NASCAR Sprint Cup 2016

The NASCAR Sprint Cup 2016 season began on February 13, 2016 with the Daytona Speedweeks at Daytona International Speedway . The first race is the invitation race The Sprint Unlimited which was held on February 18, 2016, followed by the two Can-Am Duels . The duels are the qualifying races for the Daytona 500 , in which pole position and starting position 2 are determined.

The Daytona 500 , the season's first points race, took place on February 21, 2016. The Chase for the Sprint Cup started on September 18, 2016 with the MyAFibRisk.com 400 at Chicagoland Speedway . The season ended on November 20 with the Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway .

The season was won by Jimmie Johnson in a Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet , who became champion for the seventh time, drawing level with Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt .

It was the final season for three-time champions Tony Stewart , Brian Scott and the Tommy Baldwin Racing team .

All races took place in the United States . The races at Sonoma Raceway and Watkins Glen International are the only ones that are not held on oval courses .

Racing calendar

No.	date	Race (track)	winner	Second	Third	Pole position	Most lead laps	Overall leader
0x	13th February	The Sprint Unlimited ( Daytona International Speedway )	United States Denny Hamlin ( Toyota )	United States Joey Logano ( Ford )	United States Paul Menard ( Chevrolet )	United States Jimmie Johnson	United States Denny Hamlin ( Toyota )
0x	February 18	Can-Am Duel 1 ( Daytona International Speedway )	United States Dale Earnhardt junior ( Chevrolet )	United States Joey Logano ( Ford )	United States Ryan Blaney ( Ford )	United States Chase Elliott ( Chevrolet )	United States Dale Earnhardt junior ( Chevrolet )
0x	February 18	Can-Am Duel 2 ( Daytona International Speedway )	United States Kyle Busch ( Toyota )	United States Jamie McMurray ( Chevrolet )	United States Kurt Busch ( Chevrolet )	United States Matt Kenseth ( Toyota )	United States Kyle Busch ( Toyota )
01	21st of February	Daytona 500 ( Daytona International Speedway )	United States Denny Hamlin ( Toyota )	United States Martin Truex Jr. ( Toyota )	United States Kyle Busch ( Toyota )	United States Chase Elliott ( Chevrolet )	United States Denny Hamlin ( Toyota )	United States Denny Hamlin ( Toyota )
02	February 28	Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 ( Atlanta Motor Speedway )	United States Jimmie Johnson ( Chevrolet )	United States Dale Earnhardt junior ( Chevrolet )	United States Kyle Busch ( Toyota )	United States Kurt Busch ( Chevrolet )	United States Kevin Harvick ( Chevrolet )	United States Kyle Busch ( Toyota )
03	06th March	Kobalt 400 ( Las Vegas Motor Speedway )	United States Brad Keselowski ( Ford )	United States Joey Logano ( Ford )	United States Jimmie Johnson ( Chevrolet )	United States Kurt Busch ( Chevrolet )	United States Jimmie Johnson ( Chevrolet )	United States Kyle Busch ( Toyota )
04th	March 13th	Good Sam 500 ( Phoenix International Raceway )	United States Kevin Harvick ( Chevrolet )	United States Carl Edwards ( Toyota )	United States Denny Hamlin ( Toyota )	United States Kyle Busch ( Toyota )	United States Kevin Harvick ( Chevrolet )	United States Kevin Harvick ( Chevrolet ) United States Kyle Busch ( Toyota )
05	March, 20th	Auto Club 400 ( Auto Club Speedway )	United States Jimmie Johnson ( Chevrolet )	United States Kevin Harvick ( Chevrolet )	United States Denny Hamlin ( Toyota )	United States Austin Dillon ( Chevrolet )	United States Kevin Harvick ( Chevrolet )	United States Kevin Harvick ( Chevrolet )
06th	03rd of April	STP 500 ( Martinsville Speedway )	United States Kyle Busch ( Toyota )	United States AJ Allmendinger ( Chevrolet )	United States Kyle Larson ( Chevrolet )	United States Joey Logano ( Ford )	United States Kyle Busch ( Toyota )	United States Kevin Harvick ( Chevrolet )
07th	09th April	Duck Commander 500 ( Texas Motor Speedway )	United States Kyle Busch ( Toyota )	United States Dale Earnhardt Jr. ( Chevrolet )	United States Joey Logano ( Ford )	United States Carl Edwards ( Toyota )	United States Martin Truex Jr. ( Toyota )	United States Kyle Busch ( Toyota )
