User:68.103.65.91/sandbox

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Drivers' Championship is awarded by the chairman of NASCAR to the most successful Sprint 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 Jimmie Johnson, who won his fifth consecutive championship in 2010.

Prior to 2004, the championship was decided by a cumulative point total based on finishing position in each race throughout the season, which meant drivers could clinch the championship before the final racing event. Since then the Sprint Cup Series changed its points system to make the battle for the championship more competitive. It is called "Chase to the Sprint Cup", in which after twenty-six races the top ten point positions will change based on wins while the last two positions will be filled by whoever has more victories who is 11-20 in points. Each race victory adds three extra points for the driver when the "Chase" starts.

Overall, twenty-eight different drivers have won the Championship, with Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt holding the record for most titles at seven.

By manufacturer
Manufacturers in bold are still competing in the Sprint Cup Series Championship.

Records
Ten drivers have achieved consecutive wins in the Sprint Cup Series Drivers' Championship.