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The NASCAR point system looks complicated at first glance. Knowing a few things, will simplify it for you.

All NASCAR races are created equal. That is, every race is worth the same number of points.

For each race, 5 bonus points are awarded to a driver for leading a lap. 5 bonus points are also credited to the driver who has led the most laps.

The winner of the race is assigned 185 points for the win as well as 5 points for leading the last lap. If the winning driver has led the most laps of the race, he is credited with 5 extra bonus points. Therefore, 195 is the highest number of points a driver can earn for each race.

The 2nd place driver earns 170 points. Positions 3 through 6 each earn 5 points less than the position above.

The 7th place driver earns 146 points. Positions 8 through 11 earn 4 points less than the position above.

The 12th place driver earns 127 points. Positions 13 through 43 earn 3 points less than the position above.

The NASCAR Nextel Cup Series further complicates the scoring with its Chase to the Cup. After the first 26 races of the season, the 12 drivers with the most points have their points reset to 5000 plus 10 points for every race they've won during the season. This eliminates large point differences among drivers, and is said to make the end of the season more competitive. The Chase to the Cup is the Nextel equivalent of playoffs in other sports.

The points for the last 10 races are awarded in the same manner as the points for the first 26 races. Drivers not in the Chase continue to earn points, but they are not eligible to win the championship.

The NASCAR Busch Series and the Craftsman Truck Series do not use the Chase method for point scoring. All races are scored the same. The points are not reset during the season.

Car owners earn points in the same way as the drivers do. However, there is one difference. An owner earns 5 points when the car shows up for qualifying. The owner keeps these points, even if the driver fails to qualify for the race. Therefore, the owner can have a higher point standing than the driver. These owner points become important in qualifying for races. Based on owner points, the top 35 teams are guaranteed in spot in the starting lineup.

Once you understand the NASCAR point system, you can follow your favorite driver's place in the standings.

Learn more about this author, Lynn Jordan.
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