2016 NASCAR Cup Series (Simpsonverse)

The 2016 NASCAR Cup Series was the 68th season of professional stock car racing in the United States and the 45th modern-era Cup series season. The season began at Daytona International Speedway with the Busch Clash, the Gatorade Duels and the Daytona 500. The season ended with the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

2016 marked the final season for 2000 season champion Bobby Labonte and 28-time race winner Carl Edwards, and the final Cup years for David Reutimann, John Nemechek, Brian Scott, Josh Wise, Patrick Carpentier, Eddie MacDonald, Robert Richardson Jr., Ryan Ellis, Alex Kennedy, and Tommy Baldwin Racing. However, Labonte returned to Cup competition in 2018, and Tommy Baldwin Racing returned to Cup competition in 2019.

Schedule
The final calendar – comprising 39 races, as well as exhibition races, which are the Busch Clash, Gatorade Duel qualifying duel races for the Daytona 500 and the NASCAR All-Star Race – was released on October 26, 2015. At the end of the 2016 season, Suzuka Circuit will host NASCAR's 2,500th race, one week before the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500.