Nascar Sprint Cup Series Point System


FINISHING POSITIONS:


Given the the fierce competition within the Nascar Sprint Cup Series and the number of teams capable of winning on any given weekend, a finish in the top five or top ten is regarded as an admirable effort. Therefore, the winner of each event is awarded 10 points more than the driver whi finishes in second place. The remaining top 5 finishers are rewarded witha 5 point seperation between themselves and the next highest finisher. Poistions six through ten are rewarded with a 4 point seperation. Three points seperate each finishing position from 11th through the end of the field, regardless of the number of starters.


BONUS POINTS:


The only way a driver can recieve bonus points is to lead a race. Five points are rewarded to any driver who leads at least one lap. An additional five points are rewarded to the driver who leads the most laps during each race.


CHASE FOR THE NASCAR SPRINT CUP:


Before the first of the final ten races of the season, the point totals for the top 12 drivers in the standings are reasigned, with each driver recieving 5000 points. Then, 10 additional points are added to each drivers total for every race victory posted by that driver during the the first 26 races of the current season (if any). Points for each of the final 10 events are then assigned according to finishing positions and leading laps exactly as described above.


RELIEF DRIVERS:


Nascar Sprint Cup Series points are rewarded to the starting driver of each car, regardless of who is driving at the finish. The starting driver must take the green flag and complete at least one lap before turning the car over to a relief driver. Any qualified Nascar Sprint Cup Series driver may drive in relief. In some cases, a driver without a scheduled ride fora particular race may make practice laps in anticipation of driving relief for someone during the race. Other times, starters who have fallen out of an event may make themselves available to take over for another car if needed.


TIEBREAKERS:


In cases where two or more drivers have the same number of points, the number of wins during the season is used to break the tie. Sucessive tiebreakers are the number of second place finishes, third place finishes and so on until the tie is broken.


OWNER POINTS:


Owner points are distributed in the same mnner as driver points except that the owner recieves popints based on the performance of the car, regardless of who drives it. For example, the owner of the winning would recieve 180 points for the first place finish and five bonus points for laeding at least one lap for a total of 185 points. If that particular car lead the most laps during the race, an additional five bonus points are rewarded, and the owner would recieve 190 points.
Owner points standings are used to determining starting lineups when qualifying is canceled, starting positions when identical qualifying times are posted, preference for starting provisional starting spots and the distribution of Nascar plan money.


Sorce: UMI Publishing- “The Offical Nascar Preview and Press Guide 2008”