# List of NASCAR Cup Series champions

The NASCAR Cup Series Drivers' Championship is awarded by the chairman of NASCAR to the most successful NASCAR Cup Series racing car driver over a season, as determined by a points system based on race results. The Drivers' Championship was first awarded in 1949 to Red Byron. The first driver to win multiple Championships was Herb Thomas in 1951 and 1953. The current Drivers' Champion is Joey Logano, who won his third NASCAR Cup Series championship in 2024.
The NASCAR points system has undergone several incarnations since its initial implementation. Originally, races awarded points by a complicated system based upon final positioning and weighted by prize money purses, such that higher-paying events gave more points. Soon after the advent of the modern era in 1972, the championship was decided by a more basic cumulative point total based solely upon a driver's finishing position in each race. In order to reduce the possibility of a driver clinching before the final event, NASCAR implemented the "Chase for the Cup" in 2004 which, with minor modification from 2004 to 2013 and more radical changes in 2014, stands as the current format. Before the final ten races, 16 drivers, chosen primarily on race wins, are reset to an equal number of points, with bonus points awarded to a driver for each win prior to the reset. With these changes, the last Drivers' Champion to clinch before the final race was Matt Kenseth in 2003.
Overall, thirty-six different drivers have won the Championship, with Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt, and Jimmie Johnson holding the record for most titles at seven. Johnson has the record for most consecutive Drivers' Championships, winning five from 2006 to 2010. Thus far, every champion has originated from the United States. Byron has the fewest number of race starts before winning his first title with six in 1949. Bill Rexford is the youngest Cup Series champion; he was 23 years, 7 months, and 15 days old when he won the title in 1950. Bobby Allison is the oldest Cup Series champion; he was 45 years, 11 months, and 17 days old when he won the championship in 1983.

## By season

| Year | Driver | Owner(s)/Teams | No.(s) | Man.(s) | St | P | Ws | TT | Pts | Gap |
| 1949 | Red Byron | Raymond Parks | 22 | Oldsmobile | 6 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 842.5 | 117.5 |
| 1950 | Bill Rexford | Julian Buesink | 8 20 59 60 62 80 | Oldsmobile | 17 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 1,959 | 110.5 |
| 1951 | Herb Thomas (1) | Herb Thomas (1) | 92 | Plymouth Hudson Oldsmobile | 34 | 4 | 7 | 18 | 4,208.45 | 146.2 |
