NASCAR Cup Series facts for kids
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| Category | Stock cars |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Inaugural season | 1949 |
| Manufacturers | Chevrolet · Ford · Toyota |
| Engine suppliers | Chevrolet · Ford · Toyota |
| Tire suppliers | Goodyear |
| Drivers' champion | Joey Logano |
| Makes' champion | Chevrolet |
| Teams' champion | Team Penske |
 Current season |
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The NASCAR Cup Series is the top racing series in NASCAR. It is the most famous stock car racing series in the United States.
The series started in 1949 as the Strictly Stock Division. From 1950 to 1970, it was called the Grand National Division. In 1971, a tobacco company called R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company became the main sponsor. The series was then known as the NASCAR Winston Cup Series until 2003. Later, Nextel and then Sprint sponsored the series. From 2017 to 2019, it was called the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. Since 2020, it has simply been known as the NASCAR Cup Series. It has "Premier Partners" like Busch Beer, Coca-Cola, GEICO, and Xfinity.
The champion is decided by a points system. Drivers get points based on where they finish and how many laps they lead. The season has two parts. After the first 26 races, 16 drivers who have won races get to compete in the last ten races. This final part is called the NASCAR playoffs.
Most races are held in the Southeastern United States. However, the schedule now includes tracks all over the country. There have even been exhibition races in Japan and Australia. The Daytona 500 is the most important race. Millions of people watch it on TV.
Cup Series cars are special race cars. Their engines are very powerful, reaching speeds over 200 mph (320 km/h). But they are heavy and have simple designs, which makes them harder to handle. The car bodies and frames are strictly controlled. This helps make sure all cars are fair and equal.
Contents
History of NASCAR Cup Racing
Early Days: Strictly Stock and Grand National
In 1949, NASCAR started the Strictly Stock division. These cars were regular production cars with almost no changes. The first "Strictly Stock" race was on June 19, 1949, at Charlotte Speedway. Red Byron was the first series champion.
The division changed its name to "Grand National" in 1950. This was to make the sport seem more professional. The 1949 season is counted as the first year of Grand National/Cup history. Martinsville Speedway is the only track from 1949 that is still on the schedule today.
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In the early years, there were many races in a season, sometimes two or three on the same weekend. Most Grand National races were on dirt tracks. These tracks were usually short ovals. Darlington Raceway, which opened in 1950, was the first fully paved track over one mile (1.6 km) long. Over time, more paved tracks were built. The last NASCAR Grand National race on a dirt track was in 1970.
The Winston Cup Era (1971–2003)
From 1971 to 2003, the series was called the Winston Cup Series. This was because the R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company sponsored it. In 1971, TV ads for cigarettes were banned. So, tobacco companies started sponsoring sports events instead.
These changes made 1972 the start of NASCAR's "modern era." The season became shorter, and the points system changed. Dirt tracks and very short paved tracks were removed from the schedule. NASCAR's founder, Bill France Sr., gave control to his son, Bill France Jr.. In 1975, a new points system was created. It made sure top drivers had to race in all events to win the championship. This system stayed the same until 2004.
Since 1982, the Daytona 500 has been the first main race of the year. In 1979, the 1979 Daytona 500 was the first stock car race shown live on national TV from start to finish. The race ended with a famous crash and a fight between drivers. This showed how exciting the sport was and helped it become more popular.
In 1985, Winston started the "Winston Million" award. A driver who won three of the four biggest races would get one million dollars. Only Bill Elliott (1985) and Jeff Gordon (1997) won this prize.
NASCAR became very popular in the 1990s. In 1994, the first Brickyard 400 was held at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Prize money for the Daytona 500 also grew a lot. In 1999, NASCAR signed a huge TV deal worth $2.4 billion.
Nextel and Sprint Cup (2004–2016)
In 2004, Nextel, a phone company, became the new sponsor. The series was renamed the Nextel Cup Series. When Sprint bought Nextel in 2005, the series became the Sprint Cup in 2008. The Sprint Cup trophy was designed by Tiffany & Co. and was made of silver.
By 2009, NASCAR's popularity had stopped growing. Some fans felt the series was losing its traditional feel. They disliked that races moved from the Southeast to new markets. They also didn't like Toyota joining the series.
In 2016, NASCAR created a "charter" system. This guaranteed 36 teams a spot in all 36 races. NASCAR also reduced the number of cars in a Cup race to 40.
The Chase for the Cup (Playoffs)
In 2004, a new playoff system was introduced to decide the champion. It was called the "Chase for the Nextel Cup." The top drivers from the first 26 races would compete in the final ten races. Their points were reset, making the championship battle much closer.
Over the years, the rules for the Chase changed. More drivers were included, and the points reset system was updated. In 2014, NASCAR made big changes to the Chase. It became the "NASCAR Sprint Cup Chase Grid."
The Chase was divided into four rounds:
- Round of 16 (Races 27–29): Starts with 16 drivers.
- Round of 12 (Races 30–32): Starts with 12 drivers.
- Round of Eight (Races 33–35): Starts with 8 drivers.
