History of NASCAR Cup Series in Timeline

The NASCAR Cup Series is the premier racing series sanctioned by the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR). It represents the highest level of stock car competition in the United States, featuring intense races and skilled drivers. The series is known for its high speeds, close competition, and passionate fan base, solidifying its position as a prominent force in American motorsports.

1948: NASCAR Sanctioned Modified and Roadster Division Races

In 1948, NASCAR sanctioned Modified and Roadster division races.

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 Introduced Strictly Stock Division

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

1949: R. Byron wins

In 1949, R. Byron won.

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 make the sport more professional.

1950: Series Renamed Grand National Division

From 1950 to 1970, the NASCAR Cup 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 opened and became the first completely paved track on the circuit over one mile long.

1951: H. Thomas wins

In 1951, H. Thomas won.

1952: T. Flock wins

In 1952, T. Flock won.

1953: H. Thomas wins

In 1953, H. Thomas won.

1954: L. Petty wins

In 1954, L. Petty won.

1955: T. Flock wins

In 1955, T. Flock won.

1956: B. Baker wins

In 1956, B. Baker won.

1956: Race Held in Rain at Road America

In 1956, a race at Road America was held in the rain, with Tim Flock winning.

1957: B. Baker wins

In 1957, B. Baker won.

1957: Chevrolet "Black Widow" Outlawed

In 1957, the fuel injected 150 model Chevrolet, known as "the black widow", became the first car to be outlawed by NASCAR. Despite this, the 1957 Chevrolet achieved 59 wins, the most of any car 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 was opened, the schedule still had more races on dirt racetracks than on paved ones.

1960: R. White wins

In 1960, R. White won.

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.

1964: R. Petty wins

In 1964, R. Petty won.

1965: N. Jarrett wins

In 1965, N. Jarrett won.

1965: Modified Chassis Introduced

In 1965, modified chassis were introduced to NASCAR, leading to the adoption of mid-size cars like the Ford Fairlane and Plymouth Belvedere as the new standard.

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.

September 30, 1970: Last NASCAR 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 half mile State Fairgrounds Speedway in Raleigh, North Carolina. Richard Petty won the race.

1970: Dirt Racing Ceased

After the 1970 season, NASCAR ceased racing on dirt tracks for more than 50 years.

1970: ABC Sports Aired Grand National Races

In 1970, ABC Sports aired partial or full live telecasts of Grand National races from Talladega, North Wilkesboro, Darlington, Charlotte, and Nashville.

1970: B. Isaac wins

In 1970, B. Isaac won.

1970: End of Grand National Division Era

In 1970, the NASCAR Cup Series was still known as the Grand National Division.

1971: Rules Changed to Limit Specialty Cars

Beginning 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: Winston Cup Series Sponsorship

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

1971: R. Petty wins

In 1971, R. Petty won.

1971: Series Renamed 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: Grand National Name Retained Until 1971

The name "Grand National" was retained until 1971.

1972: R. Petty wins

In 1972, R. Petty won.

1972: Beginning of NASCAR's "Modern Era"

In 1972, the changes that resulted from RJR's involvement in the series as well as from the reduction in schedule from 48 to 31 races per year established 1972 as the beginning of NASCAR's "modern era".

1973: Oil Crisis

In 1973 the Oil Crisis occurred, causing American manufacturers to end factory support of racing and the transition to reduced engine sizes.

August 1974: New Points System Designed by Bob Latford

In August 1974, Bill France Jr. asked series publicist Bob Latford to design 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: Engine Displacement Increased

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

1975: 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: Latford Points System Implemented

In 1975, the new points system remained unchanged until the Chase for the Championship was instituted in 2004.

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 were retained for the GM makes through 1980.

1977: Transition to Reduced Engine Size Complete

In 1977, the transition to reduced engine sizes was completed, 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: Older Ford and Dodge Models Retained

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

1979: Daytona 500 Televised Live on CBS

In 1979, the Daytona 500 became the first stock car race that was nationally televised live from flag to flag on CBS.

1980: D. Earnhardt wins

In 1980, D. Earnhardt won.

1980: Older Models Retained Through 1980

In 1980, older models (1977 for GM, and 1979 for Ford and Dodge) were retained due to the challenge presented by the downsizing of American cars.

