History of NASCAR Cup Series in Timeline

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NASCAR Cup Series

The NASCAR Cup Series is the pinnacle of stock car racing in the United States, organized by the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR). It represents the highest level of competition within NASCAR's racing series. The series features intense races, skilled drivers, and iconic tracks, making it a prominent and popular sport in the U.S.

1948: Sanctioning of Modified and Roadster Division Races

In 1948, NASCAR sanctioned Modified and Roadster division races, setting the stage for the Strictly Stock division in 1949.

June 19, 1949: First NASCAR Strictly Stock Race

On June 19, 1949, the first NASCAR "Strictly Stock" race was held at Charlotte Speedway. Jim Roper was declared the winner after Glenn Dunaway was disqualified.

1949: NASCAR Introduces Strictly Stock Division

In 1949, NASCAR introduced the Strictly Stock division, following Modified and Roadster division races in 1948.

1949: R. Byron wins

In 1949, R. Byron won.

1949: Red Byron wins first Cup Series Championship

In 1949, Red Byron was awarded the first Cup Series Championship.

1949: Series Began as Strictly Stock Division

In 1949, the NASCAR Cup Series began as the Strictly Stock Division.

1950: Division Renamed Grand National

For the 1950 season, the Strictly Stock division was renamed "Grand National" to reflect NASCAR's intent to professionalize the sport.

1950: Series Renamed Grand National Division

From 1950 to 1970, the series was known as the Grand National Division.

1950: B. Rexford wins

In 1950, B. Rexford won.

1950: Darlington Raceway Opened

In 1950, Darlington Raceway, the first completely paved track over one mile long, opened.

1951: Herb Thomas's first Championship

In 1951 and 1953, Herb Thomas won the Championship.

1951: H. Thomas wins

In 1951, H. Thomas won.

1952: T. Flock wins

In 1952, T. Flock won.

1953: Herb Thomas's second Championship

In 1951 and 1953, Herb Thomas won the Championship.

1953: H. Thomas wins

In 1953, H. Thomas won.

1954: L. Petty wins

In 1954, L. Petty won.

1954: First Road Course Event

The series' first road course event was held in 1954, at Linden Airport in New Jersey.

1955: T. Flock wins

In 1955, T. Flock won.

1956: Road America Race Held in Rain

A 1956 race at Road America was held in the rain; Tim Flock won the race.

1956: B. Baker wins

In 1956, B. Baker won.

1957: B. Baker wins

In 1957, B. Baker won.

1957: Outlawing of the 1957 Chevrolet "Black Widow"

In 1957, NASCAR outlawed the 1957 fuel injected 150 model Chevrolet, known as "the black widow". The 1957 Chevrolet won the most races, with 59 wins, more than any car to ever race in the cup series.

1958: L. Petty wins

In 1958, L. Petty won.

1959: L. Petty wins

In 1959, L. Petty won.

1959: Daytona International Speedway Opened

In 1959, when Daytona International Speedway opened, the schedule still had more races on dirt racetracks than on paved ones.

1960: R. White wins

In 1960, R. White won.

1960: Points were scored in a 1960–1990 Formula One system

Up to the 2013 season, points were scored in a 1960–1990 Formula One system, with the winner's manufacturer scoring nine points, six for the next manufacturer, four for the manufacturer third among makes, three for the fourth, two for the fifth, and one point for the sixth positioned manufacturer.

1961: N. Jarrett wins

In 1961, N. Jarrett won.

1962: J. Weatherly wins

In 1962, J. Weatherly won.

1963: J. Weatherly wins

In 1963, J. Weatherly won.

1963: Road course race every year since

Since 1963, the NASCAR Cup Series has raced on at least one road course every year.

1964: R. Petty wins

In 1964, R. Petty won.

1965: N. Jarrett wins

In 1965, N. Jarrett won.