- Championship Four (Final Race): The last four drivers race for the title. The one who finishes highest in this race wins the championship.
This playoff system was put in place to make the races more exciting at the end of the season. It also helped increase TV ratings during the football season. Before this, the champion could sometimes be known several races before the season ended.
Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series (2017–2019)
After Sprint's sponsorship ended, Monster Energy became the new sponsor in 2017. The series was renamed the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series.
In 2017, "stage racing" was introduced. Races were split into three stages (four for the Coca-Cola 600). Drivers finishing in the top 10 of the first two stages earned bonus points. The winner of a stage also got an extra point for the playoffs. This made every part of the race more important. A regular season champion was also awarded to the driver with the most points after the first 26 races.
The MENCS trophy was a large chalice. It was three feet tall and weighed 68 pounds. It had outlines of all 23 NASCAR Cup Series tracks on it.
NASCAR Cup Series (2020–Present)
Starting in 2020, NASCAR's top series became known simply as the NASCAR Cup Series. NASCAR moved to a new sponsorship model. Busch Beer, Coca-Cola, GEICO, and Xfinity became "Premier Partners." The MENCS trophy design was kept, but it was renamed the Bill France Cup.
Drivers' Championship
The NASCAR Cup Series Drivers' Championship is given to the best driver of the season. It is based on a points system from race results and wins. Red Byron won the first championship in 1949.
So far, 32 different drivers have won the championship. Herb Thomas was the first to win multiple times (1951, 1953). The record for most championships is seven. This record is shared by Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt, and Jimmie Johnson. Jimmie Johnson holds the record for winning five championships in a row (2006-2010). All champions have been from the United States.
Owners' Championship
The Cup Series Owner's Championship works like the Drivers' Championship. But points are given to each car, not just the driver. If a team has more than one car, each car is scored separately.
For example, in the 2011 Daytona 500, Trevor Bayne won the race. But he chose to earn points for a different series. So, he didn't get driver points. However, his team, Wood Brothers Racing, still earned owner points for the win. This shows how owner points can be different from driver points.
Manufacturers' Championship
A Manufacturer's Championship is also awarded each year. This championship is for the car brands. The Driver's Championship is usually seen as more important. In the past, many different car makers competed, making this championship very exciting.
Points are given to the manufacturer whose car finishes highest in a race. For example, if a Chevrolet finishes first, Chevrolet gets points. If a Ford finishes second, Ford gets points.
Car Brands in NASCAR
In NASCAR's early years, many different car brands raced. By the mid-1960s, only American manufacturers with factory support were competing. These were mainly Chrysler, Ford, and General Motors (GM).
In 2007, Toyota, a Japanese manufacturer, joined the series. Chrysler's Dodge brand returned in 2001 but left after 2012. Today, the main competitors are Chevrolet, Ford, and Toyota.
Chevrolet has been the most successful manufacturer. As of 2023, they have 851 race wins and 42 manufacturer championships. Ford is second with 728 wins and 17 championships.
NASCAR Cup Cars
Cup Series cars are special race cars. They have the engine in the front and power the rear wheels. A strong roll cage acts as the car's frame. It is covered by a thin metal body. These cars have a closed driver area, fenders, a rear spoiler, and a front splitter for aerodynamics.
Building and running a car for one season can cost $10–20 million. Teams can build their own cars and engines or buy them from other teams.
The cars use V8 engines that are about 5.8 liters in size. These engines are very powerful, making over 850 horsepower. They can run at very high speeds for long races. Since 2012, Cup cars have used fuel injection instead of carburetors.
The front suspension uses a double wishbone design. The newer "Next Gen" cars (since 2022) have independent front and rear suspensions. This means each wheel can move up and down on its own. Brakes are made of cast iron or steel.
The only parts that help with aerodynamics are the front splitter, spoiler, and side skirts. While these cars can reach speeds of 200 mph (320 km/h), a modified stock car once went 244.9 mph (394.1 km/h) at the Bonneville Salt Flats.
Cup Series cars use an electronic control unit (ECU). However, driver aids like traction control and anti-lock brakes are not allowed. For road courses, cars must have at least one working windshield wiper.
How Cup Cars Have Changed
Generation 1 (1948–1964)
When the series began, cars were truly "stock." They were production cars with almost no changes. Drivers even raced with factory seats and radios still inside! Windows were rolled down, and lights were taped over for safety. The 1957 fuel-injected Chevrolet 150, known as "the black widow," was so fast it was banned by NASCAR. Early cars were often large models like the Chevrolet Bel Air.
Generation 2 (1965–1980)
In 1965, cars started using modified frames. Mid-size cars like the Ford Fairlane became common. NASCAR used to require that a certain number of a car model had to be sold to the public before it could race. Eventually, special cars were built just for NASCAR. These included the Ford Torino Talladega and the Dodge Charger Daytona. These cars had special shapes and large rear wings to go faster.
In 1971, NASCAR changed the rules to limit these special "Aero Warriors" cars. They had to use smaller engines. This rule made them less competitive. Also, NASCAR started using "restrictor plates" on engines over a certain size to slow cars down.
