Sprint Cup Series is NASCAR's highest division in the race. This de facto series became the most popular and prestigious series from NASCAR event. Both media and fans often abbreviate the series to just "cup" and stands alone "NASCAR" to synonyms Cup Series. The series was originally known as the Strictly Stock Series season inauguration in 1949 and since the 1950 and 1970 known as the Grand National Series. In relation to the naming rights of the RJ Reynolds Tobacco Company who came into the main sponsor, the series became known as the Winston Cup Series since the season 1971 to 2003, when a similar deal done with Nextel Communications in 2004, the series known as the NEXTEL Cup Series . In 2005, Sprint Corporation merger with Nextel Communications, which produces the company's new name, namely Sprint Nextel, so the name of the sponsor for this series was again changed to the new Sprint Cup Series season held in 2008
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series logo
In the 1970s when Winston sponsors, some modifications made one of them to the point system. In 1972, the number of races in the Cup Series season was reduced from 48 to only 31 race race alone. The 1972 season was also a lot of fans known as modernization Cup Series season. Various developments occurred throughout the history of this event one of them since the 2001 season, hold a 36 Cup Series races in one season. Major changes occurred in the 2004 season when Nextel entered into the main sponsor. The new championship format was introduced in the season the Chase for the Cup racers were reset points that are in the top 10 early standings after 26 races as he entered the last 10 races ahead of the end of the season. In 2007, participants entered widened from the previous 10 Chase drivers became 12 racers.
The next major changes occurred in the 2011 season with the new points system. This time the points system to be more easily remembered and predicted by the fans. Not only in the Cup Series, the points system is also applied in the Nationwide Series and Truck Series. Based on the rules of the new points of the 2011 season, the winner of the race gets 43 points with a gap difference of 1 point for racers who finished in the next position (42 points for second place, 41 points for third place and so on). So that the winner can receive an award for his hard work to win the race then diberikanlah 3 bonus points for winning races as well as 1 point for the driver who leads at least one lap. The number of drivers who entered the playoffs remains 12 Chase drivers, but which distinguishes only the top 10 standings of 26 races that have been held were able to enter the Chase while the remaining two positions are given to the rider who has the most wins in a season running.
Richard Petty, one of NASCAR legend who won seven Cup Series championships in addition to Dale Earnhardt.
Some big names from the automotive world was born Cup Series, including Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt won this series successful 7 times. Jimmie Johnson's record as a rider to win five consecutive seasons (2006-2010), while Joey Logano became the youngest driver to record win Cup Series race.