Motorsport guides · NASCAR Cup Series
NASCAR Cup Series points system 2026
Every NASCAR Cup Series race pays points three ways: finishing position (40 for the winner, then 35 for second and one less per spot down to 1), stage points for the top ten at the end of stages 1 and 2, and playoff points that carry into the postseason. Sixteen drivers make the playoffs, with a win in the regular season virtually guaranteeing a spot.
Race
| Pos | Points |
|---|---|
| P1 | 40 |
| P2 | 35 |
| P3 | 34 |
| P4 | 33 |
| P5 | 32 |
| P6 | 31 |
| P7 | 30 |
| P8 | 29 |
| P9 | 28 |
| P10 | 27 |
| P11 | 26 |
| P12 | 25 |
| P13 | 24 |
| P14 | 23 |
| P15 | 22 |
| P16 | 21 |
| P17 | 20 |
| P18 | 19 |
| P19 | 18 |
| P20 | 17 |
| P21 | 16 |
| P22 | 15 |
| P23 | 14 |
| P24 | 13 |
| P25 | 12 |
| P26 | 11 |
| P27 | 10 |
| P28 | 9 |
| P29 | 8 |
| P30 | 7 |
| P31 | 6 |
| P32 | 5 |
| P33 | 4 |
| P34 | 3 |
| P35 | 2 |
| P36 | 1 |
Stage (1 and 2)
| Pos | Points |
|---|---|
| P1 | 10 |
| P2 | 9 |
| P3 | 8 |
| P4 | 7 |
| P5 | 6 |
| P6 | 5 |
| P7 | 4 |
| P8 | 3 |
| P9 | 2 |
| P10 | 1 |
Playoff points
| Achievement | Playoff points |
|---|---|
| Race win | 5 |
| Stage win | 1 |
| Regular-season champion | 15 |
| Regular-season 2nd to 10th | 10 → 1 |
Good to know
- A race win is worth 5 playoff points and a stage win 1; the regular-season champion adds 15.
- At the start of the playoffs every qualified driver is reset to 2,000 points plus their playoff points; four drivers are eliminated after each three-race round.
- The Championship 4 race in the final round decides the title: the best finisher of the four is champion.
Source: NASCAR — How the Cup Series points and playoffs work · Updated: 2026-09-04
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