| 1951 | Herb Thomas (1) | Marshall Teague | 6 | Plymouth Hudson Oldsmobile | 34 | 4 | 7 | 18 | 4,208.45 | 146.2 |
| 1951 | Herb Thomas (1) | Leonard Tippett | 99 | Plymouth Hudson Oldsmobile | 34 | 4 | 7 | 18 | 4,208.45 | 146.2 |
| 1951 | Herb Thomas (1) | Hubert Westmoreland (1) | 2 | Plymouth Hudson Oldsmobile | 34 | 4 | 7 | 18 | 4,208.45 | 146.2 |
| 1952 | Tim Flock (1) | Ted Chester | 91 | Hudson | 33 | 4 | 8 | 25 | 6,858.5 | 106 |
| 1953 | Herb Thomas (2) | Herb Thomas (2) | 92 | Hudson (3) | 37 | 12 | 12 | 31 | 8,460 | 646 |
| 1954 | Lee Petty (1) | Petty Enterprises (1) | 42 | Chrysler Dodge | 34 | 3 | 7 | 32 | 8,649 | 283 |
| 1954 | Lee Petty (1) | Gary Drake | 100 | Oldsmobile | 34 | 3 | 7 | 32 | 8,649 | 283 |
| 1955 | Tim Flock (2) | Carl Kiekhaefer (1) | 300 301 | Chrysler | 39 | 18 | 18 | 33 | 9,596 | 1,508 |
| 1955 | Tim Flock (2) | Hubert Westmoreland (2) | 2 | Chevrolet | 39 | 18 | 18 | 33 | 9,596 | 1,508 |
| 1956 | Buck Baker (1) | Carl Kiekhaefer (2) | 00 87 300 300C 301 500B 502 | Chrysler Dodge | 48 | 12 | 14 | 39 | 9,272 | 704 |
| 1956 | Buck Baker (1) | James Satcher | 87 | Ford | 48 | 12 | 14 | 39 | 9,272 | 704 |
| 1956 | Buck Baker (1) | John Whitford | 31 | Ford | 48 | 12 | 14 | 39 | 9,272 | 704 |
| 1957 | Buck Baker (2) | Buck Baker | 87 | Chevrolet | 40 | 6 | 10 | 38 | 10,716 | 760 |
| 1957 | Buck Baker (2) | Hugh Babb | 87 | Chevrolet | 40 | 6 | 10 | 38 | 10,716 | 760 |
| 1958 | Lee Petty (2) | Petty Enterprises (2) | 42 | Oldsmobile | 50 | 4 | 7 | 43 | 12,232 | 644 |
| 1959 | Lee Petty (3) | Petty Enterprises (3) | 42 43 | Oldsmobile Plymouth | 42 | 2 | 11 | 35 | 11,792 | 1,830 |
| 1960 | Rex White | Rex White | 4 | Chevrolet | 40 | 3 | 6 | 35 | 21,164 | 3,936 |
| 1960 | Rex White | L.D. Austin | 74 | Chevrolet | 40 | 3 | 6 | 35 | 21,164 | 3,936 |
| 1960 | Rex White | Beau Morgan | 15 | Ford | 40 | 3 | 6 | 35 | 21,164 | 3,936 |
| 1960 | Rex White | Scotty Cain | 41 | Ford | 40 | 3 | 6 | 35 | 21,164 | 3,936 |
| 1961 | Ned Jarrett (1) | Ned Jarrett | 11 | Ford Chevrolet | 46 | 4 | 1 | 34 | 27,272 | 830 |
| 1961 | Ned Jarrett (1) | B.G. Holloway | 11 | Ford Chevrolet | 46 | 4 | 1 | 34 | 27,272 | 830 |
| 1962 | Joe Weatherly (1) | Bud Moore (1) | 8 | Pontiac | 52 | 7 | 9 | 45 | 30,836 | 2,396 |
| 1962 | Joe Weatherly (1) | Fred Harb | 17 | Ford | 52 | 7 | 9 | 45 | 30,836 | 2,396 |
| 1963 | Joe Weatherly (2) | Bud Moore (2) | 8 | Mercury Pontiac | 53 | 6 | 3 | 35 | 33,398 | 2,228 |
| 1963 | Joe Weatherly (2) | Floyd Powell | 17 | Pontiac | 53 | 6 | 3 | 35 | 33,398 | 2,228 |
| 1963 | Joe Weatherly (2) | Pete Stewart | 57 | Pontiac | 53 | 6 | 3 | 35 | 33,398 | 2,228 |