Generation 3 (1981–1991)
In the late 1970s, American cars became smaller. NASCAR had to change its rules to allow these new, smaller models to race. The wheelbase (distance between front and rear wheels) rule was changed to 110 inches (2,800 mm). Cars like the Buick Regal and Ford Thunderbird became popular.
In 1987, Bill Elliott set a world stock-car speed record at Talladega, going 212.809 mph (342 km/h). But a crash during the race injured several fans. After this, NASCAR made restrictor plates mandatory at very fast tracks like Talladega and Daytona. This was to reduce speeds and improve safety. By 1989, many production cars used V6 engines and front-wheel-drive. But NASCAR race cars still used V8 engines and rear-wheel-drive. This meant the race cars were no longer truly "stock."
Generation 4 (1992–2007)
The Generation 4 car, starting in 1992, removed even more "stock" parts. Steel bumpers were replaced with lighter fiberglass. In 1994, roof flaps were added to all cars. These flaps pop up if a car spins backward, helping to keep it on the ground. The Chevrolet Monte Carlo returned in 1995 with a rounder shape, setting a new trend.
While race cars had names like Dodge Charger or Ford Fusion, they looked less and less like the cars you could buy. NASCAR allowed more changes to the car bodies. This led to some cars being "offset" or asymmetrical, meaning one side was different from the other for better performance. NASCAR eventually stopped this practice to make racing fairer.
Car of Tomorrow (2007–2012)
In 2007, NASCAR brought in a new car called the "Car of Tomorrow" (CoT). It was designed to control costs, make cars more equal, and improve driver safety. The CoT was wider and taller. The driver's seat was moved closer to the center of the car. A big change was a rear wing instead of the usual spoiler.
The CoT rules made all cars conform to the same body shapes, no matter the car brand. This helped make racing more equal. The rear wing was later replaced with the original spoiler in 2010. In 2012, NASCAR started using fuel injection technology in the engines.
Generation 6 Car (2013–2021)
In 2013, the Generation 6 race car was introduced. Manufacturers were allowed to make their cars look more like the street versions. This made the race cars more recognizable to fans.
Since 2016, all NASCAR Cup Series cars have used a digital dashboard. This dash shows the driver lots of information, like lap times and engine details. As car sales changed, coupe-based cars like the Chevrolet Camaro (2018) and Ford Mustang (2019) returned to the series.
Next Gen Car (2022–Present)
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In 2022, NASCAR launched an all-new car called the "Next Gen." This car has improved aerodynamics and new technologies. These include center lock wheels and rear diffusers, which are common in road racing. The Next Gen car aims to lower costs for teams and attract new car manufacturers to NASCAR.
In 2023, a special Next Gen Camaro raced in the famous 2023 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race.
Car Setup and Handling
Teams adjust the car's suspension, brakes, and aerodynamic parts for each track. A car that "pushes" or is "tight" wants to go straight when turning left. A car that is "loose" or "free" has its back end slide around. This can cause a spin if the driver isn't careful.
Teams can change things like the front and rear downforce, springs, and tire pressure. These changes help balance the car and fix handling problems. Tires also play a big role. NASCAR and Goodyear decide on the tire types, and teams cannot change them.
Weather can also affect how a car handles. In long races, teams might set up a car to be good at the end, even if it's not the fastest at the start. On oval tracks, rain stops the race immediately. However, NASCAR now has rain tires for road courses. The first time rain tires were used in a Cup Series race was in 2020 and 2021.
NASCAR Cup Tracks
Most NASCAR Cup Series races are in the eastern United States. Only a few tracks are west of the Mississippi River. The 2024 season included 31 races on oval tracks and 5 on road courses. Oval tracks vary in length from .526 miles (0.847 km) at Martinsville Speedway to 2.66 miles (4.28 km) at Talladega Superspeedway. Most are paved with asphalt, but some use concrete. NASCAR stopped racing on dirt tracks for over 50 years after 1970. But in 2021, dirt racing returned with an event at Bristol Motor Speedway.
While some tracks are true ovals, many are "tri-ovals." Other tracks have unique shapes, like Darlington Raceway's "egg" shape or the triangular Pocono Raceway. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is a rectangle.
NASCAR usually races counter-clockwise on ovals. But Sonoma Raceway and Watkins Glen International are road courses where cars race clockwise. The first road course event was in 1954. Since 1963, there has been at least one road course race every year.
Tracks have different amounts of banking (sloping) in the corners. New Hampshire Motor Speedway has the flattest corners (7 degrees). Talladega Superspeedway has the steepest banking (33 degrees).
Race speeds vary a lot. Talladega Superspeedway is the fastest track. The record average speed there is 188.354 mph (303.126 km/h). The fastest qualifying lap was 212.809 mph (342.483 km/h), set by Bill Elliott in 1987. This record is unlikely to be broken. This is because NASCAR made restrictor plates mandatory in 1988 to reduce speeds. The slowest tracks are Sonoma Raceway and Martinsville Speedway.
See also
In Spanish: NASCAR Cup Series para niños
