| Playoff Format |
| 2025 Cup Series |
| Kyle Larson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 5,034 pts |
| 2024 Cup Series |
| Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 5,040 pts |
| 2023 Cup Series |
| Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 5,035 pts |
| 2022 Cup Series |
| Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 5,040 pts |
| 2021 Cup Series |
| Kyle Larson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 5,040 pts |
| 2020 Monster Energy Cup |
| Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 5,040 pts |
| 2019 Monster Energy Cup |
| Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 5,040 pts |
| 2018 Monster Energy Cup |
| Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 5,040 pts |
| 2017 Monster Energy Cup |
| Martin Truex Jr. Furniture Row Racing Toyota 5,040 pts |
| 2016 Sprint Cup |
| Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 5,040 pts |
| 2015 Sprint Cup |
| Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 5,043 pts |
| 2014 Sprint Cup |
| Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet 5,043 pts |
| Chase Format |
| 2013 Sprint Cup |
| Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 2,419 pts |
| 2012 Sprint Cup |
| Brad Keselowski Penske Racing Dodge 2,400 pts |
| 2011 Sprint Cup |
| Tony Stewart Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet 2,403 pts |
| 2010 Sprint Cup |
| Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 6,622 pts |
| 2009 Sprint Cup |
| Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 6,652 pts |
| 2008 Sprint Cup |
| Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 6,684 pts |
| 2007 Nextel Cup |
| Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 6,723 pts |
| 2006 Nextel Cup |
| Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 6,475 pts |
| 2005 Nextel Cup |
| Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing Chevrolet 6,533 pts |
| 2004 Nextel Cup |
| Kurt Busch Roush Racing Ford 6,506 pts |
| Points Format |
| 2003 Winston Cup |
| Matt Kenseth Roush Racing Ford 5,022 pts |
| 2002 Winston Cup |
| Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 4,800 pts |
| 2001 Winston Cup |
| Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 5,112 pts |
| 2000 Winston Cup |
| Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 5,130 pts |
| 1999 Winston Cup |
| Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford 5,262 pts |
| 1998 Winston Cup |
| Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 5,328 pts |
| 1997 Winston Cup |
| Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 4,710 pts |
| 1996 Winston Cup |
| Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 4,657 pts |
| 1995 Winston Cup |
| Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 4,614 pts |
| 1994 Winston Cup |
| Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 4,694 pts |
| 1993 Winston Cup |
| Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 4,526 pts |
| 1992 Winston Cup |
| Alan Kulwicki AK Racing Ford 4,078 pts |
| 1991 Winston Cup |
| Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 4,287 pts |
| 1990 Winston Cup |
| Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 4,430 pts |
| 1989 Winston Cup |
| Rusty Wallace Blue Max Racing Pontiac 4,176 pts |
| 1988 Winston Cup |
| Bill Elliott Melling Racing Ford 4,488 pts |
| 1987 Winston Cup |
| Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 4,696 pts |
| 1986 Winston Cup |
| Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 4,468 pts |
| 1985 Winston Cup |
| Darrell Waltrip Junior Johnson & Associates Chevrolet 4,292 pts |
| 1984 Winston Cup |
| Terry Labonte Hagan Racing Chevrolet 4,508 pts |
| 1983 Winston Cup |
| Bobby Allison DiGard Motorsports Chevrolet/Buick 4,667 pts |
| 1982 Winston Cup |
| Darrell Waltrip Junior Johnson & Associates Buick 4,489 pts |