List of NASCAR RCA Cup Series champions (Johnsonverse)

The NASCAR RCA Cup Series Drivers' Championship is awarded by the chairman of NASCAR to the most successful NASCAR RCA 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 Anna Yeun, who won her first NASCAR RCA Cup Series championship in 2023.
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.
Overall, thirty-four different drivers have won the Championship, with Richard Petty holding the record for most titles at seven. Cale Yarborough has the record for most consecutive Drivers' Championships, winning three from 1976 to 1978. Thus far, every champion has originated from the United States.
== By season ==
Season	Driver 	Owner(s)/Teams 	Number(s)	Manufacturer(s) 	Starts 	Poles	Wins	Top tens	Points 	Gap
1949 	Red Byron 	Raymond Parks 	22 	Oldsmobile 88 	6 (6 of 8)	1 	2 	4 	842.5 	117.5
1950 	Bill Rexford 	Julian Buesink 	8
20
59
60
62
80	Oldsmobile 88 	17 	0 	1 	11 	1,959 	110.5
1951 	Herb Thomas (1) 	Herb Thomas 	92 	Plymouth Savoy
Hudson Hornet
Oldsmobile 88	34 	4 	7 	18 	4,208.45	146.2
1951 	Herb Thomas (1) 	Marshall Teague 	6 	Plymouth Savoy
Hudson Hornet
Oldsmobile 88	34 	4 	7 	18 	4,208.45	146.2
1951 	Herb Thomas (1) 	Leonard Tippett 	99 	Plymouth Savoy
Hudson Hornet
Oldsmobile 88	34 	4 	7 	18 	4,208.45	146.2
1951 	Herb Thomas (1) 	Hubert Westmoreland 	2 	Plymouth Savoy
Hudson Hornet
Oldsmobile 88	34 	4 	7 	18 	4,208.45	146.2
1952 	Tim Flock (1) 	Ted Chester 	91 	Hudson Hornet 	33 	4 	8 	25 	6,858.5 	106
1953 	Herb Thomas (2) 	Herb Thomas 	92 	Hudson Hornet 	37 	12 	12 	31 	8,460 	646
1954 	Lee Petty (1) 	Petty Enterprises 	42 	Chrysler 300
Dodge Coronet 	34 	3 	7 	32 	8,649 	283
1954 	Lee Petty (1) 	Gary Drake 	100 	Oldsmobile 88 	34 	3 	7 	32 	8,649 	283
1955 	Tim Flock (2) 	Carl Kiekhaefer 	300
301 	Chrysler 300 	39 	18 	18 	33 	9,596 	1,508
1955 	Tim Flock (2) 	Hubert Westmoreland 	2 	Chevrolet Bel Air 	39 	18 	18 	33 	9,596 	1,508
1956 	Buck Baker (1) 	Carl Kiekhaefer 	00
87
300
300C
301
500B
502	Chrysler 300
Dodge Coronet 	48 	12 	14 	39 	9,272 	704
1956 	Buck Baker (1) 	James Satcher 	87 	Ford Fairlane 	48 	12 	14 	39 	9,272 	704
1956 	Buck Baker (1) 	John Whitford 	31 	Ford Fairlane 	48 	12 	14 	39 	9,272 	704
1957 	Buck Baker (2) 	Buck Baker 	87 	Chevrolet Bel Air 	40 	6 	10 	38 	10,716 	760
1957 	Buck Baker (2) 	Hugh Babb 	87 	Chevrolet Bel Air 	40 	6 	10 	38 	10,716 	760
1958 	Lee Petty (2) 	Petty Enterprises 	42 	Oldsmobile 88 	50 	4 	7 	43 	12,232 	644
1959 	Lee Petty (3) 	Petty Enterprises 	42
43 	Oldsmobile 88
Plymouth Belvedere 	42 	2 	11 	35 	11,792 	1,830
