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. Carl Edwards of Dale Earnhardt, Inc. won his first drivers' championship. Toyota won the manufacturer's championship, becoming the first manufacturer to win the manufacturer's championship other than Chevrolet since 2002.

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.

Teams and drivers

Complete schedule

Manufacturer	Team	No.	Race driver	Crew chief	Model
Chevrolet	Dale Earnhardt, Inc.	01	Jeffrey Earnhardt	Dan Stillman	Camaro
		1	Martin Truex Jr.	Matt McCall
		8	Dale Earnhardt Jr.	Tony Eury Jr.
		15	Carl Edwards	Bruce Cook
		81	Matt Kenseth	Kevin Hamlin
	Germain Racing	13	Casey Mears	Bootie Barker	SS
	Hendrick Motorsports	5	Kasey Kahne	Keith Rodden	Camaro
		24	Chase Elliott (R)	Alan Gustafson
		25	Brad Keselowski	Greg Ives
		48	Jimmie Johnson	Chad Knaus
		84	Landon Cassill	Lance McGrew
	HScott Motorsports	09	Justin Allgaier	Steve Addington 35 Jay Guy 1	SS
		52	Michael Annett 35	Jay Guy Template:Tooltip Mike Hillman Template:Tooltip
			Brendan Gaughan (1)
	JTG Daugherty Racing	47	A. J. Allmendinger	Randall Burnett Template:Tooltip Ernie Cope Template:Tooltip	SS
	Circle Sport – Leavine Family Racing	95	Regan Smith	Matt Borland	SS
	Earnhardt-Childress Racing (Start Your Engines!)	3	Austin Dillon	Slugger Labbe	SS
		30	Ryan Newman	Luke Lambert
		31	Paul Menard	Justin Alexander Template:Tooltip Danny Stockman Jr. Template:Tooltip
		33	Ty Dillon (R)	Gil Martin
	Stewart-Haas Racing	00	Brian Vickers	Tony Gibson Template:Tooltip Johnny Klausmeier Template:Tooltip	Camaro
		4	Kevin Harvick	Rodney Childers Template:Tooltip Dax Gerringer Template:Tooltip
		10	Danica Patrick	Billy Scott
		14	Tony Stewart	Greg Zipadelli
	Tommy Baldwin Racing	7	Alex Bowman	Tommy Baldwin Jr.	Camaro
Dodge	Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates	40	Bryan Clauson	Jeff Vandermoss	Challenger
		41	Brennan Poole (R)	Mike Shiplett
		42	Kyle Larson	Chris Heroy
	Petty Enterprises	9	Sam Hornish Jr.	Drew Blickensderfer
		43	Aric Almirola	Kevin Manion
		44	Chad McCumbee	Mark Tudor
		45	Adam Petty	Billy Wilburn
		46	Austin Petty	Chris Hussey
Ford	Brett Favre Racing	16	Parker Kligerman	Chad Johnston 35 Phil Surgen 1	Mustang
		61	Jeb Burton	Tim Steele
		90	Johanna Robbins	Darrell Bryant
	Front Row Motorsports	34	Chris Buescher (R)	Bob Osborne	Fusion
		38	David Ragan	Donnie Wingo
	Go Fas Racing	32	Bobby Labonte Template:Tooltip	Wally Rogers Template:Tooltip Clinton Cram Template:Tooltip	Fusion
			Joey Gase Template:Tooltip
			Patrick Carpentier (1)
			Eddie MacDonald Template:Tooltip
			Boris Said Template:Tooltip
			Dylan Lupton Template:Tooltip
	Orr Motorsports	37	Michael McDowell	John Page	Fusion
	Robert Yates Racing	28	Jamie McMurray	Todd Parrott	Fusion
		88	Brian Scott	Chris Heroy
		96	Jason Leffler	Larry Carter
	Roush Fenway Racing	6	Ricky Stenhouse, Jr.	Matt Puccia	Roush Mustang
		17	Trevor Bayne	Nick Sandler Template:Tooltip Mike Kelley Template:Tooltip
		60	Greg Biffle	Brian Pattie Template:Tooltip Robbie Reiser Template:Tooltip
	Team Penske	2	Blaise Alexander	Paul Wolfe	Mustang
		22	Joey Logano	Todd Gordon
	Wood Brothers Racing	21	Ryan Blaney	Jeremy Bullins	Shelby GT500
Toyota	BK Racing	23	David Reutimann	Patrick Donahue	Avalon
		83	Matt DiBenedetto (35)	Doug Richert Template:Tooltip Gene Nead Template:Tooltip Mike Ford Template:Tooltip
			Dylan Lupton (4)
	Furniture Row Racing	78	Kurt Busch	Cole Pearn Template:Tooltip Todd Berrier Template:Tooltip	Camry
	Joe Gibbs Racing	11	Denny Hamlin	Mike Wheeler	Camry
		18/75	Kyle Busch	Adam Stevens Template:Tooltip Todd Berrier Template:Tooltip
		19	Daniel Suárez (R)	Dave Rogers
		20	Elliott Sadler	Jason Ratcliff
	Michael Waltrip Racing	51	Clint Bowyer	Dax Gerringer	Camry
		55	Brett Moffitt	Chad Walter
	NEMCO Motorsports	87	John Nemechek	Michael Leoncini	Camry

