A tie in points, like the one between Kyle Larson and Denny Hamlin at the 2025 Vegas 2 race, can happen because the total points a driver earns in a race come from a combination of their performance in each of the three stages and their final finishing position. A driver doesn't have to win the race to be the day's highest point scorer. Larson's strong finishes in the first two stages, including a stage win, gave him enough points to match Hamlin, who won the race itself.
Kyle Larson's Points at Las Vegas
- Stage 1: Finished 2nd, earning 9 points.
- Stage 2: Finished 1st, earning 10 points.
- Final Race Finish: Finished 2nd, earning 35 points.
- Total Points: 9+10+35= 54 points
Denny Hamlin's Points at Las Vegas
- Stage 1: Finished 4th, earning 7 points.
- Stage 2: Finished 4th, earning 7 points.
- Final Race Finish: Finished 1st, earning 40 points.
- Total Points: 7+7+40= 54 points
Maximum Points Available in a Race
A driver can earn a maximum of 60 points in a single race by achieving a "perfect" race:
- Stage 1: Win the stage, earning 10 points.
- Stage 2: Win the stage, earning 10 points.
- Final Race Finish: Win the race, earning 40 points.
- Maximum Total Points: 10+10+40=60 points
POINTS RACING / FLIPPING THE STAGE EXPLAINED
NASCAR Point Structure
This breakdown shows how points are awarded for stage finishes and final race finishes, illustrating how drivers can accumulate a high point total even without winning the race.
Stage Points (for each of the first two stages):
- 1st: 10 points
- 2nd: 9 points
- 3rd: 8 points
- 4th: 7 points
- 5th: 6 points
- 6th: 5 points
- 7th: 4 points
- 8th: 3 points
- 9th: 2 points
- 10th: 1 point
Final Race Finish Points:
- 1st: 40 points
- 2nd: 35 points
- 3rd: 34 points
- 4th: 33 points
- ...and so on, decreasing by one point per position down to the 35th-place finisher, who earns 2 points.
- 36th-40th: 1 point
SOUTHPAW SPEED
