A look at every NASCAR Cup champion by year
The Sprint Cup was formerly known as Strictly Stock (1949), Grand National (1950-1970),Winston Cup Grand National (1971-1985), Winston Cup (1986-2003) and Nextel Cup (2004-2007). Sprint took over sponsorship of NASCAR's premier series in 2008.
NASCAR introduced its 10-race Chase to determine the Cup champion in 2004. NASCAR's version of the playoffs, the Chase was designed to bring more interest and intensity to the end of the season.
Beginning this season, the format was altered to expand the playoff field from 12 drivers to 16 while the 10-race Chase was divided into four rounds. In the third race of every round four drivers were eliminated, leaving four drivers to contend for the championship at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
Champions by year:
2014: Kevin Harvick
2013: Jimmie Johnson
2012: Brad Keselowski
2011: Tony Stewart
2010: Jimmie Johnson
2009: Jimmie Johnson
2008: Jimmie Johnson
2007: Jimmie Johnson
2006: Jimmie Johnson
2005: Tony Stewart
2004: Kurt Busch
2003: Matt Kenseth
2002: Tony Stewart
2001: Jeff Gordon
2000: Bobby Labonte
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
1978: Cale Yarborough
1977: Cale Yarborough
1976: Cale Yarborough
1975: Richard Petty
1974: Richard Petty
1973: Benny Parsons
1972: Richard Petty
1971: Richard Petty
1970: Bobby Isaac
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
Source: Racing-reference.info