How a NASCAR Cup race is scored: stages, bonus points and why every lap matters
Stage racing turned every Cup Series event into three races in one.
Since 2017, NASCAR Cup Series races have been split into three stages. The top 10 at the end of each of the first two stages earn bonus points on a 10-to-1 scale, and the stage winner also banks an additional playoff point.
The final stage decides the race itself. The winner collects 40 points, second place 35, and the payout declines by one point per position from there.
The result is a structure that rewards consistent speed across the whole race, not just in the closing laps — and creates strategic choices about whether to pit before a stage break or stay out to collect points.
Victories carry extra weight beyond the points table, giving drivers a strong incentive to gamble for wins late in the season.
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