NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race explained

NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race
Series Long:NASCAR Cup Series
Venue:Phoenix Raceway
Location:Avondale, Arizona, United States
Sponsor:None
First Race:1988
Distance:3123NaN3
Laps:312
Stage 1: 75
Stage 2: 115
Final stage: 122
Previous Names:Checker 500 (1988, 1990)
Autoworks 500 (1989)
Pyroil 500 (1991)
Pyroil 500K (1992)
Slick 50 500 (1993–1994)
Dura Lube 500 (1995–1996)
Dura Lube 500 Presented by Kmart (1997)
Dura Lube/Kmart 500 (1998)
Checker Auto Parts/Dura Lube 500 (1999–2000)
Checker Auto Parts 500 Presented by Pennzoil (2001–2002, 2006–2007)
Checker Auto Parts 500 Presented by Havoline (2003)
Checker Auto Parts 500 (2004–2005)
Checker O'Reilly Auto Parts 500 Presented by Pennzoil (2008)
Checker O'Reilly Auto Parts 500 (2009)
Kobalt Tools 500 (2010–2011)
AdvoCare 500 (2012–2013)
Quicken Loans Race for Heroes 500 (2014–2015)
Can-Am 500 (2016–2018)
Bluegreen Vacations 500 (2019)
Season Finale 500 (2020)
Most Wins Driver:Kevin Harvick (4)
Most Wins Team:Hendrick Motorsports (8)
Most Wins Manufacturer:Chevrolet (16)
Surface:Asphalt
Length Mi:1.022
Turns:4

The NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race is a NASCAR Cup Series stock car race held at Phoenix Raceway in Avondale, Arizona. Ross Chastain is the defending winner of the event, when he became the first non-eligible championship driver to win the final race of the season since Denny Hamlin won the 2013 Ford EcoBoost 400.

It is one of five NASCAR races run with a length measured in kilometers; the Shriners Children's 500 (the other Cup Series race at Phoenix which is held in the spring) and three of the Cup Series' road course events (the Toyota/Save Mart 350, Go Bowling at The Glen and Bank of America Roval 400) are the others.

History

After previously being the second-to-last race of the NASCAR Cup Series season for several years, the event became the last race of the season for the Cup Series starting in 2020, replacing the race at Homestead-Miami Speedway, and the fall race at Martinsville replaced this race as the second-to-last race of the season.[1] In 2020, the race did not have a title sponsor and was named the Season Finale 500. NASCAR has not used the name from 2021 onwards and is instead called the NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race. However, the Season Finale 500 logo still appears on the race winner's trophy (not to be confused with the NASCAR Cup Series Championship trophy).

In its three of the last four years as the last race of the Cup Series season, the driver who won the championship also won the race: Chase Elliott in 2020, Kyle Larson in 2021 and Joey Logano in 2022. Ross Chastain is the defending winner of the event.

