by Gauk
Thu, Nov 24, 2016 2:37 AM

The NASCAR Manufacturers' Championship is awarded by NASCAR to the most successful manufacturer over a season, as determined by a points system based on race results.

The Manufacturers' Championship was first awarded in 1952, to Hudson.

Different car make/engine combinations are considered to be different manufacturers for the purposes of the Championship. Up to the 2013 season, the Manufacturer's Championship points were calculated by adding points scored in each race by the highest finishing driver for that manufacturer. The winning manufacturer earns nine points, while the second highest finishing manufacturer earns six points. The third highest manufacturer earns four points, one ahead of the fourth highest. For the 2014 season on, NASCAR made the decision to mirror the points structure of the Owner's Championships. Under this system the highest finishing driver for each manufacturer earns the same number of points the representing team earned during the race, including bonus points for wins and laps lead.

In the 59 seasons the Championship has been awarded, only nine different manufacturers have won it. Chevrolet has been the most successful, with 39 titles.

Sprint Cup Series

Representation

In the beginning, teams received little support from the car companies themselves, but by the mid 1960s, teams began creating partnerships with American manufacturers to provide factory support. Chrysler, Ford and General Motors were the primary, if not only, competitors for much of NASCAR's history. Plymouth achieved some success during the 1960s, but abandoned the sport in 1977. In the next decade, Ford's Mercury brand left, as did Chrysler's remaining brand in Dodge. General Motors had been using four different brands in NASCAR up to 1991, but within three years, Buick and Oldsmobile were no longer represented on the grid. Pontiac survived until 2004, leaving only Chevrolet as the lone General Motors division. However, in 2007 when Japanese manufacturer Toyota joined, becoming the first new manufacturer since 1971. Chrysler's Dodge brand returned after a 15-year hiatus in 2001, but departed after 2012, leaving just Chevrolet, Ford and Toyota.

Chevrolet is the most successful manufacturer, having won 749 races and 38 manufacturers championships. Ford is second with 636 victories and 15 manufacturers championships, while Dodge is third in wins with 217, Plymouth is fourth with 190, and Pontiac is ranked fifth with 155. Toyota currently ranks 9th all time, with 74 victories.

Manufacturer Model Years active Cha.
Alfa Romeo Italy Alfa Romeo Giulietta 1962 0
American Motors United States Nash Ambassador early 1950s
Hudson Hornet 3
AMC Matador 1971–1978 0
Aston Martin United Kingdom Unknown model 1953
Austin-Healey United Kingdom Austin-Healey Sprite 1961–1962
Chrysler United States DeSoto 1952, 1959 0
Dodge Coronet 1953–1957, 1965–1968 2
Dodge 440 1964
Dodge Charger
Dodge Charger Daytona
1966–1977, 2005–2007
Dodge Magnum 1978–1980
Dodge Mirada 1981–1985
Dodge Intrepid 2001–2004
Dodge Avenger 2007 (COT)
Dodge Charger R/T 2008–2012
Chrysler 300 1954–1956 2
Chrysler Imperial 1981–1985
Plymouth Belvedere 1959–1967 2
Plymouth Road Runner
Plymouth Superbird
1968–1974
Plymouth Savoy 1950s
Ford Motor Company United States Ford Fairlane 1955–1959, 1966–1967 15
Ford Fusion 2006–present
Ford Galaxie 1960–1966
Ford Taurus 1998–2005
Ford Torino
Ford Torino Talladega
1968–1977
Ford Thunderbird 1959–1960, 1977–1997
Mercury Monterey 1950s–1962 1
Mercury Marauder 1963–1966
Mercury Comet
Mercury Cyclone
1966–1967
Mercury Cyclone
Mercury Montego
1968–1980
Mercury Cougar 1970s-1980s
Lincoln 1949–1957 0
Edsel 1959
General Motors United States Buick Regal 1981–1985, 1988–1991 2
Buick Century 1976–1980
Buick Gran Sport 1970s
Buick LeSabre 1986–1987
Buick Somerset 1980s
Cadillac 1949–1955 0
Chevrolet Bel Air 1955–1958 27
Chevrolet Chevelle
Chevrolet Malibu
1964–1980
Chevrolet Chevelle Laguna 1973–1977
Chevrolet Impala 1979–1980, 2010–2012
Chevrolet Impala SS (COT) 2007–2009
Chevrolet Lumina 1989–1994
Chevrolet Monte Carlo
Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS
1971–1988, 1995–2007
Chevrolet SS 2013–present
Chevrolet Beretta 1980s
Oldsmobile 88 1949–1960 4
Oldsmobile Cutlass
Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme
Oldsmobile 442
1960s–1994
Oldsmobile Delta 88 1986–1987
Pontiac Catalina 1959–1963 3
Pontiac Firebird 1970
Pontiac Grand Prix 1981–2004
Pontiac Le Mans 1970s
Pontiac Tempest 1960s
Pontiac GTO 1960s
Jaguar United Kingdom Jaguar XK120 1953–1956 0
Kaiser-Frazer United States Henry J 1949–1954
MG Motor United Kingdom MG T-type 1954
MG MGA 1960–1963
Packard United States Unknown model 1950–1956
Porsche Germany Porsche 356 1953–1954
Studebaker United States Unknown model 1950–1962
Toyota Japan Toyota Camry 2007–present 1
Triumph Motor Company United Kingdom Unknown model 1960 0
Tucker United States 1948 Tucker Sedan 1950
Volkswagen Germany Volkswagen Beetle 1953
Willys United States Unknown model 1952–1954