08th	17th April	Food City 500 ( Bristol Motor Speedway )	United States Carl Edwards ( Toyota )	United States Dale Earnhardt Jr. ( Chevrolet )	United States Kurt Busch ( Chevrolet )	United States Carl Edwards ( Toyota )	United States Carl Edwards ( Toyota )	United States Kevin Harvick ( Chevrolet )
09	April 24th	Toyota Owners 400 ( Richmond International Raceway )	United States Carl Edwards ( Toyota )	United States Kyle Busch ( Toyota )	United States Jimmie Johnson ( Chevrolet )	United States Kevin Harvick ( Chevrolet )	United States Carl Edwards ( Toyota )	United States Carl Edwards ( Toyota )
10	01st of May	GEICO 500 ( Talladega Superspeedway )	United States Brad Keselowski ( Ford )	United States Kyle Busch ( Toyota )	United States Austin Dillon ( Chevrolet )	United States Chase Elliott ( Chevrolet )	United States Brad Keselowski ( Ford )	United States Kevin Harvick ( Chevrolet )
11	0May 7th	Go Bowling 400 ( Kansas Speedway )	United States Kyle Busch ( Toyota )	United States Kevin Harvick ( Chevrolet )	United States Kurt Busch ( Chevrolet )	United States Martin Truex Jr. ( Toyota )	United States Martin Truex Jr. ( Toyota )
12	May 15	Dover 400 ( Dover International Speedway )	United States Matt Kenseth ( Toyota )	United States Kyle Larson ( Chevrolet )	United States Chase Elliott ( Chevrolet )	United States Kevin Harvick ( Chevrolet )	United States Kevin Harvick ( Chevrolet )
0x	May 20th	Sprint Showdown ( Charlotte Motor Speedway )	United States Kyle Larson ( Chevrolet )	United States Chase Elliott ( Chevrolet )	United States Ryan Blaney ( Ford )	United States Chase Elliott ( Chevrolet )	United States Chase Elliott ( Chevrolet )
0x	May 21	NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race ( Charlotte Motor Speedway )	United States Joey Logano ( Ford )	United States Brad Keselowski ( Ford )	United States Dale Earnhardt Jr. ( Chevrolet )	United States Kevin Harvick ( Chevrolet )	United States Brad Keselowski ( Ford )
13	May 29th	Coca-Cola 600 ( Charlotte Motor Speedway )	United States Martin Truex Jr. ( Toyota )	United States Kevin Harvick ( Chevrolet )	United States Jimmie Johnson ( Chevrolet )	United States Martin Truex Jr. ( Toyota )	United States Martin Truex Jr. ( Toyota )	United States Kevin Harvick ( Chevrolet )
14th	0June 5th	Axalta "We Paint Winners" 400 ( Pocono Raceway )	United States Kurt Busch ( Chevrolet )	United States Dale Earnhardt Jr. ( Chevrolet )	United States Brad Keselowski ( Ford )	United States Brad Keselowski ( Ford )	United States Chase Elliott ( Chevrolet )
15th	June 12	FireKeepers Casino 400 ( Michigan International Speedway )	United States Joey Logano ( Ford )	United States Chase Elliott ( Chevrolet )	United States Kyle Larson ( Chevrolet )	United States Joey Logano ( Ford )	United States Joey Logano ( Ford )
16	June 26th	Toyota / Save Mart 350 ( Sonoma Raceway )	United States Tony Stewart ( Chevrolet )	United States Denny Hamlin ( Toyota )	United States Joey Logano ( Ford )	United States Carl Edwards ( Toyota )	United States Denny Hamlin ( Toyota )
17th	02nd July	Coke Zero 400 ( Daytona International Speedway )	United States Brad Keselowski ( Ford )	United States Kyle Busch ( Toyota )	United States Trevor Bayne ( Ford )	United States Greg Biffle ( Ford )	United States Brad Keselowski ( Ford )
18th	0July 9	Quaker State 400 ( Kentucky Speedway )	United States Brad Keselowski ( Ford )	United States Carl Edwards ( Toyota )	United States Ryan Newman ( Chevrolet )	United States Kevin Harvick ( Chevrolet )	United States Kevin Harvick ( Chevrolet )
19th	17th July	New Hampshire 301 ( New Hampshire Motor Speedway )	United States Matt Kenseth ( Toyota )	United States Tony Stewart ( Chevrolet )	United States Joey Logano ( Ford )	United States Jimmie Johnson ( Chevrolet )	United States Kyle Busch ( Toyota )
20th	24th July	Brickyard 400 ( Indianapolis Motor Speedway )	United States Kyle Busch ( Toyota )	United States Matt Kenseth ( Toyota )	United States Jimmie Johnson ( Chevrolet )	United States Kyle Busch ( Toyota )	United States Kyle Busch ( Toyota )
21st	July 31	Pennsylvania 400 ( Pocono Raceway )	United States Chris Buescher ( Ford )	United States Brad Keselowski ( Ford )	United States Regan Smith ( Chevrolet )	United States Martin Truex Jr. ( Toyota )	United States Joey Logano ( Ford )