1960 	Rex White 	Rex White 	4 	Chevrolet Bel Air 	40 	3 	6 	35 	21,164 	3,936
1960 	Rex White 	L.D. Austin 	74 	Chevrolet Bel Air 	40 	3 	6 	35 	21,164 	3,936
1960 	Rex White 	Beau Morgan 	15 	Ford Thunderbird 	40 	3 	6 	35 	21,164 	3,936
1960 	Rex White 	Scotty Cain 	41 	Ford Thunderbird 	40 	3 	6 	35 	21,164 	3,936
1961 	Ned Jarrett (1) 	Ned Jarrett 	11 	Ford Galaxie
Chevrolet Bel Air 	46 	4 	1 	34 	27,272 	830
1961 	Ned Jarrett (1) 	B.G. Holloway 	11 	Ford Galaxie
Chevrolet Bel Air 	46 	4 	1 	34 	27,272 	830
1962 	Joe Weatherly (1) 	Bud Moore 	8 	Pontiac Catalina 	52 	7 	9 	45 	30,836 	2,396
1962 	Joe Weatherly (1) 	Fred Harb 	17 	Ford Galaxie 	52 	7 	9 	45 	30,836 	2,396
1963 	Joe Weatherly (2) 	Bud Moore 	8 	Mercury Marauder
Pontiac Catalina 	53 	6 	3 	35 	33,398 	2,228
1963 	Joe Weatherly (2) 	Floyd Powell 	17 	Pontiac Catalina 	53 	6 	3 	35 	33,398 	2,228
1963 	Joe Weatherly (2) 	Pete Stewart 	57 	Pontiac Catalina 	53 	6 	3 	35 	33,398 	2,228
1963 	Joe Weatherly (2) 	Cliff Stewart 	2 	Pontiac Catalina 	53 	6 	3 	35 	33,398 	2,228
1963 	Joe Weatherly (2) 	Possum Jones 	05 	Pontiac Catalina 	53 	6 	3 	35 	33,398 	2,228
1963 	Joe Weatherly (2) 	Worth McMillion 	83 	Pontiac Catalina 	53 	6 	3 	35 	33,398 	2,228
1963 	Joe Weatherly (2) 	Major Melton 	88 	Chrysler 300 	53 	6 	3 	35 	33,398 	2,228
1963 	Joe Weatherly (2) 	Petty Enterprises 	41 	Plymouth Belvedere 	53 	6 	3 	35 	33,398 	2,228
1963 	Joe Weatherly (2) 	Wade Younts 	36
361 	Dodge 440 	53 	6 	3 	35 	33,398 	2,228
1964 	Richard Petty (1) 	Petty Enterprises 	41
42
43	Plymouth Belvedere 	61 	8 	9 	43 	40,252 	5,302
1965 	Ned Jarrett (2) 	Bondy Long 	11 	Ford Fairlane 	54 	9 	13 	45 	38,824 	3,034
1965 	Ned Jarrett (2) 	Jabe Thomas 	25 	Ford Fairlane 	54 	9 	13 	45 	38,824 	3,034
1966 	David Pearson (1) 	Cotton Owens 	6 	Dodge Charger 	42 	7 	15 	33 	35,638 	1,950
1967 	Richard Petty (2) 	Petty Enterprises 	43 	Plymouth Belvedere 	48 	18 	27 	40 	42,472 	6,028
1968 	David Pearson (2) 	Holman Moody 	17 	Ford Torino 	48 	12 	16 	38 	3,499 	126
1968 	David Pearson (2) 	Roy Trantham 	84 	Ford Torino 	48 	12 	16 	38 	3,499 	126
1969 	David Pearson (3) 	Holman Moody 	17 	Ford Torino 	51 	13 	11 	44 	4,170 	357
1970 	Bobby Isaac 	Nord Krauskopf 	71 	Dodge Charger Daytona 	47 	13 	11 	38 	3,911 	51
1971 	Richard Petty (3) 	Petty Enterprises 	43 	Plymouth Road Runner 	46 	9 	21 	41 	4,435 	364
1972 	Richard Petty (4) 	Petty Enterprises 	43 	Dodge Charger
Plymouth Road Runner	31 	3 	8 	28 	8,701.4 	127.9
1973 	Benny Parsons 	L.G. DeWitt 	72 	Chevrolet Monte Carlo
Mercury Montego	28 	0 	1 	21 	7,173.8 	67.15