| 1963 | Joe Weatherly (2) | Cliff Stewart | 2 | Pontiac | 53 | 6 | 3 | 35 | 33,398 | 2,228 |
| 1963 | Joe Weatherly (2) | Possum Jones | 05 | Pontiac | 53 | 6 | 3 | 35 | 33,398 | 2,228 |
| 1963 | Joe Weatherly (2) | Worth McMillion | 83 | Pontiac | 53 | 6 | 3 | 35 | 33,398 | 2,228 |
| 1963 | Joe Weatherly (2) | Major Melton | 88 | Chrysler (4) | 53 | 6 | 3 | 35 | 33,398 | 2,228 |
| 1963 | Joe Weatherly (2) | Petty Enterprises (4) | 41 | Plymouth | 53 | 6 | 3 | 35 | 33,398 | 2,228 |
| 1963 | Joe Weatherly (2) | Wade Younts | 36 361 | Dodge | 53 | 6 | 3 | 35 | 33,398 | 2,228 |
| 1964 | Richard Petty (1) | Petty Enterprises (5) | 41 42 43 | Plymouth | 61 | 8 | 9 | 43 | 40,252 | 5,302 |
| 1965 | Ned Jarrett (2) | Bondy Long | 11 | Ford | 54 | 9 | 13 | 45 | 38,824 | 3,034 |
| 1965 | Ned Jarrett (2) | Jabe Thomas | 25 | Ford | 54 | 9 | 13 | 45 | 38,824 | 3,034 |
| 1966 | David Pearson (1) | Cotton Owens | 6 | Dodge | 42 | 7 | 15 | 33 | 35,638 | 1,950 |
| 1967 | Richard Petty (2) | Petty Enterprises (6) | 43 | Plymouth | 48 | 18 | 27 | 40 | 42,472 | 6,028 |
| 1968 | David Pearson (2) | Holman-Moody (1) | 17 | Ford | 48 | 12 | 16 | 38 | 3,499 | 126 |
| 1968 | David Pearson (2) | Roy Trantham | 84 | Ford | 48 | 12 | 16 | 38 | 3,499 | 126 |
| 1969 | David Pearson (3) | Holman-Moody (2) | 17 | Ford | 51 | 13 | 11 | 44 | 4,170 | 357 |
| 1970 | Bobby Isaac | Nord Krauskopf | 71 | Dodge | 47 | 13 | 11 | 38 | 3,911 | 51 |
| 1971 | Richard Petty (3) | Petty Enterprises (7) | 43 | Plymouth | 46 | 9 | 21 | 41 | 4,435 | 364 |
| 1972 | Richard Petty (4) | Petty Enterprises (8) | 43 | Dodge Plymouth (7) | 31 | 3 | 8 | 28 | 8,701.4 | 127.9 |
| 1973 | Benny Parsons | L.G. DeWitt | 72 | Chevrolet Mercury (2) | 28 | 0 | 1 | 21 | 7,173.8 | 67.15 |
| 1974 | Richard Petty (5) | Petty Enterprises (9) | 43 | Dodge | 30 | 7 | 10 | 23 | 5,037.75 | 567.45 |
| 1975 | Richard Petty (6) | Petty Enterprises (10) | 43 | Dodge | 30 | 3 | 13 | 24 | 4,783 | 722 |
| 1976 | Cale Yarborough (1) | Junior Johnson (Junior Johnson & Associates) (1) | 11 | Chevrolet | 30 | 2 | 9 | 23 | 4,644 | 195 |
| 1977 | Cale Yarborough (2) | Junior Johnson (Junior Johnson & Associates) (2) | 11 | Chevrolet | 30 | 3 | 9 | 27 | 5,000 | 386 |
| 1978 | Cale Yarborough (3) | Junior Johnson (Junior Johnson & Associates) (3) | 11 | Oldsmobile | 30 | 8 | 10 | 24 | 4,841 | 474 |
| 1979 | Richard Petty (7) | Petty Enterprises (11) | 43 | Chevrolet Oldsmobile | 31 | 1 | 5 | 27 | 4,830 | 11 |
| 1980 | Dale Earnhardt (1) | Rod Osterlund (Osterlund Racing) | 2 | Chevrolet Oldsmobile (9) | 31 | 0 | 5 | 24 | 4,661 | 19 |
| 1981 | Darrell Waltrip (1) | Junior Johnson (Junior Johnson & Associates) (4) | 11 | Chevrolet Buick | 31 | 11 | 12 | 25 | 4,880 | 53 |