Past winners

YearDateDriverTeamSponsorManufacturerRace DistanceRace TimeAverage Speed
(mph)		ReportRef
LapsMiles (km)
1988November 67Alan KulwickiAK RacingZerexFord312312 (502.115)3:26:5790.457Report[2]
1989November 59Bill ElliottMelling RacingCoorsFord312312 (502.115)2:57:08105.683Report[3]
1990November 43Dale EarnhardtRichard Childress RacingGM GoodwrenchChevrolet312312 (502.115)3:13:2596.786Report[4]
1991November 328Davey AllisonRobert Yates RacingHavolineFord312312 (502.115)3:15:3195.746Report[5]
1992November 128Davey AllisonRobert Yates RacingHavolineFord312312 (502.115)3:00:12103.885Report[6]
1993October 316Mark MartinRoush RacingValvolineFord312312 (502.115)3:06:30100.375Report[7]
1994October 305Terry LabonteHendrick MotorsportsKellogg'sChevrolet312312 (502.115)2:54:12107.463Report[8]
1995October 2910Ricky RuddRudd Performance MotorsportsTideFord312312 (502.115)3:03:18102.128Report[9]
1996October 2743Bobby HamiltonPetty EnterprisesSTPPontiac312312 (502.115)2:50:38109.709Report[10]
1997November 288Dale JarrettRobert Yates RacingQuality Care/Ford CreditFord312312 (502.115)2:48:55110.824Report[11]
1998October 252Rusty WallacePenske RacingMiller LiteFord257*257 (413.601)2:22:30108.211Report[12]
1999November 720Tony StewartJoe Gibbs RacingThe Home DepotPontiac312312 (502.115)2:38:28118.132Report[13]
2000November 599Jeff BurtonRoush RacingCitgo SupergardFord312312 (502.115)2:58:13105.041Report[14]
2001October 2899Jeff BurtonRoush RacingCitgo SupergardFord312312 (502.115)3:02:26102.613Report[15]
2002November 1017Matt KensethRoush RacingDeWalt Million Dollar ChallengeFord312312 (502.115)2:44:25113.857Report[16]
2003November 28Dale Earnhardt Jr.Dale Earnhardt, Inc.BudweiserChevrolet312312 (502.115)3:19:1193.984Report[17]
2004November 78Dale Earnhardt Jr.Dale Earnhardt, Inc.BudweiserChevrolet315*315 (506.943)3:19:1694.848Report[18]
2005November 135Kyle BuschHendrick MotorsportsKellogg'sChevrolet312312 (502.115)3:02:23102.641Report[19]
2006November 1229Kevin HarvickRichard Childress RacingReese's CookiesChevrolet312312 (502.115)3:14:4496.131Report[20]
2007November 1148Jimmie JohnsonHendrick MotorsportsLowe'sChevrolet312312 (502.115)3:01:46102.989Report[21]
2008November 948Jimmie JohnsonHendrick MotorsportsLowe'sChevrolet313*313 (503.724)3:12:0197.804Report[22]
2009November 1548Jimmie JohnsonHendrick MotorsportsLowe'sChevrolet312312 (502.115)2:49:26110.486Report[23]
2010November 1499Carl EdwardsRoush Fenway RacingAflacFord312312 (502.115)2:49:01110.754Report[24]
2011November 134Kasey KahneRed Bull Racing TeamRed Bull/Circle KToyota312312 (502.115)2:45:47112.918Report[25]
2012November 1129Kevin HarvickRichard Childress RacingBudweiserChevrolet319*319 (513.381)2:52:09111.182Report[26]
2013November 1029Kevin HarvickRichard Childress RacingBudweiserChevrolet312312 (502.115)2:57:03105.733Report[27]
2014November 94Kevin HarvickStewart-Haas RacingBudweiser VintageChevrolet312312 (502.115)3:07:1399.991Report[28]
2015November 1588Dale Earnhardt Jr.Hendrick MotorsportsNationwideChevrolet219*219 (352.446)2:03:22106.512Report[29]
2016November 1322Joey LoganoTeam PenskeShell/Pennzoil MosaicFord324*324 (521.427)3:08:59102.866Report[30]
2017November 1220Matt KensethJoe Gibbs RacingCircle KToyota312312 (502.115)2:57:23105.534Report[31]
2018November 1118Kyle BuschJoe Gibbs RacingM&M'sToyota312312 (502.115)3:10:2098.354Report[32]
2019November 1011Denny HamlinJoe Gibbs RacingFedEx GroundToyota312312 (502.115)2:48:00111.429Report[33]
2020November 89Chase ElliottHendrick MotorsportsNAPA Auto PartsChevrolet312312 (502.115)2:47:00112.096Report[34]
2021November 75Kyle LarsonHendrick MotorsportsHendrickCars.comChevrolet312312 (502.115)3:06:33100.348Report[35]
2022November 622Joey LoganoTeam PenskeShell/PennzoilFord312312 (502.115)2:58:42104.757Report[36]
2023November 51Ross ChastainTrackhouse RacingWorldwide ExpressChevrolet312312 (502.115)2:52:01108.827Report[37]
2024November 10Report

Notes

Multiple winners (drivers)

  1. Wins
DriverYears Won
4Kevin Harvick2006, 2012–2014
3Jimmie Johnson2007–2009
Dale Earnhardt Jr.2003, 2004, 2015
2Davey Allison1991, 1992
Jeff Burton2000, 2001
Matt Kenseth2002, 2017
Kyle Busch2005, 2018
Joey Logano2016, 2022

Multiple winners (teams)

