The Nextel Cup

The Nextel Cup is NASCAR’s premier series. Forty-three cars compete in each race, and the season lasts for 36 races. After the first 26 races, the top 10 drivers in the points standings, and any drivers who are within 400 points of the leader, qualify for the Chase for the Championship, a 10-race playoff that determines the Nextel Cup Champion. Those drivers that do not make the Chase continue to race in the final 10 races, though they are no longer eligible for the championship. The Chase format began in 2004, when Nextel took over from Winston as the title sponsor.

From 1972-2003, the series was known as the Winston Cup when R.J. Reynolds Tobacco was the title sponsor. Prior to that, the series was known as the Grand National Series.

See also:

• The Busch Series
• The Chase for the Nextel Cup
• The Craftsman Truck Series