Considered by all as the epitome of stock car racing, the NASCAR Cup Series has been a staple for all motorsports enthusiasts. The Cup Series started in 1949 and has continued to flourish as the best display of racecraft and mechanical spectacle for decades since. The series has been graced by legends like Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt Sr. whose multiple and record-breaking championship wins are etched in the history books.
Winning the NASCAR Cup Series is the goal all drivers aspire to achieve and only 36 drivers have been able to achieve this so far. Dale Earnhardt Sr., Jimmie Johnson, and Richard Petty hold the title for most championship wins with seven Cup Series titles each to their name.
A new Cup Series champion will be decided on November 10, 2024, after the completion of the Championship Race of the 2024 season.
List of the NASCAR Cup Series Champions
| Championship Year | Driver | Manufacturer/ Make | Wins |
| 1949 | Red Byron | Oldsmobile | 2 |
| 1950 | Bill Rixford | Oldsmobile | 1 |
| 1951 | Herb Thomas | Hudson | 7 |
| 1952 | Tim Flock | Hudson | 8 |
| 1953 | Herb Thomas | Hudson | 11 |
| 1954 | Lee Petty | Chrysler | 7 |
| 1955 | Tim Flock | Chrysler | 18 |
| 1956 | Buck Baker | Chrysler | 14 |
| 1957 | Buck Baker | Chevrolet | 10 |
| 1958 | Lee Petty | Oldsmobile | 7 |
| 1959 | Lee Petty | Plymouth | 10 |
| 1960 | Rex White | Chevrolet | 6 |
| 1961 | Ned Jarrett | Chevrolet | 1 |
| 1962 | Joe Weatherly | Pontiac | 9 |
| 1963 | Joe Weatherly | Pontiac | 3 |
| 1964 | Richard Petty | Plymouth | 9 |
| 1965 | Ned Jarrett | Ford | 13 |
| 1966 | David Pearson | Dodge | 14 |
| 1967 | Richard Petty | Plymouth | 27 |
| 1968 | David Pearson | Ford | 16 |
| 1969 | David Pearson | Ford | 11 |
| 1970 | Bobby Isaac | Dodge | 11 |
| 1971 | Richard Petty | Plymouth | 21 |
| 1972 | Richard Petty | Plymouth | 8 |
| 1973 | Benny Parsons | Chevrolet | 1 |
| 1974 | Richard Petty | Dodge | 10 |
| 1975 | Richard Petty | Dodge | 13 |
| 1976 | Cale Yarborough | Chevrolet | 9 |
| 1977 | Cale Yarborough | Chevrolet | 9 |
| 1978 | Cale Yarborough | Oldsmobile | 10 |
| 1979 | Richard Petty | Chevrolet | 5 |
| 1980 | Dale Earnhardt | Chevrolet | 5 |
| 1981 | Darrell Waltrip | Buick | 12 |
| 1982 | Darrell Waltrip | Buick | 12 |
| 1983 | Bobby Allison | Buick | 6 |
| 1984 | Terry Labonte | Chevrolet | 2 |
| 1985 | Darrell Waltrip | Chevrolet | 3 |
| 1986 | Dale Earnhardt | Chevrolet | 5 |
| 1987 | Dale Earnhardt | Chevrolet | 11 |
| 1988 | Bill Elliott | Ford | 6 |
| 1989 | Rusty Wallace | Pontiac | 6 |
| 1990 | Dale Earnhardt | Chevrolet | 9 |
| 1991 | Dale Earnhardt | Chevrolet | 4 |
| 1992 | Alan Kulwicki | Ford | 2 |
| 1993 | Dale Earnhardt | Chevrolet | 6 |
| 1994 | Dale Earnhardt | Chevrolet | 4 |
| 1995 | Jeff Gordon | Chevrolet | 7 |
| 1996 | Terry Labonte | Chevrolet | 2 |
| 1997 | Jeff Gordon | Chevrolet | 10 |
| 1998 | Jeff Gordon | Chevrolet | 13 |
| 1999 | Dale Jarrett | Ford | 4 |
| 2000 | Bobby Labonte | Pontiac | 4 |
| 2001 | Jeff Gordon | Chevrolet | 6 |
| 2002 | Tony Stewart | Pontiac | 3 |
| 2003 | Matt Kenseth | Ford | 1 |
| 2004 | Kurt Busch | Ford | 3 |
| 2005 | Tony Stewart | Chevrolet | 5 |
| 2006 | Jimmie Johnson | Chevrolet | 5 |
| 2007 | Jimmie Johnson | Chevrolet | 10 |
| 2008 | Jimmie Johnson | Chevrolet | 7 |
| 2009 | Jimmie Johnson | Chevrolet | 7 |
| 2010 | Jimmie Johnson | Chevrolet | 6 |
| 2011 | Tony Stewart | Chevrolet | 5 |
| 2012 | Brad Keselowski | Dodge | 5 |
| 2013 | Jimmie Johnson | Chevrolet | 6 |
| 2014 | Kevin Harvick | Chevrolet | 5 |
| 2015 | Kyle Busch | Toyota | 5 |
| 2016 | Jimmie Johnson | Chevrolet | 5 |
| 2017 | Martin Truex Jr. | Toyota | 8 |
| 2018 | Joey Logano | Ford | 3 |
| 2019 | Kyle Busch | Toyota | 5 |
| 2020 | Chase Elliott | Chevrolet | 5 |
| 2021 | Kyle Larson | Chevrolet | 10 |
| 2022 | Joey Logano | Ford | 4 |
| 2023 | Ryan Blaney | Ford | 3 |
FAQ's On List of NASCAR Cup Series Champions
A. Richard Petty holds the record for most race wins in the NASCAR Cup Series with 200 race wins.
A. There are 36 distinct NASCAR Cup Series champions with many winning the title more than once.
A. The NASCAR Cup Series is the top level of NASCAR racing.
A. Red Byron was the first NASCAR stock racing champion. He won his title in the 1949 season.
A. Ryan Blaney, Tyler Reddick, Joey Logano and William Byron will be competing in the championship race for the 2024 Cup Series.
