From humble beginnings to one of the biggest and best racing series in the world, NASCAR is a world apart from where it once began back in the late 1940s. However, one key thing remains unchanged.
Whether it was 1949 or 2025, each season, the sport’s biggest and best stars have put it all on the line in high-octane, edge-of-your-seat racing with one ultimate goal - winning the championship.
The Cup Series may have gone through several name changes and formats over the years, but whether it’s via a full points system or the playoffs, or even a 10-race chase, every driver wants to be the one lifting the trophy come the black and white checkered flag at the season finale.
Unfortunately, not every driver achieves that. Modern-day great Denny Hamlin is still chasing that elusive first Cup Series championship, for example, with his latest heartbreak having come in the 2025 championship race at Phoenix, whilst on the flip side, for those keen on dominating the sport, one championship simply won’t do.
As many as 18 drivers have been able to get their hands on multiple titles over the years, whilst racing legends such as Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt and Jimmie Johnson took things a step further, winning seven championships apiece and totally dominating their respective eras.
NASCAR Cup Series champions
| Year | Champion | Primary Car Owner |
|---|---|---|
| 1949 | Red Byron | Raymond Parks |
| 1950 | Bill Rexford | Julian Buesink |
| 1951 | Herb Thomas | Herb Thomas |
| 1952 | Tim Flock | Ted Chester |
| 1953 | Herb Thomas | Herb Thomas |
| 1954 | Lee Petty | Petty Enterprises |
| 1955 | Tim Flock | Carl Kiekhaefer |
| 1956 | Buck Baker | Carl Kiekhaefer |
| 1957 | Buck Baker | Buck Baker |
| 1958 | Lee Petty | Petty Enterprises |
| 1959 | Lee Petty | Petty Enterprises |
| 1960 | Rex White | White-Clements |
| 1961 | Ned Jarrett | B.G. Holloway |
| 1962 | Joe Weatherly | Bud Moore |
| 1963 | Joe Weatherly | Bud Moore |
| 1964 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises |
| 1965 | Ned Jarrett | Bondy Long |
| 1966 | David Pearson | Cotton Owens |
| 1967 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises |
| 1968 | David Pearson | Holman-Moody |
| 1969 | David Pearson | Holman-Moody |
| 1970 | Bobby Isaac | Nord Krauskopf |
| 1971 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises |
| 1972 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises |
| 1973 | Benny Parsons | L.G. DeWitt |
| 1974 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises |
| 1975 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises |
| 1976 | Cale Yarborough | Junior Johnson |
| 1977 | Cale Yarborough | Junior Johnson |
| 1978 | Cale Yarborough | Junior Johnson |
| 1979 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises |
| 1980 | Dale Earnhardt | Rod Osterlund |
| 1981 | Darrell Waltrip | Junior Johnson |
| 1982 | Darrell Waltrip | Junior Johnson |
| 1983 | Bobby Allison | Bill Gardner |
| 1984 | Terry Labonte | Billy Hagan |
| 1985 | Darrell Waltrip | Junior Johnson |
| 1986 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress |
| 1987 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress |
| 1988 | Bill Elliott | Harry Melling |
| 1989 | Rusty Wallace | Raymond Beadle |
| 1990 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress |
| 1991 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress |
| 1992 | Alan Kulwicki | Alan Kulwicki |
| 1993 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress |
| 1994 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress |
| 1995 | Jeff Gordon | Rick Hendrick |
| 1996 | Terry Labonte | Rick Hendrick |
| 1997 | Jeff Gordon | Rick Hendrick |
| 1998 | Jeff Gordon | Rick Hendrick |
| 1999 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates |
| 2000 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs |
| 2001 | Jeff Gordon | Rick Hendrick |
| 2002 | Tony Stewart | Joe Gibbs |
| 2003 | Matt Kenseth | Jack Roush |
| 2004 | Kurt Busch | Jack Roush |
| 2005 | Tony Stewart | Joe Gibbs |
| 2006 | Jimmie Johnson | Rick Hendrick |
| 2007 | Jimmie Johnson | Rick Hendrick |
| 2008 | Jimmie Johnson | Rick Hendrick |
| 2009 | Jimmie Johnson | Rick Hendrick |
| 2010 | Jimmie Johnson | Rick Hendrick |
| 2011 | Tony Stewart | Stewart-Haas Racing |
| 2012 | Brad Keselowski | Roger Penske |
| 2013 | Jimmie Johnson | Rick Hendrick |
| 2014 | Kevin Harvick | Stewart-Haas Racing |
| 2015 | Kyle Busch | Joe Gibbs |
| 2016 | Jimmie Johnson | Rick Hendrick |
| 2017 | Martin Truex Jr. | Barney Visser |
| 2018 | Joey Logano | Roger Penske |
| 2019 | Kyle Busch | Joe Gibbs |
| 2020 | Chase Elliott | Rick Hendrick |
| 2021 | Kyle Larson | Rick Hendrick |
| 2022 | Joey Logano | Roger Penske |
| 2023 | Ryan Blaney | Roger Penske |
| 2024 | Joey Logano | Roger Penske |
| 2025 | Kyle Larson | Rick Hendrick |
Who has been NASCAR Cup Series champion the most?
Three drivers are tied for having won the most championships, with Richard Petty (1964, 1967, 1971, 1972, 1974, 1975, 1979), Dale Earnhardt (1980, 1986, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994) and Jimmie Johnson (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2016) having all won seven Cup Series titles during their respective careers.
Here is a full list of every driver to win multiple Cup Series championships.
| Driver | Championship Total | Seasons |
|---|---|---|
| Richard Petty | 7 | 1964, 1967, 1971, 1972, 1974, 1975, 1979 |
| Dale Earnhardt | 7 | 1980, 1986, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994 |
| Jimmie Johnson | 7 | 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2016 |
| Jeff Gordon | 4 | 1995, 1997, 1998, 2001 |
| Lee Petty | 3 | 1954, 1958, 1959 |
| David Pearson | 3 | 1966, 1968, 1969 |
| Cale Yarborough | 3 | 1976, 1977, 1978 |
| Darrell Waltrip | 3 | 1981, 1982, 1985 |
| Tony Stewart | 3 | 2002, 2005, 2011 |
| Joey Logano | 3 | 2018, 2022, 2024 |
| Herb Thomas | 2 | 1951, 1953 |
| Tim Flock | 2 | 1952, 1955 |
| Buck Baker | 2 | 1956, 1957 |
| Joe Weatherly | 2 | 1962, 1963 |
| Ned Jarrett | 2 | 1961, 1965 |
| Terry Labonte | 2 | 1984, 1996 |
| Kyle Busch | 2 | 2015, 2019 |
| Kyle Larson | 2 | 2021, 2025 |
Who is the youngest NASCAR Cup Series champion?
Bill Rexford holds the record for being the youngest ever Cup Series champion, winning the 1950 title when he was just 23 years old.
Who is the oldest NASCAR Cup Series champion?
Bobby Allison holds the record for being the oldest ever Cup Series champion, winning the 1983 title at the age of 45.
Who is the NASCAR Cup Series champion right now?
Hendrick Motorsports star Kyle Larson is the current champion, winning his second Cup Series championship at Phoenix Raceway in November 2025.