22nd	0August 7th	Cheez-It 355 at The Glen ( Watkins Glen International )	United States Denny Hamlin ( Toyota )	United States Joey Logano ( Ford )	United States Brad Keselowski ( Ford )	United States Carl Edwards ( Toyota )	United States Brad Keselowski ( Ford )	United States Brad Keselowski ( Ford )
23	20th of August	Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race ( Bristol Motor Speedway )	United States Kevin Harvick ( Chevrolet )	United States Ricky Stenhouse Jr. ( Ford )	United States Denny Hamlin ( Toyota )	United States Carl Edwards ( Toyota )	United States Kyle Busch ( Toyota )	United States Kevin Harvick ( Chevrolet )
24	August 28th	Pure Michigan 400 ( Michigan International Speedway )	United States Kyle Larson ( Chevrolet )	United States Chase Elliott ( Chevrolet )	United States Brad Keselowski ( Ford )	United States Joey Logano ( Ford )	United States Kyle Larson ( Chevrolet )
25th	0September 4th	Bojangles' Southern 500 ( Darlington Raceway )	United States Martin Truex Jr. ( Toyota )	United States Kevin Harvick ( Chevrolet )	United States Kyle Larson ( Chevrolet )	United States Kevin Harvick ( Chevrolet )	United States Kevin Harvick ( Chevrolet )
26th	September 10	Federated Auto Parts 400 ( Richmond International Raceway )	United States Denny Hamlin ( Toyota )	United States Kyle Larson ( Chevrolet )	United States Martin Truex Jr. ( Toyota )	United States Denny Hamlin ( Toyota )	United States Martin Truex Jr. ( Toyota )
Chase for the Sprint Cup
Round of 16
27	September 18	Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 400 ( Chicagoland Speedway )	United States Martin Truex Jr. ( Toyota )	United States Joey Logano ( Ford )	United States Chase Elliott ( Chevrolet )	United States Kyle Busch ( Toyota )	United States Jimmie Johnson ( Chevrolet )	United States Martin Truex Jr. ( Toyota )
28	25th of September	Sylvania 300 ( New Hampshire Motor Speedway )	United States Kevin Harvick ( Chevrolet )	United States Matt Kenseth ( Toyota )	United States Kyle Busch ( Toyota )	United States Carl Edwards ( Toyota )	United States Martin Truex Jr. ( Toyota )	United States Brad Keselowski ( Ford )
29	0October 2nd	Citizen Soldier 400 ( Dover International Speedway )	United States Martin Truex Jr. ( Toyota )	United States Kyle Busch ( Toyota )	United States Chase Elliott ( Chevrolet )	United States Brad Keselowski ( Ford )	United States Martin Truex Jr. ( Toyota )	United States Martin Truex Jr. ( Toyota )
Round of 12
30th	08th October	Bank of America 500 ( Charlotte Motor Speedway )	United States Jimmie Johnson ( Chevrolet )	United States Matt Kenseth ( Toyota )	United States Kasey Kahne ( Chevrolet )	United States Kevin Harvick ( Chevrolet )	United States Jimmie Johnson ( Chevrolet )	United States Jimmie Johnson ( Chevrolet )
31	October, 16th	Hollywood Casino 400 ( Kansas Speedway )	United States Kevin Harvick ( Chevrolet )	United States Carl Edwards ( Toyota )	United States Joey Logano ( Ford )	United States Matt Kenseth ( Toyota )	United States Matt Kenseth ( Toyota )
32	23rd October	Good Sam Club 500 ( Talladega Superspeedway )	United States Joey Logano ( Ford )	United States Brian Scott ( Ford )	United States Denny Hamlin ( Toyota )	United States Brad Keselowski ( Ford )	United States Martin Truex Jr. ( Toyota )
Round of 8
33	30th of October	Goody's Headache Relief Shot 500 ( Martinsville Speedway )	United States Jimmie Johnson	United States Brad Keselowski ( Ford )	United States Denny Hamlin ( Toyota )	United States Martin Truex Jr. ( Toyota )	United States Matt Kenseth ( Toyota )	United States Jimmie Johnson ( Chevrolet )
34	0November 6th	AAA Texas 500 ( Texas Motor Speedway )	United States Carl Edwards ( Toyota )	United States Joey Logano ( Ford )	United States Martin Truex Jr. ( Toyota )	United States Austin Dillon ( Chevrolet )	United States Joey Logano ( Ford )
35	November 13th	Can-Am 500 ( Phoenix International Raceway )	United States Joey Logano ( Ford )	United States Kyle Busch ( Toyota )	United States Kyle Larson ( Chevrolet )	United States Alex Bowman ( Chevrolet )	United States Alex Bowman ( Chevrolet )
Championship 4
36	20th November	Ford EcoBoost 400 ( Homestead )	United States Jimmie Johnson ( Chevrolet )	United States Kyle Larson ( Chevrolet )	United States Kevin Harvick ( Chevrolet )	United States Kevin Harvick ( Chevrolet )	United States Kyle Larson ( Chevrolet )	United States Jimmie Johnson ( Chevrolet )

