NASCAR Championship Weekend

The Truck Series had always ended its season in the western United States, with Phoenix hosting that event in 2001.

After each race, an official ceremony is conducted in victory lane where the final points leader in each series is given his championship trophy.

In 2016, NASCAR adopted a championship format that is similar in function to one used by the National Hot Rod Association.

Over the course of the final races of the season, qualifying drivers are eliminated from championship contention if they are not above a certain threshold following a specific event.

Prior to 2004, when the first Chase for the Nextel Cup was conducted, all three series' championships were decided over the course of the entire season.

In the pre-playoff era, there were a total of four occasions where a series points leader entering the race did not end it as champion.

In 2003, Brendan Gaughan crashed out of the event late, finished 29th, and fell from first to fourth in the standings while Travis Kvapil won the championship.

At various times in the Ford 400 each driver held the points lead, but in the end Johnson clinched his fifth consecutive Sprint Cup championship by finishing second in the race.

[4] In 2011, Tony Stewart entered the race three points behind Carl Edwards for the Sprint Cup lead.