1965: Introduction of modified chassis and mid-size cars

In 1965, modified chassis came to NASCAR. Mid-size cars, including the Ford Fairlane and Plymouth Belvedere, were adopted, becoming the norm.

1966: D. Pearson wins

In 1966, D. Pearson won.

1967: R. Petty wins

In 1967, R. Petty won.

1968: D. Pearson wins

In 1968, D. Pearson won.

1969: D. Pearson wins

In 1969, D. Pearson won.

August 1970: NASCAR Handicaps Engines

Beginning in August 1970, NASCAR handicapped engines over 366 cubic inches (6.0 liters) with a restrictor plate.

September 30, 1970: Last Grand National Race on a Dirt Track

On September 30, 1970, the last NASCAR Grand National race on a dirt track (until 2021) was held at the State Fairgrounds Speedway in Raleigh, North Carolina, and was won by Richard Petty.

1970: ABC Sports Airs Grand National Races

In 1970, ABC Sports aired partial or full live telecasts of Grand National races, but later switched to delayed and edited broadcasts on Wide World of Sports due to perceived lack of excitement.

1970: B. Isaac wins

In 1970, B. Isaac won.

1970: End of Grand National Division Era

In 1970, the Grand National Division era came to an end, marking the conclusion of its run since 1950.

1970: End of dirt track racing for over 50 years

The NASCAR Cup Series ceased racing on dirt tracks for more than 50 years after the 1970 season.

1971: Winston Cup Series Begins

Between 1971 and 2003, NASCAR's premier series was sponsored by R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company and was called the Winston Cup Series. In 1971, the Public Health Cigarette Smoking Act banned television advertising of cigarettes.

1971: NASCAR Limits Specialty Cars

In 1971, NASCAR rewrote the rules to effectively force the Ford and Chrysler specialty cars (nicknamed the Aero Warriors) out of competition by limiting them to 305ci (5.0L). The cars affected by this rule include the Ford Talladega, Mercury Spoiler II, Dodge Charger 500, Dodge Charger Daytona and the Plymouth Superbird.

1971: R. Petty wins

In 1971, R. Petty won.

1971: End of Grand National Name

In 1971, the Grand National name was retired.

1971: Series Becomes NASCAR Winston Cup Series

In 1971, the series began leasing its naming rights to the R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company and was referred to as the NASCAR Winston Cup Series.

1971: Ford pulls out of racing

Plymouth never won a Manufacturers Championship until Ford pulled out of racing in the early 1970s.

1972: R. Petty wins

In 1972, R. Petty won.

1972: Beginning of NASCAR's "Modern Era"

In 1972, changes from RJR's involvement and a schedule reduction established the beginning of NASCAR's "modern era".

1973: B. Parsons wins

In 1973, B. Parsons won.

1973: Oil crisis affects factory support of racing

In 1973, the oil crisis contributed to American manufacturers ending factory support of racing.

August 1974: Latford designs new points system

In August 1974, Bob Latford designed a points system with equal points being awarded for all races regardless of length or prize money.

1974: R. Petty wins

In 1974, R. Petty won.

1974: Maximum Engine Displacement Increased

In 1974, maximum engine displacement was increased from 430 cubic inches to 433 cubic inches.

1975: Maximum Small Block Engine Displacement Reduced

In 1975, NASCAR reduced the maximum small block engine displacement from 366 cubic inches (6.0 liters) to its present 358 cubic inches (5.9 liters).

1975: R. Petty wins

In 1975, R. Petty won.

1975: New point system implemented

In 1975, the new points system remained unchanged.

1976: C. Yarborough wins

In 1976, C. Yarborough won.

1977: C. Yarborough wins

In 1977, C. Yarborough won.

1977: Older GM models retained

In 1977, the older models for the GM makes were retained through 1980 due to downsizing of American cars.

1977: Transition to Reduced Engine Displacement Complete

In 1977, the transition to the reduced engine displacement was complete, coinciding with American manufacturers ending factory support of racing and the 1973 oil crisis.