| 1982 | Darrell Waltrip (2) | Junior Johnson (Junior Johnson & Associates) (5) | 11 | Buick | 30 | 7 | 12 | 20 | 4,489 | 72 |
| 1983 | Bobby Allison | Bill Gardner (DiGard Motorsports) | 22 | Chevrolet Buick (3) | 30 | 0 | 6 | 25 | 4,667 | 47 |
| 1984 | Terry Labonte (1) | Billy Hagan (Hagan Racing) | 44 | Chevrolet | 30 | 2 | 2 | 24 | 4,508 | 65 |
| 1985 | Darrell Waltrip (3) | Junior Johnson (Junior Johnson & Associates) (6) | 11 | Chevrolet | 28 | 4 | 3 | 21 | 4,292 | 101 |
| 1986 | Dale Earnhardt (2) | Richard Childress (Richard Childress Racing) (1) | 3 | Chevrolet | 29 | 1 | 5 | 23 | 4,468 | 288 |
| 1987 | Dale Earnhardt (3) | Richard Childress (Richard Childress Racing) (2) | 3 | Chevrolet | 29 | 1 | 11 | 24 | 4,696 | 489 |
| 1988 | Bill Elliott | Harry Melling (Melling Racing) | 9 | Ford | 29 | 6 | 6 | 22 | 4,488 | 24 |
| 1989 | Rusty Wallace | Raymond Beadle (Blue Max Racing) | 27 | Pontiac | 29 | 4 | 6 | 20 | 4,176 | 12 |
| 1990 | Dale Earnhardt (4) | Richard Childress (Richard Childress Racing) (3) | 3 | Chevrolet | 29 | 4 | 9 | 23 | 4,430 | 26 |
| 1991 | Dale Earnhardt (5) | Richard Childress (Richard Childress Racing) (4) | 3 | Chevrolet | 29 | 0 | 4 | 21 | 4,287 | 195 |
| 1992 | Alan Kulwicki | Alan Kulwicki (AK Racing) | 7 | Ford | 29 | 6 | 2 | 17 | 4,078 | 10 |
| 1993 | Dale Earnhardt (6) | Richard Childress (Richard Childress Racing) (5) | 3 | Chevrolet | 30 | 2 | 6 | 21 | 4,526 | 80 |
| 1994 | Dale Earnhardt (7) | Richard Childress (Richard Childress Racing) (6) | 3 | Chevrolet | 31 | 2 | 4 | 25 | 4,694 | 444 |
| 1995 | Jeff Gordon (1) | Rick Hendrick (Hendrick Motorsports) (1) | 24 | Chevrolet | 31 | 8 | 7 | 23 | 4,614 | 34 |
| 1996 | Terry Labonte (2) | Rick Hendrick (Hendrick Motorsports) (2) | 5 | Chevrolet | 31 | 4 | 2 | 24 | 4,657 | 37 |
| 1997 | Jeff Gordon (2) | Rick Hendrick (Hendrick Motorsports) (3) | 24 | Chevrolet | 32 | 1 | 10 | 23 | 4,710 | 14 |
| 1998 | Jeff Gordon (3) | Rick Hendrick (Hendrick Motorsports) (4) | 24 | Chevrolet | 33 | 7 | 13 | 28 | 5,328 | 364 |
| 1999 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates (Robert Yates Racing) | 88 | Ford | 34 | 0 | 4 | 29 | 5,262 | 201 |
| 2000 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs (Joe Gibbs Racing) (1) | 18 | Pontiac | 34 | 2 | 4 | 24 | 5,130 | 265 |
| 2001 | Jeff Gordon (4) | Rick Hendrick (Hendrick Motorsports) (5) | 24 | Chevrolet | 36 | 6 | 6 | 24 | 5,112 | 349 |
| 2002 | Tony Stewart (1) | Joe Gibbs (Joe Gibbs Racing) (2) | 20 | Pontiac (9) | 36 | 2 | 3 | 21 | 4,800 | 38 |
| 2003 | Matt Kenseth | Jack Roush (Roush Racing) (1) | 17 | Ford | 36 | 0 | 1 | 25 | 5,022 | 90 |