Remarks

x = race in which no points are awarded

Background color	meaning
	Race on an oval course
	Race on a street circuit

Chase for the Sprint Cup

The Chase for the Sprint Cup consists of 10 races and is divided into 4 rounds.

A total of 16 drivers take part in the first round, the Challenger Round. The Challenger Round will take place on the following routes:
September 18, 2016 * Chicagoland Speedway * Joliet, Illinois
September 25, 2016 * New Hampshire Motor Speedway * Loudon, New Hampshire
October 2, 2016 * Dover International Speedway * Dover, Delaware

In the second round, the Contender Round, the 12 best drivers from the first chase round take part. The Contender Round will take place on the following routes:
October 8, 2016 * Charlotte Motor Speedway * Concord, North Carolina
October 16, 2016 * Kansas Speedway * Kansas City, Kansas
October 23, 2016 * Talladega Superspeedway * Talladega, Alabama

In the third round, the Eliminator Round, the 8 best drivers from the second chase round take part. The Eliminator Round will take place on the following routes:
October 30, 2016 * Martinsville Speedway * Martinsville, Virginia
November 6, 2016 * Texas Motor Speedway * Fort Worth, Texas
November 13, 2016 * Phoenix International Raceway * Avondale, Arizona

In the fourth round, the Championship Round, the 4 best drivers from the third chase round take part. The fourth lap consists of a race. The driver with the best placement in this race is the NASCAR Sprint Cup Champion. The Championship Round will take place on the following route:
November 20, 2016 * Homestead-Miami Speedway * Homestead, Florida

Challenger Round	Contender Round	Eliminator Round	Championship Round	Sprint Cup Champion 2015
Chase for the Sprint Cup
United States Kyle Busch
United States Brad Keselowski
United States Denny Hamlin	United States Martin Truex Jr.
United States Kevin Harvick	United States Kevin Harvick
United States Carl Edwards	United States Kyle Busch	United States Joey Logano
United States Martin Truex Jr.	United States Matt Kenseth	United States Jimmie Johnson
United States Matt Kenseth	United States Joey Logano	United States Kevin Harvick	United States Joey Logano
United States Jimmie Johnson	United States Chase Elliott	United States Matt Kenseth	United States Jimmie Johnson	United States Jimmie Johnson
United States Joey Logano	United States Brad Keselowski	United States Carl Edwards	United States Carl Edwards	United States Jimmie Johnson
United States Kyle Larson	United States Kurt Busch	United States Denny Hamlin	United States Kyle Busch
United States Tony Stewart	United States Denny Hamlin	United States Kurt Busch
United States Kurt Busch	United States Carl Edwards	United States Kyle Busch
United States Chris Buescher	United States Jimmie Johnson
United States Chase Elliott	United States Austin Dillon
United States Austin Dillon
United States Jamie McMurray