List of motorsports points scoring systems
This is a list of points scoring systems used to determine the outcome of the seasonal motorsports championships. Points are usually awarded depending on placement in the individual races. In addition, there may be bonus points for fastest training laps, fastest race laps, leading laps or other individual criteria. In some racing series, for example the ARCA Menards Series, full time entries get additional points after a predetermined number of races. Drivers who do not take part in the series full-time but only take part in certain races do not receive these special points. The following overview shows the different championship scoring systems.
Limited race scoring systems (up to 20 points positions)
Table of point scoring systems for races which distribute points up to 20th place.Shared scoring systems
Points scoring systems that were used by several championships or sanctioning bodies.Unique scoring systems
This is a list of some individual points scoring systems, which were only used for one racing series or by one sanctioning body.Unlimited race scoring systems
The following tables showing points scoring systems that formally have no limits on points paying ranks. They are mostly used in long-distance and endurance races with large fields of participants. They are in practice only limited by the number of actual participants.Mileage based scoring systems
The following section provides an overview of scoring systems that were used based on a defined mileage of a race in a season. Point systems that simply differentiate between sprint and long-distance races without a defined length are not taken into account.Other scoring systems
Table of points scoring systems for qualification or other purposes.Shortened races
The FIA has introduced special points systems for shortened races for the 2022 Formula One season. Until then, abandoned or shortened races from 1 lap to halfway through the race received half regular points. Most racing series do not have any special scoring systems for this. For example in IndyCar, a race must be driven at least half the planned distance to be included in the championship rankings; there are no special points for shorter races. In NASCAR, the end of Stage 2 or half of the race is the basis for scoring.Championship decision
The final result of the championship is usually determined by the sum of the championship points won. If the points are the same, in most series like Formula One, IndyCar, etc, there is a tiebreaker in the form of the number of the highest positions in the individual races, e.g. number of victories, number of second places etc.An inverted system was used in Europe before World War II. The driver with the fewest points won the championship there. The winner got 1 "penalty point", the second-placed driver 2, the third-placed driver 3, all other drivers got 4. Drivers who did not finish the race received additional "penalty points", based on the percentage distance they run.
In some racing series, especially in NASCAR, there is a playoff system. After a cutoff race determined at the beginning of the season, the points score is used to qualify for the playoff after that race. In the subsequent races, other selection procedures are used to decide the championship, for example a knockout phase in which only a certain number of drivers, determined by points scoring and number of victories, reach the next round. In the last race, only the direct placement against the other competing drivers decides the outcome of the championship.