TheNational Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) is the official sanctioning body of the sport ofstock car racing in North America.^[1][2] It was formed in February 1948 by race car driverBill France Sr. as the replacement for the National Championship Stock Car Circuit sanctioning body.^[1][2] NASCAR sanctions the top level nationalNASCAR Cup Series, the second-tier proving groundNASCAR Xfinity Series, the third-tierNASCAR Craftsman Truck Series formodified pickup trucks,^[3] as well as a series of American regional championships.^[1] The NASCAR championship season consists of a series of races, held usually onoval tracks, and in a few cases,road courses.^[4] Each season throughout NASCAR history has consisted of between 8 and 62 races.^[5]

The results of each race are combined to determine two championships in each of the top series, one fordrivers and one formanufacturers. The Drivers' Championship is awarded to each division's most successful NASCAR driver over a season, as determined by apoints system, and has been awarded since the first NASCAR season in 1949. The Manufacturers' Championship is awarded to the each division's most successful NASCAR manufacturer over a season, also determined by a points system based on race results.^[6] The Manufacturers' Championship was first awarded in1952.

Note: In any given season, the overall Manufacturer's champion may not been the supplier to the overall Driver's champion.