| 2004 | Kurt Busch | Jack Roush (Roush Racing) (2) | 97 | Ford | 36 | 1 | 3 | 21 | 6,506 | 8 |
| 2005 | Tony Stewart (2) | Joe Gibbs (Joe Gibbs Racing) (3) | 20 | Chevrolet | 36 | 3 | 5 | 25 | 6,533 | 35 |
| 2006 | Jimmie Johnson (1) | Rick Hendrick (Hendrick Motorsports) (6) | 48 | Chevrolet | 36 | 1 | 5 | 24 | 6,475 | 56 |
| 2007 | Jimmie Johnson (2) | Jeff Gordon (2) Rick Hendrick (Hendrick Motorsports) (7) | 48 | Chevrolet | 36 | 4 | 10 | 24 | 6,723 | 77 |
| 2008 | Jimmie Johnson (3) | Jeff Gordon (3) Rick Hendrick (Hendrick Motorsports) (8) | 48 | Chevrolet | 36 | 6 | 7 | 22 | 6,684 | 69 |
| 2009 | Jimmie Johnson (4) | Jeff Gordon (4) Rick Hendrick (Hendrick Motorsports) (9) | 48 | Chevrolet | 36 | 4 | 7 | 24 | 6,652 | 141 |
| 2010 | Jimmie Johnson (5) | Jeff Gordon (5) Rick Hendrick (Hendrick Motorsports) (10) | 48 | Chevrolet | 36 | 2 | 6 | 23 | 6,622 | 39 |
| 2011 | Tony Stewart (3) | Tony Stewart, Gene Haas (Stewart-Haas Racing) (1) | 14 | Chevrolet | 36 | 1 | 5 | 19 | 2,403 | 0 |
| 2012 | Brad Keselowski | Roger Penske (Penske Racing) (1) | 2 | Dodge (18) | 36 | 0 | 5 | 23 | 2,400 | 39 |
| 2013 | Jimmie Johnson (6) | Jeff Gordon (6) Rick Hendrick (Hendrick Motorsports) (11) | 48 | Chevrolet | 36 | 4 | 6 | 24 | 2,419 | 19 |
| 2014 | Kevin Harvick | Tony Stewart, Gene Haas (Stewart-Haas Racing) (2) | 4 | Chevrolet | 36 | 8 | 5 | 20 | 5,043 | 1 |
| 2015 | Kyle Busch (1) | Joe Gibbs (Joe Gibbs Racing) (4) | 18 | Toyota | 25 | 1 | 5 | 16 | 5,043 | 1 |
| 2016 | Jimmie Johnson (7) | Jeff Gordon (7) Rick Hendrick (Hendrick Motorsports) (12) | 48 | Chevrolet | 36 | 1 | 5 | 16 | 5,040 | 3 |
| 2017 | Martin Truex Jr. | Barney Visser (Furniture Row Racing) | 78 | Toyota | 36 | 3 | 8 | 26 | 5,040 | 5 |
| 2018 | Joey Logano (1) | Roger Penske (Team Penske) (2) | 22 | Ford | 36 | 3 | 3 | 26 | 5,040 | 5 |
| 2019 | Kyle Busch (2) | Joe Gibbs (Joe Gibbs Racing) (5) | 18 | Toyota (3) | 36 | 1 | 5 | 27 | 5,040 | 5 |
| 2020 | Chase Elliott | Rick Hendrick (Hendrick Motorsports) (13) | 9 | Chevrolet | 36 | 1 | 5 | 22 | 5,040 | 5 |
| 2021 | Kyle Larson | Rick Hendrick (Hendrick Motorsports) (14) | 5 | Chevrolet (41) | 36 | 2 | 10 | 26 | 5,040 | 5 |
| 2022 | Joey Logano (2) | Roger Penske (Team Penske) (3) | 22 | Ford | 36 | 4 | 4 | 15 | 5,040 | 6 |
| 2023 | Ryan Blaney | Roger Penske (Team Penske) (4) | 12 | Ford | 36 | 0 | 3 | 18 | 5,035 | 1 |
| 2024 | Joey Logano (3) | Roger Penske (Team Penske)(5) | 22 | Ford (23) | 36 | 3 | 4 | 12 | 5,040 | 5 |

## By drivers

As of completion of the seventy-sixth season (2024), 36 different drivers have won a NASCAR Cup Series Drivers' Championship – with 17 of these drivers winning more than once.
