The top 10 winners from the previous season go on the Winner's Circle for the next year.
Most wins is the first criteria.
Ties are broken by owner points. The two wild card spots go to the first two drivers to win during the 2001 season who are not already on the program. For example, Dale Earnhardt and Bobby Hamilton came on the winner's circle plan in 1998 but were not on it when the season started. Jeremy Mayfield, because he was the third driver to win in 1998 who was not on it when the season began, was not on the program in 1998 because Earnhardt and Hamilton had already taken the two wild card spots. Mayfield was in the 1999 program but since he failed to win in 1999 nor was one of the first two winners in 2000 NOT on the program, his team got knocked out, but since he has won in 2000, he is on the 2001 program.