NASCAR is kind of obsessed with its own history. You see it every time they roll into Darlington or when someone mentions the name Petty. But honestly, looking at the nascar cup champions list isn't just about reading names like Richard or Dale anymore. It’s about how they actually got those trophies.
Just last November, we saw Kyle Larson grab his second title at Phoenix. It was wild. Larson didn't lead a single lap in that finale, but because of how the points worked, he walked away with the Bill France Cup while Denny Hamlin—who dominated most of the night—left empty-handed. That’s the kind of stuff that has fans screaming on Twitter (or X, whatever) and led to the massive announcement on January 12, 2026.
NASCAR is basically blowing up the elimination playoffs. They’re going back to "The Chase."
The Heavy Hitters on the NASCAR Cup Champions List
When people talk about the greatest, three names are always at the top. Seven titles each. Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt, and Jimmie Johnson.
Petty was "The King" of the 60s and 70s. Earnhardt was the "Intimidator" who ruled the 80s and 90s. Then Jimmie Johnson came along and did the unthinkable: five championships in a row from 2006 to 2010. Nobody else has even come close to that kind of streak.
But you've also got the guys with three or four. Jeff Gordon has four, and honestly, if the points hadn't changed in 2004, some experts say he might have ended up with six or seven. Joey Logano recently joined the three-timer club in 2024, putting him in the same breath as legends like Cale Yarborough, Darrell Waltrip, and Lee Petty.
The Modern Era Winners (2014–2025)
The last decade was dominated by the "elimination era." It was high drama, sure. But it was also polarizing. Here is how the most recent names were added to the nascar cup champions list:
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- 2025: Kyle Larson (Hendrick Motorsports) - His second title.
- 2024: Joey Logano (Team Penske) - A master of the "winner-take-all" format.
- 2023: Ryan Blaney (Team Penske) - Keeping the trophy in the Penske shop.
- 2022: Joey Logano (Team Penske)
- 2021: Kyle Larson (Hendrick Motorsports) - A dominant 10-win season.
- 2020: Chase Elliott (Hendrick Motorsports) - The fan favorite.
- 2019: Kyle Busch (Joe Gibbs Racing) - His second title with Coach Gibbs.
- 2018: Joey Logano (Team Penske)
- 2017: Martin Truex Jr. (Furniture Row Racing) - The ultimate underdog story.
- 2016: Jimmie Johnson (Hendrick Motorsports) - The historic seventh.
- 2015: Kyle Busch (Joe Gibbs Racing)
- 2014: Kevin Harvick (Stewart-Haas Racing) - The first winner under the "elimination" system.
Why the 2026 Format Change Matters
If you’ve been following the news lately, NASCAR President Steve O’Donnell basically admitted the tide had turned in the garage. The elimination format, where four drivers race one-and-done at Phoenix, is dead.
Starting in 2026, we’re going back to a 10-race "Chase." No more getting knocked out every three weeks. The top 16 drivers from the regular season will battle it out over the final 10 races, and the one with the most points at the end wins it all. Simple, right?
They also killed the "win-and-you're-in" rule. You can't just luck into a victory at a superspeedway and coast the rest of the year. Now, a win gets you 55 points, which is a huge bump from the old 40, but consistency is king again. They want the champion to actually be the best driver over the whole stretch, not just the guy who had the best pit stop in the last five laps of the final race.
Looking Back at the Origins
The very first champion was Red Byron in 1949. Back then, they called it the "Strictly Stock" division. He won the title in just six starts. Compare that to today where drivers grind through 36 races a year.
In the early days, points were based on how much money the race paid. It was confusing as hell. You could win a tiny race and get fewer points than a guy who finished fifth in a big-money event. They finally simplified things with the Latford system in 1975, which lasted until the first Chase in 2004.
Surprising Stats and Facts
Did you know Bill Rexford is still the youngest champion ever? He was just 23 when he won in 1950. On the flip side, Bobby Allison was the oldest at 45 years old in 1983.
Team-wise, Hendrick Motorsports is the undisputed heavyweight. They've got 15 championships as an organization. Petty Enterprises has 10, mostly thanks to Richard and his dad Lee.
Some people argue that the nascar cup champions list is skewed by these format changes. For example, in 2003, Matt Kenseth won the title with only one win. He was so consistent that he basically broke the system, leading NASCAR to create the playoffs to force more "excitement."
Now, 22 years later, we're sort of circling back to where it all started.
What This Means for Your Favorite Driver
If you’re pulling for Denny Hamlin—who is arguably the greatest driver to never win a title—the 2026 rules might be his last best shot. He’s always been a monster at racking up points over a full season.
For the young guys like Ty Gibbs or Connor Zilisch (who is already making waves in Xfinity), they’ll have to learn a different kind of discipline. It’s no longer about surviving and advancing. It’s about being perfect for 10 weeks straight.
To stay ahead of the curve as the 2026 season kicks off, keep an eye on these specific shifts:
- Watch the Points Gaps: The top seed in the new Chase gets a 25-point head start. That's massive.
- Value the Top 5s: Under the new 55-point win system, finishing consistently in the top five is more valuable than a "checkers or wreckers" mentality.
- Track the Owners: Rick Hendrick and Roger Penske have the best resources to adapt to new math. Expect them to dominate the early 2026 standings.
The nascar cup champions list is about to enter its most transparent era in decades. No gimmicks, just racing.