1978: C. Yarborough wins

In 1978, C. Yarborough won.

1979: R. Petty wins

In 1979, R. Petty won.

1979: Daytona 500 Live Telecast and Controversial Finish

In 1979, the Daytona 500 became the first stock car race nationally televised live from flag to flag on CBS. The race ended with a wreck and a fistfight, increasing the sport's marketability. The race coincided with a snowstorm, successfully introducing the sport to a captive audience.

1979: Older Ford and Dodge models retained

In 1979, the older models for Ford and Dodge were retained through 1980 due to downsizing of American cars.

1980: D. Earnhardt wins

In 1980, D. Earnhardt won.

1980: Retention of older models

In 1980, older models of GM, Ford and Dodge makes were retained due to downsizing of American cars.

1981: D. Waltrip wins

In 1981, D. Waltrip won.

1981: Awards Banquet Begins in New York City

In 1981, an awards banquet began to be held in New York City on the first Friday evening in December.

1981: Wheelbase requirement reduced

In 1981, the wheelbase requirement was reduced to 110 inches (2,800 mm) to accommodate newer model cars.

1982: D. Waltrip wins

In 1982, D. Waltrip won.

1982: Daytona 500 Becomes First Non-Exhibition Race

Since 1982, the Daytona 500 has been the first non-exhibition race of the year.

1983: B. Allison wins

In 1983, B. Allison won.

1983: Introduction of aerodynamic car models

In 1983, the rounded, aerodynamic 1983 Ford Thunderbird gained prominence. The Chevrolet Monte Carlo and Pontiac Grand Prix adopted bubble back windows to stay competitive.

1984: T. Labonte wins

In 1984, T. Labonte won.

1985: Chrysler Corporation leaves NASCAR

At the end of the 1985 season, Chrysler Corporation left NASCAR entirely after dropping its poor performing (both on the race track and for consumer sales) Dodge Mirada and Chrysler Cordoba in 1983.

1985: D. Waltrip wins

In 1985, D. Waltrip won.

1985: Winston Introduces Winston Million

In 1985, Winston introduced a new awards program called the Winston Million, offering one million dollars to any driver who won three of the four most prestigious races in the series.

1985: Awards Banquet Moved to Grand Ballroom

In 1985, the awards banquet was moved to the Grand Ballroom at the Waldorf-Astoria.

1986: "Grand National" Dropped From Winston Cup Series

In 1986, "Grand National" was dropped from the Winston Cup Grand National Series, shortening the name to Winston Cup Series.

1986: D. Earnhardt wins

In 1986, D. Earnhardt won.

1987: Record speed and major accident at Talladega

In 1987, Bill Elliott set a world stock-car record at 212.809 mph during Winston 500 qualifying. During the race, Bobby Allison's crash injured several spectators, leading to the mandate of restrictor plates at Talladega and Daytona.

1987: Bill Elliott sets qualifying lap record

In 1987, Bill Elliott set the record qualifying lap at Talladega Superspeedway with a speed of 212.809 mph (342.483 km/h).

1987: D. Earnhardt wins

In 1987, D. Earnhardt won.

1988: B. Elliott wins

In 1988, B. Elliott won.

1988: Restrictor plates made mandatory

In 1988, restrictor plates were made mandatory at superspeedways to reduce speeds.

1989: GM switches models to V6 engines and front-wheel-drive

By 1989, GM had switched its mid-sized models to V6 engines and front-wheel-drive, but the NASCAR racers only kept the body shape, with the old V8 rear-wheel-drive running gear, rendering obsolete the "stock" nature of the cars.

1989: Darrell Waltrip nearly wins Winston Million

In 1989, Darrell Waltrip nearly won the Winston Million

1989: R. Wallace wins

In 1989, R. Wallace won.

1990: D. Earnhardt wins

In 1990, D. Earnhardt won.

