Point system explained

The winner of each Nextel Cup race receives 180 points. The runner-up scores 170. From there, the point total declines in five-point increments for Nos. 2-6; points drop four points per driver for Nos. 7-11; and three-point increments separate drivers' points for finishers 12th place or lower.

In addition to the points allocated, any driver who leads a lap receives five bonus points. The driver who leads the most laps receives an additional five bonus points.

Chase for the Nextel Cup Adjusted points structure Place Points 1st 5,050 2nd 5,045 3rd 5,040 4th 5,035 5th 5,030 6th 5,025 7th 5,020 8th 5,015 9th 5,010 10th 5,000 Note: If more than 10 drivers qualify, the additional drivers will have their points reset at 5,000.

In Nextel Cup racing, following the 26th race of the season, all drivers in the top 10 -- and any others within 400 points of the leader -- earn a berth in the Chase for the Nextel Cup.

All drivers in the Chase will have their point totals adjusted. The first-place driver in the standings begins the Chase with 5,050 points; the second-place driver will start with 5,045, etc. Incremental five-point drops will continue through 10th place (5,000 points). If more than 10 drivers qualify for the Chase, the additional drivers will have their points reset at 5,000.

Owners are rewarded in the points race in much the same fashion but, unlike drivers, they earn points for merely attempting to make a race. If an owner shows up with two drivers and one fails to qualify, the owner still receives points for the non-qualifying effort.

The fastest non-qualifier on race day earns 31 points for his owner, three down from the 43rd-place points. The scale continues downward for all non-qualifiers, with the lowest possible point(s) awarded being one.

Manufacturers have a points race of their own. The car maker who has a driver take first place in a race earns nine points for that race. Second-best performance by a manufacturer gets six points, third place earns four points and fourth place, three points.

Race Points System Finish Points   Finish Points   Finish Points 1st 180   2nd 170   3rd 165 4th 160   5th 155   6th 150 7th 146   8th 142   9th 138 10th 134   11th 130   12th 127 13th 124   14th 121   15th 118 16th 115   17th 112   18th 109 19th 106   20th 103   21st 100 22nd 97   23rd 94   24th 91 25th 88   26th 85   27th 82 28th 79   29th 76   30th 73 31st 70   32nd 67   33rd 64 34th 61   35th 58   36th 55 37th 52   38th 49   39th 46 40th 43   41st 40   42nd 37 43rd 34

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