1981: Wheelbase Requirement Reduced

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

1981: D. Waltrip wins

In 1981, D. Waltrip won.

1981: Awards Banquet Began in New York City

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

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: Buick Regal and Ford Thunderbird Dominate

In 1983, the Buick Regal and Ford Thunderbird dominated competition, while 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 Leaves NASCAR

At the end of the 1985 season, Chrysler Corporation left NASCAR entirely after dropping its poor performing Dodge Mirada and Chrysler Cordoba in 1983.

1985: D. Waltrip wins

In 1985, D. Waltrip won.

1985: Winston Million Awards Program Introduced

In 1985, Winston introduced a new awards program called the Winston Million, giving 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 much larger Grand Ballroom.

1986: D. Earnhardt wins

In 1986, D. Earnhardt won.

1986: "Grand National" Dropped From Winston Cup Series Name

In 1986, the series was originally called the Winston Cup Grand National Series before "Grand National" was dropped.

1987: Bill Elliott sets record qualifying lap at Talladega Superspeedway

In 1987, Bill Elliott set a record qualifying lap of 212.809 mph (342.483 km/h) at Talladega Superspeedway. The record is unlikely to be broken due to subsequent restrictor plate implementation.

1987: Restrictor Plate Mandated After Crash

In 1987, Bill Elliott set a stock-car speed record. Later that year, Bobby Allison's crash at Talladega injured several spectators, leading NASCAR to mandate restrictor plates at Talladega and Daytona to reduce speeds.

1987: D. Earnhardt wins

In 1987, D. Earnhardt won.

1988: B. Elliott wins

In 1988, B. Elliott won.

1988: Restrictor plates made mandatory at superspeedways

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

1989: GM Switches to V6 Engines

By 1989, GM had switched its mid-sized models to V6 engines and front-wheel-drive, while NASCAR racers kept the body shape but used the old V8 rear-wheel-drive running gear.

1989: Darrell Waltrip nearly won 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.

1991: D. Earnhardt wins

In 1991, D. Earnhardt won.

1992: Generation 4 Car Begins

1992 marked the beginning of the Generation 4 car, which stripped all semblance of "stock" from "stock car racing."

1992: A. Kulwicki wins

In 1992, A. Kulwicki won.

1992: Davey Allison nearly won Winston Million

In 1992, Davey Allison nearly won the Winston Million.

1993: D. Earnhardt wins

In 1993, D. Earnhardt won.

1994: D. Earnhardt wins

In 1994, D. Earnhardt won.

1994: First Brickyard 400 Held

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

1994: Roof Flaps Added After Crashes

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

1995: J. Gordon wins

In 1995, J. Gordon won.

1995: Chevrolet Monte Carlo Redesigned

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

1996: Dale Jarrett nearly won Winston Million

In 1996, Dale Jarrett nearly won the Winston Million.

1996: T. Labonte wins

In 1996, T. Labonte won.

1997: Winner's Prize Money for Daytona 500 Tripled

Between 1997 and 1998, the winner's prize money for the Daytona 500 tripled.

1997: J. Gordon wins

In 1997, J. Gordon won.

1997: Jeff Gordon won Winston Million

In 1997, Jeff Gordon won the Winston Million.

1997: Ford Taurus Body Used

When the Ford Thunderbird was retired after 1997, the four-door Ford Taurus body was used for NASCAR racers, even though they have no opening doors.

1998: Winner's Prize Money for Daytona 500 Tripled

Between 1997 and 1998, the winner's prize money for the Daytona 500 tripled.

1998: Asymmetrical Bodies on Cars Intensified

In 1998 Taurus was launched. Asymmetrical bodies on cars had run rampant since the 1998 Taurus launch (and intensified by the final years of the Generation 4 car).

1998: J. Gordon wins

In 1998, J. Gordon won.

1998: Modifications Allowed on Ford Taurus

In 1998, NASCAR allowed significant modifications of the Ford Taurus decklid so the car would fit the required templates, eliminating the requirement for hood, roof, and decklid to be identical to stock counterparts.

1998: Tobacco Industry Settlement

In 1998, the Tobacco Industry Settlement sharply restricted avenues for tobacco advertising, including sports sponsorships, which made RJR's sponsorship more controversial.