1990: Points were scored in a 1960–1990 Formula One system

Up to the 2013 season, points were scored in a 1960–1990 Formula One system, with the winner's manufacturer scoring nine points, six for the next manufacturer, four for the manufacturer third among makes, three for the fourth, two for the fifth, and one point for the sixth positioned manufacturer.

1991: GM was still using four different brands in NASCAR

GM was still using four different brands in NASCAR in 1991, but within three years, Buick and Oldsmobile were gone. Pontiac survived until 2004, leaving only Chevrolet.

1991: D. Earnhardt wins

In 1991, D. Earnhardt won.

1992: A. Kulwicki wins

In 1992, A. Kulwicki won.

1992: Davey Allison nearly wins Winston Million

In 1992, Davey Allison nearly won the Winston Million

1992: Start of the Generation 4 car

In 1992, the Generation 4 car was introduced, removing stock body panels and replacing steel bumpers with fiberglass.

1993: D. Earnhardt wins

In 1993, D. Earnhardt won.

1993: Rusty Wallace's airborne crashes

In 1993, Rusty Wallace had two airborne crashes, which led to the addition of roof flaps to all cars in 1994.

1994: D. Earnhardt wins

In 1994, D. Earnhardt won.

1994: First Brickyard 400

In 1994, NASCAR held the first Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

1994: Addition of roof flaps to all cars

In 1994, roof flaps were added to all cars after Rusty Wallace's two airborne crashes in 1993.

1995: J. Gordon wins

In 1995, J. Gordon won.

1995: Return of the Chevrolet Monte Carlo

In 1995, the newly designed Chevrolet Monte Carlo returned to the sport, which started the trend of rounder body shapes.

1996: Dale Jarrett nearly wins Winston Million

In 1996, Dale Jarrett nearly won the Winston Million

1996: T. Labonte wins

In 1996, T. Labonte won.

1997: Increase in Daytona 500 Prize Money

Between 1997 and 1998, the winner's prize money for the Daytona 500 tripled, coinciding with a decline in popularity of American Championship Car Racing.

1997: J. Gordon wins

In 1997, J. Gordon won.

1997: Ford Thunderbird retired, Ford Taurus used

In 1997, the Ford Thunderbird was retired, and the four-door Ford Taurus body was used (although NASCAR racers actually have no opening doors).

1997: Winston Million Ends

In 1997, the Winston Million ended.

1998: Increase in Daytona 500 Prize Money

Between 1997 and 1998, the winner's prize money for the Daytona 500 tripled, coinciding with a decline in popularity of American Championship Car Racing.

1998: J. Gordon wins

In 1998, J. Gordon won.

1998: Tobacco Industry Settlement Affects Sponsorship

In 1998, the Tobacco Industry Settlement sharply restricted avenues for tobacco advertising, impacting RJR's sponsorship of NASCAR.

1998: Winston No Bull Five Replaces Winston Million

In 1998, the Winston Million was replaced with a similar program, the Winston No Bull Five.

1998: Asymmetrical bodies on cars became common

Since the 1998 Taurus launch, asymmetrical bodies on cars had become common. The new rules eliminated the asymmetrical bodies on cars that had run rampant since then. NASCAR requires all CoTs to conform to common body templates, regardless of make and model.

1998: Significant Ford Taurus decklid modification allowed

Until 1998, the hood, roof, and decklid were still required to be identical to their stock counterparts. This was eliminated when NASCAR allowed significant modifications of the Ford Taurus decklid so the car would fit the required templates.

1999: D. Jarrett wins

In 1999, D. Jarrett won.

1999: New Broadcasting Agreement

In 1999, NASCAR made a new broadcasting agreement with Fox Broadcasting, Turner Broadcasting, and NBC, valued at $2.4 billion.

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2000: B. Labonte wins

In 2000, B. Labonte won.

2001: Dodge returns to NASCAR

Chrysler's Dodge brand returned after a 15-year hiatus in 2001.

2001: Simpler Awards Ceremony

For 2001, the banquet portion of the awards ceremony was dropped in favor of a simpler ceremony.