  1. Wins
TeamYears Won
8Hendrick Motorsports1994, 2005, 2007-2009, 2015, 2020, 2021
5Roush Fenway Racing1993, 2000-2002, 2010
4Richard Childress Racing1990, 2006, 2012, 2013
Joe Gibbs Racing1999, 2017-2019
3Robert Yates Racing1991, 1992, 1997
Team Penske1998, 2016, 2022
2Dale Earnhardt, Inc.2003, 2004

Manufacturer wins

  1. Wins
ManufacturerYears Won
16Chevrolet1990, 1994, 2003-2009, 2012-2015, 2020, 2021, 2023
14Ford1988, 1989, 1991-1993, 1995, 1997, 1998, 2000-2002, 2010, 2016, 2022
4Toyota2011, 2017-2019
2Pontiac1996, 1999

Sponsor wins

  1. Wins
SponsorYears Won
5Budweiser2003, 2004, 2012-2014
3Lowe's2007-2009
2Havoline1991, 1992
Kellogg's1994, 2005
Citgo2000, 2001
Circle K2011, 2017
Shell2016, 2022
Pennzoil2016, 2022

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Rebuilt Playoffs schedule to heighten drama, beating-and-banging. NASCAR. March 26, 2019. January 22, 2020.
  2. Web site: 1988 Checker 500. Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. August 29, 2023.
  3. Web site: 1989 Autoworks 500. Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. August 29, 2023.
  4. Web site: 1990 Checker 500. Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. August 29, 2023.
  5. Web site: 1991 Pyroil 500. Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. August 29, 2023.
  6. Web site: 1992 Pyroil 500K. Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. August 29, 2023.
  7. Web site: 1993 Slick 50 500. Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. August 29, 2023.
  8. Web site: 1994 Slick 50 500. Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. August 29, 2023.
  9. Web site: 1995 Dura Lube 500. Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. August 29, 2023.
  10. Web site: 1996 Dura Lube 500. Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. August 29, 2023.
  11. Web site: 1997 Dura Lube 500 presented by KMart. Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. August 29, 2023.
  12. Web site: 1998 Dura Lube/Kmart 500. Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. August 29, 2023.
  13. Web site: 1999 Checker Auto Parts / Dura Lube 500. Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. August 29, 2023.
  14. Web site: 2000 Checker Auto Parts / Dura Lube 500K. Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. August 29, 2023.
  15. Web site: 2001 Checker Auto Parts 500 presented by Pennzoil. Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. August 29, 2023.
  16. Web site: 2002 Checker Auto Parts 500 presented by Pennzoil. Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. August 29, 2023.
  17. Web site: 2003 Checker Auto Parts 500 presented by Havoline. Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. August 29, 2023.
  18. Web site: 2004 Checker Auto Parts 500. Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. August 29, 2023.
  19. Web site: 2005 Checker Auto Parts 500. Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. August 29, 2023.
  20. Web site: 2006 Checker Auto Parts 500 presented by Pennzoil. Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. August 29, 2023.
  21. Web site: 2007 Checker Auto Parts 500 presented by Pennzoil. Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. August 29, 2023.
  22. Web site: 2008 Checker O'Reilly Auto Parts 500 presented by Pennzoil. Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. August 29, 2023.
  23. Web site: 2009 Checker O'Reilly Auto Parts 500. Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. August 29, 2023.
  24. Web site: 2010 Kobalt Tools 500. Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. August 29, 2023.
  25. Web site: 2011 Kobalt Tools 500. Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. August 29, 2023.
  26. Web site: 2012 AdvoCare 500. Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. August 29, 2023.
  27. Web site: 2013 AdvoCare 500. Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. August 29, 2023.
  28. Web site: 2014 Quicken Loans Race for Heroes 500. Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. August 29, 2023.
  29. Web site: 2015 Quicken Loans Race for Heroes 500. Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. August 29, 2023.
  30. Web site: 2016 Can-Am 500. Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. August 29, 2023.
  31. Web site: 2017 Can-Am 500. Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. August 29, 2023.
  32. Web site: 2018 Can-Am 500. Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. August 29, 2023.
  33. Web site: 2019 Bluegreen Vacations 500. Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. August 29, 2023.
  34. Web site: 2020 Season Finale 500. Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. August 29, 2023.
  35. Web site: 2021 Cup Series Championship Race 500. Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. August 29, 2023.
  36. Web site: 2022 Cup Series Championship. Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. August 29, 2023.
  37. Web site: 2023 Cup Series Championship. Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. November 5, 2023.

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