What are the three levels of NASCAR?

Last Modified May 10, 2024 07:37 GMT
three levels of NASCAR
The NASCAR logo. [Credits: Getty Images]

The pinnacle of stock car racing, NASCAR stands for National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing. It is a huge event which involves 36 races during one season and more than 30 different drivers and various teams. NASCAR racing has been popularized in the United States due to its high speed racing format and the venues it chooses to race on.

The NASCAR Cup Series which is the most elite division of NASCAR is also the most popular division of NASCAR. Its annual event, the Daytona 500 is monikered as the “Great American Race” attracting the biggest crowd of American Racing. Toyota, Chevrolet and Ford are the manufacturers who compete in stock car racing.

Three Levels of NASCAR

NASCAR, like any other sport, is categorized into various divisions to give rookie drivers a chance to familiarize themselves with the sport and earn a place in the top division. The motorsports divisions in NASCAR are three, namely, Cup Series, Xfinity Series and the Craftsman Truck Series.

The Cup Series is the highest division in the sport and the division with the biggest payout. It has often produced legends of American racing from time to time. The Xfinity Series are a proving ground for newer racers who wish to get recruited by the team and try to bag sponsors for their promotion into the sport.

The championship winner of the Xfinity Series often attracts a lot of attention from the bigger teams in the sport claiming a seat in their Cup Series program. The Craftsman Truck is the lowest division in NASCAR. It is like an introduction to the world of professional stock racing under the NASCAR association. The Cup Series uses the best cars, whereas the stock cars in Xfinity are a bit underpowered. The Craftsman Truck series as its name suggests uses Trucks to race.

The NASCAR Cup Series Dixie Vodka 400 race.
The NASCAR Cup Series [Credits: Getty Images]

Has anyone won all three stages in NASCAR?

There is no driver who has managed to secure a championship victory in all three divisions of NASCAR. The talented drivers usually find themselves racing in the Xfinity Series within one or two seasons of their Truck Series debut. There are only 6 drivers in history who have claimed a championship in the Xfinity Series and the Cup Series. They are Kevin Harvick, Kyle Busch, Bobby Labonte, Brad Keselowski, Martin Truex Jr. and Chase Elliot. There are 36 different drivers who have secured a win in all three divisions of NASCAR.

NASCAR Xfinity Series race, The LiUNA.
NASCAR Xfinity Series race [Credits: Getty Images]

What are the 6 different Categories in NASCAR?

The NASCAR Truck Series, Heart of America 200 race
The NASCAR Truck Series, [Credits: Getty Images]

Read more About Crown jewels in NASCAR

FAQ's On three levels of NASCAR

A. NASCAR has three different classes, the Cup Series, Xfinity Series and the Truck Series.

A. The Cup Series is the highest level of NASCAR.

A. The Xfinity Series is NASCAR’s second tier series.

A. Bobby Allison is the oldest Cup Series champion at the age of 45 years old, as of March 2024.

A. No, NASCAR cars now have fuel injection instead of carburetors.

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