1998: Winston Million Replaced with Winston No Bull Five

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

1999: D. Jarrett wins

In 1999, D. Jarrett won.

1999: New Agreement with Fox, Turner, and NBC

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

2000: B. Labonte wins

In 2000, B. Labonte won.

2001: J. Gordon wins

In 2001, J. Gordon won.

2001: Pixar Visited NASCAR Tracks for Cars Research

In 2001, Pixar visited NASCAR tracks as research for the 2006 animated film Cars, which included the voices of Petty and Dale Earnhardt Jr.

2001: Awards Banquet Dropped for Simpler Ceremony

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

2002: R.J. Reynolds Notified 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: End of Winston Cup Series Sponsorship

Between 1971 and 2003, NASCAR's premier series was sponsored by R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company cigarette brand Winston, dubbing it the Winston Cup Series.

2003: M. Kenseth wins

In 2003, M. Kenseth won.

2003: "Approved Body Configuration" Design Introduced

In 2003, NASCAR introduced the "Approved Body Configuration" design, similar to short track racing, to put more emphasis on parity and address the issue of offset cars.

2003: End of R.J. Reynolds Sponsorship

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

2003: Deal Made with Nextel

In 2003, a deal was made with Nextel, changing the name of the series.

2003: Banquet Format Reinstated

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

2003: Brian France Becomes a Target for Criticism

NASCAR's CEO Brian France has become a prime target for criticism among fans during his tenure from 2003 to 2018.

2004: New System for Determining Series Champion Introduced

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, the series was known as the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series.

2004: Inaugural Chase

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, with first place starting with 5,050 points and tenth place starting with 5,005.

2004: Chase for the Championship Instituted

In 2004, the Chase for the Championship was instituted.

2005: Sprint Acquired Nextel

In 2005, Sprint acquired Nextel.

2005: T. Stewart wins

In 2005, T. Stewart won.

2006: Chase Seeding Based on Points Position

2006: J. Johnson wins

In 2006, J. Johnson won.

2006: Release of Animated Film Cars

In 2006, the animated film Cars was released.

2006: Merger Between Sprint and Nextel

The 2006 merger between Sprint and Nextel resulted in the Cup Series being renamed the Sprint Cup, beginning with the 2008 season.

March 2007: Car of Tomorrow Debuts

In March 2007, NASCAR's "Car of Tomorrow" (CoT) made its debut at Bristol Motor Speedway, initially used at 16 selected events.

October 2007: Modified NASCAR Dodge Charger Sets Speed Record

In October 2007, Russ Wicks drove a modified Dodge Charger stock car, built to NASCAR's specifications, reaching a speed of 244.9 mph during a speed record attempt at the Bonneville Salt Flats.

2007: J. Johnson wins

In 2007, J. Johnson won.

2007: Toyota Joins NASCAR Cup Series

In 2007, Toyota became the first new manufacturer to join NASCAR since 1971.

2007: Number of Chase Teams Increased to 12

In 2007, the number of teams eligible for the Chase for the Nextel Cup was increased to 12.

2007: End of NASCAR Nextel Cup Series

In 2007, the series was still known as the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series.

2008: Cup Series Renamed Sprint Cup

Beginning with the 2008 season, the Cup Series was renamed the Sprint Cup following the merger between Sprint and Nextel in 2006.

2008: J. Johnson wins

In 2008, J. Johnson won.

2008: Series Renamed NASCAR Sprint Cup Series

In 2008, the series was renamed the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.

2008: CoT Used in Every Race

Originally planned for 2009, NASCAR changed the date to the start of the 2008 season to use the CoT in every race, to help teams save money.

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 more or less stagnant.

2009: Carl Edwards' High-Speed Spin

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

2009: J. Johnson wins

In 2009, J. Johnson won.

2009: Original Plan to Use CoT in Every Race

NASCAR originally planned to wait until the start of the 2009 season to use the CoT in every race, but this was changed to the start of the 2008 season.

2010: Points Reset for Chase Participants

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: Wing Replaced with Spoiler

In 2010 NASCAR decided to replace the wing with the original spoiler. The switch began with the 2010 Goody's Fast Pain Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway.

2010: J. Johnson wins

In 2010, J. Johnson won.