| Driver | Total | Seasons |
| Richard Petty | 7 | 1964, 1967, 1971, 1972, 1974, 1975, 1979 |
| Dale Earnhardt | 7 | 1980, 1986, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994 |
| Jimmie Johnson | 7 | 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2016 |
| Jeff Gordon | 4 | 1995, 1997, 1998, 2001 |
| Lee Petty | 3 | 1954, 1958, 1959 |
| David Pearson | 3 | 1966, 1968, 1969 |
| Cale Yarborough | 3 | 1976, 1977, 1978 |
| Darrell Waltrip | 3 | 1981, 1982, 1985 |
| Tony Stewart | 3 | 2002, 2005, 2011 |
| Joey Logano | 3 | 2018, 2022, 2024 |
| Herb Thomas | 2 | 1951, 1953 |
| Tim Flock | 2 | 1952, 1955 |
| Buck Baker | 2 | 1956, 1957 |
| Joe Weatherly | 2 | 1962, 1963 |
| Ned Jarrett | 2 | 1961, 1965 |
| Terry Labonte | 2 | 1984, 1996 |
| Kyle Busch | 2 | 2015, 2019 |
| Red Byron | 1 | 1949 |
| Bill Rexford | 1 | 1950 |
| Rex White | 1 | 1960 |
| Bobby Isaac | 1 | 1970 |
| Benny Parsons | 1 | 1973 |
| Bobby Allison | 1 | 1983 |
| Bill Elliott | 1 | 1988 |
| Rusty Wallace | 1 | 1989 |
| Alan Kulwicki | 1 | 1992 |
| Dale Jarrett | 1 | 1999 |
| Bobby Labonte | 1 | 2000 |
| Matt Kenseth | 1 | 2003 |
| Kurt Busch | 1 | 2004 |
| Brad Keselowski | 1 | 2012 |
| Kevin Harvick | 1 | 2014 |
| Martin Truex Jr. | 1 | 2017 |
| Chase Elliott | 1 | 2020 |
| Kyle Larson | 1 | 2021 |
| Ryan Blaney | 1 | 2023 |

## Records
### Consecutive Drivers' Championships

As of completion of the 2024 season, ten drivers have achieved consecutive wins in the NASCAR Cup Series Drivers' Championship.
| Championships | Driver | Seasons |
| 5 | Jimmie Johnson | 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 |
| 3 | Cale Yarborough | 1976, 1977, 1978 |
| 2 | Buck Baker | 1956, 1957 |
| 2 | Lee Petty | 1958, 1959 |
| 2 | Joe Weatherly | 1962, 1963 |
| 2 | David Pearson | 1968, 1969 |
| 2 | Richard Petty | 1971, 1972, 1974, 1975 |
| 2 | Darrell Waltrip | 1981, 1982 |
| 2 | Dale Earnhardt | 1986, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994 |
| 2 | Jeff Gordon | 1997, 1998 |

## Regular season champions

Since 2017, NASCAR has awarded a regular season championship which recognizes the best driver of the regular season. It is awarded to the driver with the most non-playoff points before the beginning of that season's playoff.
| Season | Driver | Owner(s)/Teams | No.(s) | Man.(s) |
| 2017 | Martin Truex Jr. (1) | Barney Visser (Furniture Row Racing) | 78 | Toyota |
| 2018 | Kyle Busch (1) | Joe Gibbs (Joe Gibbs Racing) (1) | 18 | Toyota |
| 2019 | Kyle Busch (2) | Joe Gibbs (Joe Gibbs Racing) (2) | 18 | Toyota |
| 2020 | Kevin Harvick | Tony Stewart, Gene Haas (Stewart-Haas Racing) | 4 | Ford |
| 2021 | Kyle Larson | Rick Hendrick (Hendrick Motorsports) (1) | 5 | Chevrolet |
| 2022 | Chase Elliott | Rick Hendrick (Hendrick Motorsports) (2) | 9 | Chevrolet |
| 2023 | Martin Truex Jr. (2) | Joe Gibbs (Joe Gibbs Racing) (3) | 19 | Toyota |
| 2024 | Tyler Reddick | Michael Jordan, Denny Hamlin (23XI Racing) | 45 | Toyota |