Sprint Cup Series, by season

Season Manufacturer Wins Notes
1952 Hudson 27  
1953 22  
1954 17  
1955 Oldsmobile 10 Chrysler had 27 wins, but lost the points title
1956 Ford 14 Chrysler had 22 wins, but lost the points title
1957 26  
1958 Chevrolet 25  
1959 16 Ford also had 16 wins, but lost the points title
1960 13 Ford had 15 wins, but lost the points title
1961 11 Pontiac had 30 wins, but lost the points title
1962 Pontiac 22  
1963 Ford 23  
1964 30  
1965 48 Ford ran unopposed most of the season due to a boycott by Chrysler Corp.
1966 10 Plymouth had 31 wins and Dodge had 18; both lost the points title
1967 10 Plymouth had 31 wins, but lost the points title
1968 21  
1969 26  
1970 Dodge 17 Plymouth had 21 wins, but lost the points title
1971 Plymouth 22  
1972 Chevrolet 10  
1973 7 Mercury had 11 wins, but lost the points title
1974 12  
1975 Dodge 14  
1976 Chevrolet 13  
1977 21  
1978 10 Oldsmobile had 11 wins, but lost the points title
1979 18  
1980 22  
1981 Buick 22  
1982 25  
1983 Chevrolet 15  
1984 21  
1985 14 Ford also had 14 wins, but lost the points title
1986 18  
1987 15  
1988 8 Ford had 9 wins, but lost the points title
1989 13  
1990 13  
1991 11  
1992 Ford 16  
1993 Chevrolet 9 Pontiac had 11 wins, but lost the points title
1994 Ford 20  
1995 Chevrolet 21  
1996 17  
1997 Ford 19  
1998 Chevrolet 16  
1999 Ford 13  
2000 14  
2001 Chevrolet 16  
2002 Ford 14  
2003 Chevrolet 19  
2004 22  
2005 17  
2006 23  
2007 26 Modern Era record for wins in a season
2008 11  
2009 11  
2010 18 Won championship after the 2010 Pepsi Max 400
2011 18  
2012 15  
2013 17  
2014 20  
2015 15  
2016 Toyota 16  

Championship winners (totals)

Manufacturer Total
Wins
Chevrolet 39
Ford 15
Hudson 3
Buick 2
Dodge
Plymouth 1
Pontiac
Oldsmobile
Toyota

 

published by Gauk