2001: J. Gordon wins

In 2001, J. Gordon won.

2001: Pixar Research for "Cars"

In 2001, Pixar visited NASCAR tracks as research for the 2006 animated film Cars.

2002: R.J. Reynolds Notifies NASCAR of Sponsorship Termination

During the 2002 season, R.J. Reynolds notified NASCAR leadership that they would terminate their title sponsorship prematurely at the conclusion of the 2003 season.

2002: T. Stewart wins

In 2002, T. Stewart won.

2003: Brian France Tenure Begins

In 2003, Brian France began his tenure as CEO of NASCAR, becoming a prime target for criticism among fans.

2003: M. Kenseth wins

In 2003, M. Kenseth won.

2003: Introduction of "Approved Body Configuration"

In 2003, NASCAR introduced "Approved Body Configuration" (also known as "common template") design to put more emphasis on parity and based new body rules, similar to short track racing, where offset cars had become a burden for race officials.

2003: Deal with Nextel Made

In 2003, a similar deal to the one with R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company was made with Nextel.

2003: End of Winston Cup Series

In 2003, the Winston Cup Series came to an end.

2003: Banquet Format Reinstated

In 2003, the awards festivities returned to the Waldorf's Grand Ballroom, and the banquet format was reinstated.

2004: New System for Determining Series Champion

Along with the change in title sponsorship for the series, the 2004 season also introduced a new system for determining the series champion, influenced by the system used in the USAR Hooters Pro Cup Series.

2004: Series Renamed NASCAR Nextel Cup Series

From 2004 to 2007, after a deal with Nextel in 2003, the series became the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series.

2004: Inaugural Chase for the Nextel Cup

From the inaugural Chase in 2004 to the 2006 Chase, the drivers were seeded based on points position at the end of the regular season.

2004: Pontiac survives until 2004

GM was still using four different brands in NASCAR in 1991, but within three years, Buick and Oldsmobile were gone. Pontiac survived until 2004, leaving only Chevrolet.

2004: Ku. Busch wins

In 2004, Ku. Busch won.

2004: Chase for the Championship instituted

In 2004, the Chase for the Championship was instituted, changing the points system that had been in place since 1975.

2005: Rules reverted to a system more similar to the pre-2005 rules

Beginning in 2013, the rules reverted to a system more similar to the pre-2005 rules. In the NASCAR Cup Series, the first 36 places in the field are determined strictly by qualifying speed.

2005: Sprint Acquires Nextel

In 2005, Sprint acquired Nextel, leading to a renaming of the NASCAR series.

2005: T. Stewart wins

In 2005, T. Stewart won.

2005: Kurt Busch fired

In 2005, after owner Jack Roush fired Kurt Busch during the next-to-last race weekend of the season, the No. 97 team finished in eighth place in owner's points, while Busch ended up tenth in driver's points.

2005: Owner's points used to determine exemptions for the next race

In 2005, owner's points were used to award exemptions for the next race, guaranteeing a position for the top teams.

2006: Jimmie Johnson's first of five consecutive Championships

From 2006 to 2010, Jimmie Johnson won five consecutive Championships.

2006: Changes in Chase for the Nextel Cup

From the inaugural Chase in 2004 to the 2006 Chase, the drivers were seeded based on points position at the end of the regular season.

2006: J. Johnson wins

In 2006, J. Johnson won.

2006: Release of the Movie Cars

In 2006, the animated film Cars was released, which included the voices of Petty and Dale Earnhardt Jr. To avoid advertising tobacco in a Disney film, "Piston Cup" served as Pixar's allusion to the Winston Cup.

2006: Sprint and Nextel Merger

The 2006 merger between Sprint and Nextel resulted in the Cup Series being renamed the Sprint Cup.

March 2007: Debut of the "Car of Tomorrow"

In March 2007, NASCAR introduced the "Car of Tomorrow" (CoT) at Bristol Motor Speedway; it was initially used at 16 selected events.

