5 of 5

Write now Article Tools

NASCAR's point system is how the champion for the season is eventually determined.

After each race a driver is awarded a certain number of points - between 34 and 175 - depending on where he finished in the race. Bonus points - five - are given for leading a lap and for leading the most laps. A bonus of 10 points is given to the driver who wins the race. A driver has the potential to receive as many as 195 points in any one race if he led a lap, led the most laps including the final lap which meant he would also win the race. The driver who ends up finishing in the forty-third spot receives only 34 points.

Drivers receive points for each race they run, but the car owner also receives points for his car so even if the car is driven by different drivers over the course of a season the owner will receive points for every race.

There are 36 races in a NASCAR season. With the system currently in place points are added up during the first 26 of those races. The final 10 races is known as the "race for the cup" and while all drivers still receive points the top 12 drivers have had their points adjusted so that they compete for the championship an the big money.

Points are important too for drivers because it is the points that determine whether a driver will have a guaranteed spot in the next race, or the first five races of a new season, or will he have to race his way in during qualifying. Currently the race fields 43 cars, but there is often more than that number of cars set to qualify for the race. The drivers who have placed in the top 35 spots points wise are guaranteed a place in the field to race the rest must hope they can get a qualifying time fast enough to race - they are often called the go or go homers.

In NASCAR the points are the standings and with the exception of things like qualifying that are determined by drawing from a hat, the points determine a drivers standing.

Learn more about this author, Sherrill Fulghum.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

Add your voice

Know something about How the NASCAR point system works?
We want to hear your view. Write now!