1974 	Richard Petty (5) 	Petty Enterprises 	43 	Dodge Charger 	30 	7 	10 	23 	5,037.75	567.45
1975 	Richard Petty (6) 	Petty Enterprises 	43 	Dodge Charger 	30 	3 	13 	24 	4,783 	722
1976 	Cale Yarborough (1)	Junior Johnson (Junior Johnson & Associates) 	11 	Chevrolet Monte Carlo 	30 	2 	9 	23 	4,644 	195
1977 	Cale Yarborough (2)	Junior Johnson (Junior Johnson & Associates) 	11 	Chevrolet Monte Carlo 	30 	3 	9 	27 	5,000 	386
1978 	Cale Yarborough (3)	Junior Johnson (Junior Johnson & Associates) 	11 	Oldsmobile Cutlass 	30 	8 	10 	24 	4,841 	474
1979 	Richard Petty (7) 	Petty Enterprises 	43 	Chevrolet Monte Carlo
Oldsmobile Cutlass	31 	1 	5 	27 	4,830 	11
1980 	Dale Earnhardt (1) 	Rod Osterlund (Osterlund Racing) 	2 	Chevrolet Monte Carlo
Oldsmobile Cutlass	31 	0 	5 	24 	4,661 	19
1981 	Darrell Waltrip (1)	Junior Johnson (Junior Johnson & Associates) 	11 	Chevrolet Monte Carlo
Buick Regal 	31 	11 	12 	25 	4,880 	53
1982 	Darrell Waltrip (2)	Junior Johnson (Junior Johnson & Associates) 	11 	Buick Regal 	30 	7 	12 	20 	4,489 	72
1983 	Bobby Allison 	Bill Gardner (DiGard Motorsports) 	22 	Chevrolet Monte Carlo
Buick Regal 	30 	0 	6 	25 	4,667 	47
1984 	Terry Labonte (1) 	Billy Hagan (Hagan Racing) 	44 	Chevrolet Monte Carlo 	30 	2 	2 	24 	4,508 	65
1985 	Darrell Waltrip (3)	Junior Johnson (Junior Johnson & Associates) 	11 	Chevrolet Monte Carlo 	28 	4 	3 	21 	4,292 	101
1986 	Dale Earnhardt (2) 	Richard Childress (Richard Childress Racing) 	3 	Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS Aerocoupe	29 	1 	5 	23 	4,468 	288
1987 	Dale Earnhardt (3) 	Richard Childress (Richard Childress Racing) 	3 	Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS Aerocoupe	29 	1 	11 	24 	4,696 	489
1988 	Bill Elliott 	Harry Melling (Melling Racing) 	9 	Ford Thunderbird 	32 	6 	4 	22 	4,488 	24
1989 	Rusty Wallace 	Raymond Beadle (Blue Max Racing) 	27 	Pontiac Grand Prix 	36 	4 	6 	20 	4,176 	12
1990 	Mark Martin 	Jack Roush (Roush Racing) 	6 	Ford Probe 	36 	4 	4 	23 	4,430 	26
1991 	Dale Earnhardt (4) 	Richard Childress (Richard Childress Racing) 	3 	Chevrolet Lumina 	39 	0 	3 	21 	4,287 	195
1992 	Alan Kulwicki 	Alan Kulwicki (AK Racing) 	7 	Ford Thunderbird 	39 	6 	3 	17 	4,078 	10
1993 	Dale Earnhardt (5) 	Richard Childress (Richard Childress Racing) 	3 	Chevrolet Lumina 	39 	2 	7 	21 	4,526 	80
1994 	Tim Richmond 	Rick Hendrick (Hendrick Motorsports) 	25 	Chevrolet Lumina 	39 	2 	4 	25 	4,694 	444
1995 	Jeff Gordon (1) 	Rick Hendrick (Hendrick Motorsports) 	24 	Chevrolet Monte Carlo 	39 	8 	7 	23 	4,614 	34
1996 	Shawna Robinson 	Felix Sabates (SABCO Racing) 	40 	Dodge Intrepid 	39 	4 	2 	24 	4,657 	37