October 2007: Speed record attempt at the Bonneville Salt Flats

In October 2007, Russ Wicks drove a modified Dodge Charger stock car to 244.9 mph during a speed record attempt at the Bonneville Salt Flats.

2007: Highest finishing non-Chase driver awarded a bonus

From 2007 to 2013, the highest finishing non-Chase driver (13th place at the end of the season) was awarded a bonus of approximately one million dollars.

2007: J. Johnson wins

In 2007, J. Johnson won.

2007: Toyota joins NASCAR

In 2007, Toyota joined NASCAR, becoming the first new brand since 1971.

2007: End of NASCAR Nextel Cup Series

In 2007, the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series era came to an end.

2007: Increase in Number of Teams Eligible for the Chase

In 2007, the number of teams eligible to win the championship by competing in a playoff held within the final ten races was increased to 12.

2008: J. Johnson wins

In 2008, J. Johnson won.

2008: CoT used in every race

In 2008, NASCAR used the "Car of Tomorrow" (CoT) in every race, to help teams save money by giving them only one car specification to work on.

2008: Series Renamed NASCAR Sprint Cup Series

In 2008, following Sprint's acquisition of Nextel in 2005, the series was renamed the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.

2008: Cup Series Renamed Sprint Cup

In 2008, the Cup Series was renamed the Sprint Cup, following the 2006 merger between Sprint and Nextel.

2009: End of Popularity Boom

By 2009, the popularity boom of the 1990s had ended, and television ratings over the previous ten years had become stagnant.

2009: Carl Edwards' high-speed spin at Talladega

In 2009, Carl Edwards experienced a high-speed spin during the Aaron's 499 at Talladega Superspeedway, leading to criticisms of the rear wing.

2009: J. Johnson wins

In 2009, J. Johnson won.

2009: Original plan to use CoT in every race

NASCAR had originally planned to wait until the start of the 2009 season to use the CoT in every race.

2010: Jimmie Johnson's fifth consecutive Championship

From 2006 to 2010, Jimmie Johnson won five consecutive Championships.

2010: Changes in Chase for the Sprint Cup Points System

From 2007 to 2010, the points totals of each driver who made the Chase were reset to 5,000 points, plus ten additional points for each race victory during the first 26 races.

2010: J. Johnson wins

In 2010, J. Johnson won.

2010: Rear wing replaced with spoiler

In 2010, NASCAR replaced the rear wing with the original spoiler, starting with the Goody's Fast Pain Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway.

2010: Changes to the points system

Under the post-2010 point system, only cars that actually start in a given race earn owner's points.

November 20, 2011: Tony Stewart wins 2011 NASCAR Cup Series Championship after points tie

On November 20, 2011, Tony Stewart and Carl Edwards concluded the season with an unprecedented tie in points. Tony Stewart was awarded the 2011 NASCAR Cup Series Championship due to his five season wins over Carl Edwards' one win.

2011: Changes to the points system were implemented

Before a major change to the points system was implemented in 2011, there was a slightly different addition to the system of allocating owner's points.

2011: Nose alteration with smaller splitter and solid front valence

In 2011, NASCAR altered the nose of the car with a reduced splitter size and replacement of braces with a solid front valence.

2011: T. Stewart wins

In 2011, T. Stewart won.

2011: Implementation of rule changes affecting driver and owner points

In 2011, a new rule was implemented where drivers are only allowed to earn drivers' points in one of NASCAR's three national series.

2012: Dodge departs after a hiatus

Chrysler's Dodge brand departed NASCAR after 2012, leaving just Chevrolet, Ford and Toyota.

2012: B. Keselowski wins

In 2012, B. Keselowski won.

2012: Switch to EFI V8 engines

In 2012, NASCAR Cup Series cars switched to EFI V8 engines after 62 years of using carburetion.