November 20, 2011: Tony Stewart wins 2011 NASCAR Cup Series Championship in Points Tiebreaker

On November 20, 2011, Tony Stewart and Carl Edwards ended the season in a first-ever points tie. Stewart's five season wins (all in the Chase) over Edwards' one win gave Stewart the tiebreaker, leading to him being named the winner of the 2011 NASCAR Cup Series Championship.

2011: Nose of Car Altered

In 2011, NASCAR altered the nose of the car once more, with the splitter being reduced in size and the braces being replaced by a solid front valence.

2011: T. Stewart wins

In 2011, T. Stewart won.

2012: Fuel Injection Technology Introduced

A major engine change occurred in 2012 with NASCAR's introduction of fuel injection technology.

2012: B. Keselowski wins

In 2012, B. Keselowski won.

2012: NASCAR Cup Series switches to EFI V8 Engines

In 2012, the NASCAR Cup Series switched to EFI V8 engines, ending a 62-year period of using carburetion as the engine fuel feed.

July 2013: SoftBank Acquired Sprint

In July 2013, Japanese telecommunications corporation SoftBank acquired Sprint.

2013: J. Johnson wins

In 2013, J. Johnson won.

2013: Generation 6 Race Car Created

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.

2014: K. Harvick wins

In 2014, K. Harvick won.

2014: Race Team Alliance Formed

In 2014, the Race Team Alliance was formed.

2014: NASCAR Changes Manufacturer Points System

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

2015: Ky. Busch wins

In 2015, Ky. Busch won.

December 1, 2016: NASCAR Announces Partnership with Monster Energy

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

December 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.

December 19, 2016: NASCAR Announces New Series Name and Logo

On December 19, 2016, NASCAR announced the new name for the series: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, along with the new series logo and a new NASCAR logo.

2016: J. Johnson wins

In 2016, J. Johnson won.

2016: NASCAR Announced Charter System

In 2016, NASCAR announced the creation of a charter system (in association with the Race Team Alliance, formed in 2014), which would guarantee 36 teams' entry to all 36 races.

2016: Digital Dash Introduced

In 2016, all NASCAR Cup Series cars began utilizing a digital dash sold by McLaren, including customizable preset screens and additional data elements.

2017: Series Renamed Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series

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

2017: M. Truex Jr. wins

In 2017, M. Truex Jr. won.

2017: Stage Racing Introduced in NASCAR Cup Series

In 2017, stage racing was introduced to the NASCAR Cup Series. Races were broken up into three or four stages, with bonus championship points awarded to the top-10 finishers in the first two stages, enhancing the regular season points system.

April 11, 2018: Monster Energy Extends Sponsorship of NASCAR Cup Series

On April 11, 2018, Monster Energy announced an extension of their sponsorship of the NASCAR Cup Series through the end of the 2019 season.

2018: Chevrolet Switched to Camaro

In 2018, Chevrolet switched to the Chevrolet Camaro, resulting in return of pony cars to the Cup Series.

2018: J. Logano wins

In 2018, J. Logano won.

2018: Brian France's Tenure Ends

NASCAR's CEO Brian France has become a prime target for criticism among fans during his tenure from 2003 to 2018.

2019: Ky. Busch wins

In 2019, Ky. Busch won.

2019: NASCAR Rejected Monster's Offer

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

2019: Restrictor plates replaced by tapered spacers

In 2019, restrictor plates were replaced by tapered spacers, which reduced horsepower to limit car speeds.

2019: Daytona 500 TV Audience

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 Cup Series schedule includes tracks from around the United States.

2020: NASCAR Cup Series Name Change and Premier Partners

Beginning with the 2020 season, NASCAR's top level of competition became known as the NASCAR Cup Series. Busch Beer, Coca-Cola, GEICO, and Xfinity became the Premier Partners of the series, with Coca-Cola also assuming naming rights of the regular season trophy.

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

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

2021: K. Larson wins

In 2021, K. Larson won.

2021: Dirt Racing Returned to Schedule

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

2021: Rain Tires Used at Texas Grand Prix

In 2021, rain tires were used at the Texas Grand Prix, marking one of the first in-race uses of rain tires in the Cup Series.

2022: J. Logano wins

In 2022, J. Logano won.

2022: Next Gen Car Introduced

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

2022: NASCAR Next Gen Car Debut at Busch Lite Clash at the Coliseum

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.