1997 	Ernie Irvan 	Alan Kulwicki (AK Racing) 	11 	Dodge Avenger 	39 	1 	10 	23 	4,710 	14
1998 	Jeff Gordon (2) 	Rick Hendrick (Hendrick Motorsports) 	24 	Chevrolet Monte Carlo 	40 	7 	13 	28 	5,328 	364
1999 	Patty Moise 	Felix Sabates (Team SABCO) 	45 	Dodge Intrepid 	42 	0 	6 	29 	5,262 	201
2000 	Dale Earnhardt (6) 	Richard Childress (Richard Childress Racing) 	3 	Chevrolet Monte Carlo 	42 	2 	7 	24 	5,130 	265
2001 	Davey Allison 	Robert Yates (Robert Yates Racing) 	28 	Ford Taurus 	43 	6 	5 	24 	5,112 	349
2002 	Tony Stewart (1) 	Phil Stacker, A. J. Foyt (Stacker-Foyt Racing) 	20 	Pontiac Grand Prix 	43 	2 	3 	21 	4,800 	38
2003 	Adam Petty (1) 	Richard Petty, Kyle Petty (Petty Enterprises) 	43 	Dodge Intrepid 	43 	0 	8 	25 	5,022 	90
2004 	Dale Earnhardt Jr. 	Dale Earnhardt (Dale Earnhardt Inc.) 	8 	Chevrolet Monte Carlo 	44 	1 	6 	21 	6,506 	
2005 	Tony Stewart (2) 	Phil Stacker, A. J. Foyt, Tony Stewart (SFS Racing) 	20 	Chevrolet Monte Carlo 	44 	3 	5 	25 	6,533 	
2006 	Kelley Earnhardt 	Dale Earnhardt (Dale Earnhardt Inc.) 	38 	Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS 	43 	1 	5 	24 	6,475 	
2007 	Jeff Gordon (3) 	Rick Hendrick, Jeff Gordon (Hendrick Motorsports) 	24 	Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS 	43 	4 	8 	24 	6,723 	
2008 	Carl Edwards 	Jack Roush (Roush Racing) 	99 	Ford Fusion 	43 	6 	7 	22 	6,684 	
2009 	Tony Stewart (3) 	Phil Stacker, A. J. Foyt, Tony Stewart (SFS Racing) 	14 	Chevrolet Impala 	43 	4 	7 	24 	6,652 	
2010 	Kelly Watkins 	Joe Gibbs (Joe Gibbs Racing) 	19 	Toyota Camry 	43 	2 	6 	23 	6,622 	
2011 	Renee Walters 	Dale Earnhardt, Richard Childress (Earnhardt-Childress Racing) 	3 	Chevrolet Camaro 	43 	1 	7 	19 	2,403 	
2012 	Adam Petty (2) 	Richard Petty, Kyle Petty (Petty Enterprises) 	43 	Dodge Challenger 	43 	0 	5 	23 	2,400 	
2013 	Adam Petty (3) 	Richard Petty, Kyle Petty (Petty Enterprises) 	43 	Dodge Challenger 	44 	2 	5 	24 	2,419 	
2014 	Tony Stewart (4) 	A. J. Foyt, Tony Stewart (Stewart-Foyt Racing) 	14 	Chevrolet Camaro 	43 	1 	9 	20 	5,043 	
2015 	Kevin Harvick 	A. J. Foyt, Tony Stewart (Stewart-Foyt Racing) 	4 	Pontiac Trans-Am 	44 	2 	8 	16 	5,043 	
2016 	Jeffrey Earnhardt 	Dale Earnhardt, Richard Childress (Earnhardt-Childress Racing) 	3 	Chevrolet Camaro 	43 	2 	8 	16 	5,040 	
2017 	Chase Elliott 	Bill Elliott, Ray Evernham (Elliott-Evernham Motorsports) 	9 	Dodge Challenger 	43 	3 	12 	26 	5,040 	
2018 	Macy Waltrip 	Michael Waltrip (Michael Waltrip Racing) 	15 	Honda Accord 	43 	1 	3 	26 	5,040 	
