes. Unless otherwise approved by NASCAR, a driver may only change his/her declared Series once per Race season.
Rule 12.4.1 – Driver and Team Owner Points
A. Driver and Team owner championship Points will be awarded for each Series Championship Event as outlined in:
Table 12.4.1.a Driver and Team Owner Points Distribution
NASCAR Cup Series fields can be a maximum of 40 teams, with the 36 Chartered teams guaranteed a position in every race. [Teams can request an open exemption provisional in certain circumstance and the race field can be 41. The team does not earn points or money.]
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.
The driver that has the fastest single lap during the race also receives one additional point.
A. Driver and Team owner championship Points will be awarded for each Series Championship Event as outlined in:
Table 12.4.1.a Driver and Team Owner Points Distribution
| STAGES 1-3*/DUEL 1-2 POSITION | POINTS |
|---|---|
| 1 | 10 |
| 2 | 9 |
| 3 | 8 |
| 4 | 7 |
| 5 | 6 |
| 6 | 5 |
| 7 | 4 |
| 8 | 3 |
| 9 | 2 |
| 10 | 1 |
| Final Stage Position | Points |
| 1 | 55 |
| 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 |
B. Points will be awarded after the Final Race Results have been issued. If a Race has been shortened, Points for incomplete Stages will be awarded based on the Final Race Results.
C. Points for the Daytona 150-mile Qualifying Races will be awarded to eligible drivers and Team owners based on finishing position — only if both Duels are deemed official.
D. One Point will be awarded to the eligible driver and eligible Team owner whose driver records the fastest single lap during each Championship Event Race. If multiple drivers post the same time, the driver with the higher Race finish will receive the Point.
E. If a vehicle is Disqualified from a Championship Event Race, it will be assigned last place (or the last available position based on field size) driver and Team owner points. All other finishing positions will be elevated accordingly in the Final Race Results.
F. If multiple vehicles are Disqualified, their final Points will reflect their respective finishing order before Disqualification. All other finishing positions will be elevated accordingly to the number of vehicle Disqualified.
G. Disqualified vehicles will lose all Stage Points. These Points will adjust based on adjusted finishing positions.
H. A vehicle that uses the Open Exemption Provisional will not receive Race or Stage Points. All vehicles finishing behind the Open Exemption Provision vehicle will be elevated one position and awarded Points accordingly.