What Is 1991 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series

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Last updated: April 15, 2026

Quick Answer: The 1991 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series did not exist under that name; the top NASCAR series was then called the Winston Cup Series. Dale Earnhardt won the championship, securing his fifth title with 425 more points than second-place finisher Mark Martin.

Key Facts

The 1991 NASCAR Winston Cup Series was the actual name of the top racing series; 'Sprint Cup' was not adopted until 2008.
Dale Earnhardt won the 1991 championship, his fifth of seven career titles.
The season consisted of 29 races, beginning with the Daytona 500 on February 17, 1991.
Harry Gant achieved a remarkable four consecutive wins in September 1991, earning the nickname 'Mr. September'.
Rusty Wallace won the most races in 1991 with six victories but finished third in the final standings.

Overview

The 1991 NASCAR season is often mistakenly referred to as the 'Sprint Cup Series,' but this branding did not exist until 2008. At the time, the premier division was officially known as the NASCAR Winston Cup Series, sponsored by R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company.

This season featured intense competition, legendary drivers, and pivotal moments that shaped NASCAR's modern history. Despite the name confusion, the 1991 campaign remains a significant chapter in stock car racing, highlighted by Dale Earnhardt’s dominance and Harry Gant’s late-season surge.

Dale Earnhardt won the 1991 Winston Cup Championship, accumulating 4,960 points over 29 races, outpacing Mark Martin by 425 points.
The season began with the Daytona 500 on February 17, 1991, won by Ernie Irvan in a surprise victory for the fledgling Morgan-McClure Motorsports team.
Rusty Wallace led all drivers with six race wins in 1991, including victories at Bristol, Michigan, and Richmond.
Harry Gant captured national attention by winning four consecutive races in September at ages 51 and 52, becoming the oldest winner of a Winston Cup race at the time.
The final race of the season, the Atlanta Journal 500 on November 17, 1991, was held at Atlanta Motor Speedway and won by Morgan Shepherd.

How It Works

The NASCAR Winston Cup Series operated under a points-based system that rewarded consistency, race finishes, and stage performance—though stage racing wasn't introduced until decades later. In 1991, the format relied on a cumulative points structure across all races.

Points System: Drivers earned points based on finishing position, with 175 points awarded to the winner and scaling down to 34 points for 40th place.
Championship Format: The title was awarded to the driver with the highest total points after the final race, with no playoff-style elimination rounds.
Manufacturer Competition: Ford, Chevrolet, and Oldsmobile competed for the Manufacturer's Championship, based on cumulative team points; Chevrolet won in 1991 with 169 points.
Race Structure: Most races ranged from 300 to 500 miles, with the Daytona 500 and Coca-Cola 600 being the longest and most prestigious.
Driver Eligibility: To qualify for points, drivers had to be members of NASCAR's top division and compete in a minimum number of events.
Sponsorship Model: Teams relied heavily on corporate sponsors; GM Goodwrench backed Earnhardt’s car, while Miller Genuine Draft sponsored Rusty Wallace’s No. 2 Ford.

Comparison at a Glance

Below is a comparison of the top five finishers in the 1991 NASCAR Winston Cup Series standings:

Position	Driver	Points	Wins	Top 5s
1	Dale Earnhardt	4,960	4	17
2	Mark Martin	4,535	2	15
3	Rusty Wallace	4,528	6	16
4	Davey Allison	4,445	5	14
5	Harry Gant	4,396	4	13

This table highlights how consistency, not just wins, determined the champion. Earnhardt won fewer races than Wallace but secured more top-five finishes, giving him the edge. Martin narrowly missed the title, finishing just seven points behind Wallace. The close points gap among the top four illustrates the competitiveness of the 1991 season, one of the closest in NASCAR history up to that point.

Why It Matters

The 1991 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season was pivotal in shaping the sport's legacy, showcasing legendary drivers during a transitional era before modern sponsorship and media expansions. It marked the peak of Dale Earnhardt’s prime and highlighted the resilience of veteran racers like Harry Gant.

Dale Earnhardt solidified his status as a NASCAR icon by winning his fifth championship, moving closer to Richard Petty’s record of seven.
The season demonstrated the importance of season-long consistency, as Earnhardt’s 17 top-five finishes outweighed Wallace’s higher win count.
Harry Gant’s four straight wins at age 51 became a cultural phenomenon, inspiring the nickname 'Mr. September' and highlighting age-defying performance.
The competition between Ernie Irvan, Davey Allison, and Dale Earnhardt helped elevate NASCAR’s national profile during a growth period.
This season occurred just before NASCAR’s television and sponsorship boom in the 1990s and 2000s, making it a bridge between old-school and modern racing.
The Winston Cup format remained largely unchanged until the introduction of the 'Chase for the Championship' in 2004, making 1991 a benchmark for traditional scoring.

Ultimately, the 1991 season remains a fan-favorite due to its dramatic finishes, legendary performances, and historical significance in the evolution of stock car racing.