Limited schedule

Manufacturer	Team	No.	Race driver	Crew chief	Round(s)	Model
Chevrolet (Start Your Engines!)	Hillman Racing	04	Reed Sorenson	Dave Winston	1	2013 SS
	The Motorsports Group	03	Josh Wise	Dave Fuge Template:Tooltip Wayne Carroll Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip	2014 Camaro
			Gray Gaulding		Template:Tooltip
Ford	Front Row Motorsports	35	David Gilliland	Joe Lax Template:Tooltip Todd Anderson Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip	Fusion
	Roush Fenway Racing	99	Ryan Reed	Phil Gould	Template:Tooltip	Roush Mustang
Toyota	BK Racing	26	Robert Richardson Jr.	Mike Ford	Template:Tooltip	Avalon
		49	Matt DiBenedetto	Gene Nead	Template:Tooltip
		93			Template:Tooltip
			Ryan Ellis	Mike Ford	Template:Tooltip
			Dylan Lupton		Template:Tooltip
	Joe Gibbs Racing	02	Erik Jones	Chris Gayle	7	Camry
	Michael Waltrip Racing	56	Michael Waltrip	Chad Miller	5	Camry
Chevrolet (Start Your Engines!) Template:Tooltip Toyota Template:Tooltip	Premium Motorsports	49	Reed Sorenson	Pat Tryson Template:Tooltip Maurice Hester Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip	2015 Camaro 2013 Camry
					Template:Tooltip
			Cole Whitt		Template:Tooltip
			Cody Ware		Template:Tooltip
			Alex Kennedy		Template:Tooltip
			D. J. Kennington		Template:Tooltip
Chevrolet (Start Your Engines!) Template:Tooltip Toyota Template:Tooltip		98	Cole Whitt	Mark Hillman Template:Tooltip Ben Leslie Template:Tooltip Pat Tryson Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip
			Reed Sorenson		Template:Tooltip
			Ryan Ellis		Template:Tooltip
			Timmy Hill		Template:Tooltip

Local Leasing entries

Manufacturer	Team	No.	Race Driver	Crew Chief	Round(s)	Model and year

Changes

Technical changes

All cars began using a digital dashboard starting in 2016. The dashboard only provided information that was available on manual gauges and lap times, but there are plans to work in tire pressure readings and other telemetry to drivers, teams, and fans at home by 2020.

At all tracks except Daytona and Talladega:

• The rear spoiler height was reduced from 6 inches to 3.5 inches.
• The radiator pan width was reduced from 38 inches to 33 inches.

At Daytona and Talladega:

• Engine roller lifters replaced solid lifters, adding around 10 horsepower to each car.
• Restrictor plates had the openings reduced from 29/32 inches to 57/64 inches to counter the horsepower increase.

Safety enhancements at all tracks:

• There must be an on-board fire suppression system activation cable routed to the dash or right-hand side leg board.
• Seat belt restraint systems must meet increased specifications.

Other changes:

• All track bar and wedge wrenches must be painted red.
• NASCAR changed inspection methods, reducing pre-race inspection time but increasing the amount of time teams have to present their cars for pre-qualifying inspection. In addition, NASCAR utilized new inspection methods aided by Microsoft Surface tablets to further increase efficiencies.
• Three-digit numbers were allowed again for the first time since 1971.
• Teams may now use tires from a manufacturer other than Goodyear; approved manufacturers include Hoosier, Firestone, Michelin, Toyo, Dunlop, General Tire, Pirelli, Yokohama, Bridgestone, Cooper, and Falken; this move is credited with sparking a third tire war that, as of 2019, is still ongoing with no clear-cut leader

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.