2019 	Adam Petty (4) 	Richard Petty, Kyle Petty, Adam Petty (Petty Enterprises) 	43 	Dodge Challenger 	43 	2 	5 	27 	5,040 	
2020 	Ross Chastain 	A. J. Foyt, Tony Stewart (Stewart-Foyt Racing) 	14 	Pontiac Trans-Am 	43 	4 	9 	22 	5,040 	
2021 	Kyle Larson 	Rick Hendrick, Ricky Hendrick, Jeff Gordon (Hendrick Motorsports)	5 	Chevrolet Camaro 	43 	9 	10 	 	 	
2022 	Kyle Busch 	A. J. Foyt, Tony Stewart (Stewart-Foyt Racing) 	10 	Pontiac Trans-Am 	43 	7 	4 	 	 	
2023 	Anna Yeun 	Jeffrey Yamanaka (Team Yamanaka) 	0 	Honda Accord 	43 	6 	 	 	 	
2024 	Kyle Larson (2) 	Rick Hendrick, Ricky Hendrick, Jeff Gordon (Hendrick Motorsports)	5 	Chevrolet Camaro 	43 	5 	6 	 	 	
==By drivers==
As of completion of the seventy-third season (2021), 34 different drivers have won a NASCAR RCA Cup Series Drivers' Championship, 16 of these drivers winning more than once.
Driver 	Total	Seasons
Richard Petty 	7 	1964, 1967, 1971, 1972, 1974, 1975, 1979
Tony Stewart 	6 	2002, 2005, 2011, 2014, 2016, 2020
Dale Earnhardt 	6 	1980, 1986, 1987, 1991, 1993, 2000
Jeff Gordon 	4 	1995, 1998, 2004, 2007
Adam Petty 	4 	2003, 2012, 2013, 2019
Lee Petty 	3 	1954, 1958, 1959
David Pearson 	3 	1966, 1968, 1969
Cale Yarborough 	3 	1976, 1977, 1978
Darrell Waltrip 	3 	1981, 1982, 1985
Dale Earnhardt, Jr.	3 	2009, 2010, 2015
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
Red Byron 	1 	1949
Bill Rexford 	1 	1950
Rex White 	1 	1960
Bobby Issac 	1 	1970
Benny Parsons 	1 	1973
Bobby Allison 	1 	1983
Bill Elliott 	1 	1988
Rusty Wallace 	1 	1989
Alan Kulwicki 	1 	1992
Tim Richmond 	1 	1994
Ernie Irvan 	1 	1997
Patty Moise 	1 	1999
Davey Allison 	1 	2001
Kelley Earnhardt 	1 	2006
Carl Edwards 	1 	2008
Chase Elliott 	1 	2017
Macy Waltrip 	1 	2018
Kyle Larson 	1 	2021
Ross Chastain 	1 	2022
Anna Yeun 	1 	2023
TBA 	2024 	
==Records==
===Consecutive Drivers' Championships===
As of completion of the 2020 season, ten drivers have achieved consecutive wins in the NASCAR RCA Cup Series Drivers' Championship.
Championships	Driver 	Seasons
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,
1993, 1994
2 	Jeff Gordon 	1997, 1998
2 	Dale Earnhardt, Jr.	2009, 2010
2 	Adam Petty 	2012, 2013
2 	 	
==See also==
*NASCAR (Johnsonverse)
*NASCAR RCA Cup Series (Johnsonverse)
*List of NASCAR Manufacturers' champions (Johnsonverse)
*List of NASCAR Busch Series champions (Johnsonverse)
*List of NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champions (Johnsonverse)
*List of all-time NASCAR RCA Cup Series winners (Johnsonverse)
*List of NASCAR teams (Johnsonverse)
*List of NASCAR drivers (Johnsonverse)
*List of NASCAR race tracks (Johnsonverse)
Category:Johnsonverse