2012: Introduction of fuel injection technology

In 2012, NASCAR introduced fuel injection technology. Initially NASCAR indicated that it would transition to fuel injection midway through the 2011 season but decided before that season to put off the change until 2012.

2012: Top teams guaranteed a position in the next race

Through the 2012 season, the top 35 (NASCAR Cup Series) or top 30 (other series) full-time teams in owner points are awarded exemptions for the next race, guaranteeing them a position in that race.

July 2013: SoftBank Acquires Sprint

In July 2013, Japanese telecommunications corporation SoftBank acquired Sprint.

2013: 2005 rule change in NASCAR's three national series revoked

A 2005 rule change in NASCAR's three national series, revoked from 2013 onward, affects how the owner's points are used.

2013: Rules reverted to a system more similar to the pre-2005 rules

Beginning in 2013, the rules reverted to a system more similar to the pre-2005 rules.

2013: Highest finishing non-Chase driver awarded a bonus

From 2007 to 2013, the highest finishing non-Chase driver (13th place at the end of the season) was awarded a bonus of approximately one million dollars.

2013: J. Johnson wins

In 2013, J. Johnson won.

2013: Increased branding leeway with Generation 6 race car

In 2013, manufacturers were given increased leeway for branding their NASCAR Cup Series cars, creating the Generation 6 race car. These changes were made so the cars would resemble their street counterparts more closely, as was done in the Xfinity Series in 2011.

2013: Points were scored in a 1960–1990 Formula One system

Up to the 2013 season, points were scored in a 1960–1990 Formula One system, with the winner's manufacturer scoring nine points, six for the next manufacturer, four for the manufacturer third among makes, three for the fourth, two for the fifth, and one point for the sixth positioned manufacturer.

2014: K. Harvick wins

In 2014, K. Harvick won.

2014: NASCAR announces wide-ranging changes to the Chase format

In 2014, NASCAR announced significant changes to the Chase format.

2014: Formation of Race Team Alliance

In 2014, the Race Team Alliance was formed, leading to the creation of a charter system in 2016.

2014: Changes to awards for non-Chase drivers

In 2014, the highest finishing non-Chase driver could potentially finish anywhere from fifth to 17th place, and would be awarded a bonus.

2014: NASCAR changed the system to mimic the Owner's Championship

Starting in 2014, NASCAR changed the system to mimic the Owner's Championship. Under this system, each manufacturer's best finishing representative effectively earned them the same number of points as that team earned.

2015: Ky. Busch wins

In 2015, Ky. Busch won.

December 1, 2016: NASCAR reaches agreement with Monster Energy to sponsor premier series

On December 1, 2016, NASCAR announced it had reached an agreement with Monster Energy to become the new sponsor of NASCAR's premier series.

December 19, 2016: NASCAR announces the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series name and new logos

On December 19, 2016, NASCAR announced the new name for the series, Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, as well as the new series logo and new NASCAR logo.

2016: J. Johnson wins

In 2016, J. Johnson won.

2016: Creation of Charter System

In 2016, NASCAR announced the creation of a charter system (in association with the Race Team Alliance, formed in 2014), guaranteeing 36 teams' entry to all 36 races and reduced the field size to 40 cars.

2016: Introduction of McLaren digital dash

In 2016, all NASCAR Cup Series cars began utilizing a digital dash sold by McLaren, which included sixteen customizable preset screens.

2016: Monster Energy to Become New Title Sponsor

In December 2016, it was announced that Monster Energy would become the new title sponsor of the series.

2017: Series Renamed Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series

From 2017 to 2019, the series was renamed the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series.

2017: M. Truex Jr. wins

In 2017, M. Truex Jr. won.

2017: Introduction of stage racing in NASCAR

In 2017, NASCAR introduced stage racing, breaking races into three or four stages with bonus points awarded to the top-10 finishers in the first two stages.

April 11, 2018: Monster Energy extends sponsorship of NASCAR's premier series

On April 11, 2018, Monster Energy announced an extension of their sponsorship of NASCAR's premier series through the end of the 2019 season.