Race	Race title	Track	Date	TV	Time
	Busch Clash	Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach	February 14	CBS	8:30 p.m.
	Gatorade Duels		February 19	CBS	7:15 p.m. (Duel 1) 9:15 p.m. (Duel 2)
1	Daytona 500		February 22	CBS	1:30 p.m.
2	Subway 400	Rockingham Speedway, Rockingham	February 28	Fox	2:00 p.m.
3	Kobalt 400	Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Las Vegas	March 6	Fox	3:45 p.m.
4	Axalta 300	Road America, Elkhart Lake	March 13	Fox	3:45 p.m.
5	Budweiser 400	Riverside Speedway, Moreno Valley	March 20	Fox	3:45 p.m.
6	STP 500	Martinsville Speedway, Ridgeway	April 3	FS1	1:15 p.m.
7	Duck Commander 500	Texas World Speedway, College Station	April 9	Fox	7:45 p.m.
8	Old Spice 400	Gateway Motorsports Park, Madison	April 17	Fox FS1	2:30 p.m. (Fox) 7:00 p.m. (FS1)
9	The Loud House 400	Nazareth Speedway, Nazareth	April 24	Fox Nickelodeon	1:15 p.m.
10	GEICO 500	Talladega Superspeedway, Lincoln	May 1	Fox	1:15 p.m.
11	5-hour Energy 400	Kansas Speedway, Kansas City	May 7	FS1FNC	7:30 p.m.
	NASCAR Open	Twin Ring Motegi, Motegi, Japan	May 21	FS1	7:15 p.m.
	NASCAR All-Star Race		May 21	FS1	9:30 p.m.
12	Coca-Cola 600	Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord, North Carolina	May 29	Fox	6:15 p.m.
13	McDonald's 400	Chicago Motor Speedway, Cicero	May 31	FS1	1:15 p.m.
14	myAFibRisk.com 400	Chicagoland Speedway, Joliet	June 6	FS1	1:15 p.m.
15	Howard Johnson's 400	Pikes Peak International Raceway, Fountain	June 12	FS1	1:00 p.m.
16	Jacob's Grand Prix	Brands Hatch, West Kingsdown, Kent, England	June 19	FS1	1:00 p.m.
17	U.S. Cellular 400	Iowa Speedway, Newton	June 26	FS1	3:15 p.m.
18	Coke Zero 400	Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach	July 2	MGM	11:30 p.m.
19	Quaker State 400	Kentucky Speedway, Sparta	July 9	MGM	7:45 p.m.
20	5-hour Energy 301	New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Loudon	July 17	NBCSN	1:30 p.m.
21	Crown Royal presents the Combat Wounded Coalition 400 at the Brickyard	Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Speedway	July 24	MGM	3:30 p.m.
22	Pennsylvania 400	Pocono Raceway, Long Pond	August 1	TBS	1:45 p.m.
23	Cheez-It 355 at The Glen	Watkins Glen International, Watkins Glen	August 7	USA	2:15 p.m.
24	Iriwn Tools Night Race	Bristol Motor Speedway, Bristol	August 20/21	MGM	2:45 p.m.
25	Pure Michigan 400	Michigan International Speedway, Brooklyn	August 28	NBCSN	7:45 p.m.
26	Southern 500	Darlington Raceway, Darlington	September 4	NBC	7:15 p.m.
27	Federated Auto Parts 400	Richmond International Raceway, Richmond	September 10	MGM	7:45 p.m.
28	TNN 420	Fairgrounds Speedway, Nashville	September 18	TNN	3:15 p.m.
29	Tyson Holly Farms 400	North Wilkesboro Speedway, North Wilkesboro	September 25	MGM	2:15 p.m.
30	AAA 400	Dover International Speedway, Dover	October 2	MGM	2:45 p.m.
31	Auto Club 400	Auto Club Speedway, Fontana	October 9	NBCSN	12:30 p.m.
32	Bank of America Roval 500	Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord (Roval)	October 16	MGM	12:30 p.m.
33	Keystone Light 400	Milwaukee Mile, West Allis	October 23	TBS	2:30 p.m.
34	CampingWorld.com 500	Talladega Superspeedway, Lincoln	October 30	NBCSN	2:30 p.m.
35	Toyota/Save Mart 350	Sonoma Raceway, Sonoma	November 6	TBS	2:30 p.m.
36	Ford EcoBoost 400	Homestead-Miami Speedway, Homestead	November 13	TBS	1:15 p.m.
37	Quicken Loans Race for Heroes 500	Phoenix International Raceway, Avondale	November 20	NBC	2:15 p.m.
38	Sega 350	Suzuka Circuit, Suzuka, Japan	November 27	MGM	9:15 p.m.
39	Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500	Atlanta Motor Speedway, Hampton	December 4	MGM	5:15 p.m.
Template:Center

Results and standings

Races

	Race	Pole position	Most laps led	Winning driver	Model	Report
	Busch Clash
	Gatorade Duel #1
	Gatorade Duel #2
	Daytona 500			Austin Dillon	Chevrolet Camaro