What Is 2016 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series

Overview

The 2016 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series marked the 68th season of professional stock car racing in the United States under the NASCAR banner. It featured 36 points-paying races and one non-points event, the Sprint Unlimited, beginning with the Daytona 500 on February 21 and concluding with the championship-deciding Ford EcoBoost 400 on November 20.

This season was historically significant as Jimmie Johnson secured his seventh championship, equaling the record held by NASCAR legends Dale Earnhardt and Richard Petty. The season also represented the final year of the Sprint Cup Series branding before the series transitioned to the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series in 2017.

• Jimmie Johnson won the championship by finishing fifth in the season finale, edging out Kyle Busch and Joey Logano in the final round of the playoffs.
• The regular season consisted of 26 races, with Chase Elliott earning Rookie of the Year honors after a consistent performance throughout the year.
• Kevin Harvick led the series in wins with five victories, including a dominant performance at Texas Motor Speedway in November.
• The Charlotte Roval did not exist in 2016; the season still used traditional oval tracks, with the elimination-style Chase format in its second year of implementation.
• Denny Hamlin won the Daytona 500, marking his second victory in the prestigious race, which opened the season at Daytona International Speedway.

How It Works

The 2016 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series used a playoff structure known as the Chase for the Championship, which expanded from 13 to 16 drivers and culminated in a winner-take-all finale among the final four contenders.

• Chase Format: The season was divided into four rounds: the Regular Season, Round of 16, Round of 12, Round of 8, and Championship 4. Each round eliminated drivers based on points and wins.
• Wins & Points: A win in any race guaranteed advancement to the next round, provided the driver remained in the top 30 in points, emphasizing victory importance over consistency.
• Homestead Finale: The final race at Homestead-Miami Speedway featured only the last four eligible drivers competing for the title in a winner-takes-all format.
• Playoff Grid: Introduced in 2014, the Chase format reset points for advancing drivers and added drama, with eliminations after every three races.
• Regular Season Leader:Martin Truex Jr. led the regular season with four wins and 2,047 points, but was eliminated before the final round.
• Manufacturer Stats:Chevrolet won the manufacturer championship with 13 victories, followed by Toyota with 12 and Ford with 11.

Comparison at a Glance

Below is a comparison of the top four finishers in the 2016 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series standings:

This table highlights how narrowly Johnson won the title, despite having the same number of wins as Busch and Harvick. His consistency in the final round and fifth-place finish at Homestead secured the championship by just five points over Busch. The tight margin underscores the high-stakes nature of the winner-take-all finale.

Why It Matters

The 2016 season was a landmark year in NASCAR history, not only for Johnson’s record-tying achievement but also for the growing influence of the modern playoff format on race strategy and fan engagement.

• Historic Achievement: Jimmie Johnson’s seventh title placed him in elite company alongside Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt, cementing his legacy as one of NASCAR’s greatest drivers.
• Playoff Drama: The elimination-style Chase increased suspense, with drivers like Carl Edwards missing the title by a single position after a late-race crash.
• Manufacturer Competition: The close split among Chevrolet, Ford, and Toyota highlighted the parity in performance across brands.
• End of an Era: 2016 was the final year of Sprint’s sponsorship, marking the end of a 13-year naming rights partnership before Monster Energy took over.
• Rookie Impact: Chase Elliott’s Rookie of the Year win signaled a generational shift, with younger drivers entering the spotlight.
• TV Viewership: Despite overall declines, the Homestead finale drew over 4 million viewers, showing the championship format’s ability to attract attention.

The 2016 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series remains a pivotal chapter in stock car racing history, combining legacy, competition, and evolving formats that continue to shape the sport today.