2018: Brian France Tenure Ends

In 2018, Brian France's tenure as CEO of NASCAR came to an end.

2018: Chevrolet switches to the Chevrolet Camaro

In 2018, Chevrolet switched to the Chevrolet Camaro in the Cup Series, resulting in return of pony cars (and thus, coupe-based models) to the Cup Series.

2018: J. Logano wins

In 2018, J. Logano won.

2019: Ky. Busch wins

In 2019, Ky. Busch won.

2019: End of Monster Energy Sponsorship

In 2019, Monster Energy's sponsorship of NASCAR's premier series came to an end.

2019: NASCAR Rejects Monster's Offer

In 2019, NASCAR rejected Monster's offer to extend the naming rights deal beyond the end of the season.

2019: Tapered spacers replace restrictor plates

In 2019, restrictor plates at superspeedways were replaced by tapered spacers to reduce horsepower and limit speeds.

2019: Daytona 500 Viewership

In 2019, the Daytona 500 had a television audience of about 9.17 million U.S. viewers.

2020: Schedule Includes Tracks Around the United States

As of 2020, the NASCAR schedule includes tracks from around the United States, with races also having been held outside the country.

2020: NASCAR's top level of competition becomes known as the NASCAR Cup Series

Beginning with the 2020 season, NASCAR's top level of competition became known as the NASCAR Cup Series, with Busch Beer, Coca-Cola, GEICO, and Xfinity becoming the Premier Partners.

2020: C. Elliott wins

In 2020, C. Elliott won.

2020: NASCAR Cup Series with Premier Partners

In 2020, NASCAR moved to a new tiered sponsorship model, known as the NASCAR Cup Series, with Premier Partners: Busch Beer, Coca-Cola, and Xfinity.

2020: First in-race use of rain tires in the Cup Series

The first in-race use of rain tires in the Cup Series were at the 2020 Bank of America Roval 400.

2021: Windshield wiper requirement at Daytona

In 2021, Cup cars were required to have at least one working windshield wiper installed for road courses, including Daytona, as part of the road racing rules package.

2021: K. Larson wins

In 2021, K. Larson won.

2021: Dirt track race held again

In 2021, NASCAR held a race on a dirt track.

2021: Return of dirt racing to the schedule

In 2021, dirt racing returned to the schedule with a March event at Bristol Motor Speedway.

2021: Rain tires used at the Texas Grand Prix

In 2021, rain tires were used at the Texas Grand Prix in the Cup Series.

2022: J. Logano wins

In 2022, J. Logano won.

2022: Introduction of the Next Gen car

In 2022, NASCAR introduced the Next Gen car, a seventh-generation car featuring improved aero and downforce packages and new technologies to lower costs and attract new OEMs.

2022: Debut of the NASCAR Next Gen Car

In 2022, the NASCAR Next Gen Car debuted at the Busch Lite Clash at the Coliseum, featuring fully independent front and rear suspensions with double wishbones and adjustable inboard shocks.

2023: Chevrolet leads in manufacturer wins and championships as of 2023

As of 2023, Chevrolet has the most race wins and manufacturer championships with 851 wins and 42 championships, followed by Ford and Dodge.

2023: R. Blaney wins

In 2023, R. Blaney won.

2023: Next Gen Camaro entry in 24 Hours of Le Mans

In 2023, a heavily modified Next Gen Camaro fielded by Hendrick Motorsports entered the 2023 24 Hours of Le Mans, where it finished 39th out of the 62 cars entered in the event.

2023: No. 9 car earns playoff berth

In 2023, after Chase Elliott was injured, his No. 9 car continued to earn owner points during his absence, which ultimately culminated in a playoff berth in owners points.

2024: J. Logano wins

In 2024, J. Logano won.

2024: NASCAR Season Overview

The 2024 NASCAR season includes 31 races at oval tracks and 5 at road courses.