NASCAR Cup Series Champions by Year: Every Champion From 1949 to 2026

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Kyle Larson is the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series champion, his third title and second in a row. Here is every Cup Series champion since NASCAR’s first season in 1949.

NASCAR Cup Series Champions, 2000–2026

• 2026: Kyle Larson
• 2025: Kyle Larson
• 2024: Joey Logano
• 2023: Ryan Blaney
• 2022: Joey Logano
• 2021: Kyle Larson
• 2020: Chase Elliott
• 2019: Kyle Busch
• 2018: Joey Logano
• 2017: Martin Truex Jr.
• 2016: Jimmie Johnson
• 2015: Kyle Busch
• 2014: Kevin Harvick
• 2013: Jimmie Johnson
• 2012: Brad Keselowski
• 2011: Tony Stewart
• 2006–2010: Jimmie Johnson (five straight)
• 2005: Tony Stewart
• 2004: Kurt Busch
• 2003: Matt Kenseth
• 2002: Tony Stewart
• 2001: Jeff Gordon
• 2000: Bobby Labonte

NASCAR Cup Series Champions, 1970–1999

• 1999: Dale Jarrett
• 1998: Jeff Gordon
• 1997: Jeff Gordon
• 1996: Terry Labonte
• 1995: Jeff Gordon
• 1994: Dale Earnhardt
• 1993: Dale Earnhardt
• 1992: Alan Kulwicki
• 1991: Dale Earnhardt
• 1990: Dale Earnhardt
• 1989: Rusty Wallace
• 1988: Bill Elliott
• 1987: Dale Earnhardt
• 1986: Dale Earnhardt
• 1985: Darrell Waltrip
• 1984: Terry Labonte
• 1983: Bobby Allison
• 1982: Darrell Waltrip
• 1981: Darrell Waltrip
• 1980: Dale Earnhardt
• 1979: Richard Petty
• 1976–1978: Cale Yarborough (three straight)
• 1975: Richard Petty
• 1974: Richard Petty
• 1973: Benny Parsons
• 1972: Richard Petty
• 1971: Richard Petty
• 1970: Bobby Isaac

NASCAR Cup Series Champions, 1949–1969

• 1969: David Pearson
• 1968: David Pearson
• 1967: Richard Petty
• 1966: David Pearson
• 1965: Ned Jarrett
• 1964: Richard Petty
• 1963: Joe Weatherly
• 1962: Joe Weatherly
• 1961: Ned Jarrett
• 1960: Rex White
• 1959: Lee Petty
• 1958: Lee Petty
• 1957: Buck Baker
• 1956: Buck Baker
• 1955: Tim Flock
• 1954: Lee Petty
• 1953: Herb Thomas
• 1952: Tim Flock
• 1951: Herb Thomas
• 1950: Bill Rexford
• 1949: Red Byron

Most NASCAR Cup Series Championships

• 7: Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt, Jimmie Johnson
• 4: Jeff Gordon
• 3: Lee Petty, David Pearson, Cale Yarborough, Darrell Waltrip, Tony Stewart, Joey Logano, Kyle Larson
• 2: Herb Thomas, Tim Flock, Buck Baker, Ned Jarrett, Joe Weatherly, Terry Labonte, Kyle Busch

Larson became the first driver to win back-to-back titles since Johnson’s five straight from 2006 to 2010. Read more about how Larson clinched the 2026 title.