Menu
Home
People
Places
Arts
History
Plants & Animals
Science
Life & Culture
Technology
Reference.org
2023 NASCAR Cup Series
open-in-new
2023 <a href="/facts/NASCAR_Cup_Series/UJpWM0Ca">NASCAR Cup Series</a> Previous <a href="/facts/2022_NASCAR_Cup_Series/WaxEmAUu">2022</a> Next <a href="/facts/2024_NASCAR_Cup_Series/saPDsAnx">2024</a> <a href="/facts/List_of_NASCAR_Cup_Series_champions/f2Ry2lnS">Champions</a> | <a href="/facts/List_of_NASCAR_seasons/tRSPGU5B">Seasons</a> <p>The 2023 NASCAR Cup Series was the 75th season for <a href="/facts/NASCAR/k0C0366n">NASCAR</a> professional stock car racing in the United States and the 52nd season for the modern-era <a href="/facts/NASCAR_Cup_Series/UJpWM0Ca">Cup Series</a>. The season started with the <a href="/facts/Busch_Light_Clash/kvo7fg0G">Busch Light Clash</a> at the <a href="/facts/Los_Angeles_Memorial_Coliseum/c1TzwaQs">Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum</a> on February 5. That race was followed by the <a href="/facts/Daytona_Duel_qualifying_races/xJHJ9U6W">Daytona Duel qualifying races</a> and the 65th running of the <a href="/facts/2023_Daytona_500/59YWnqkQ">Daytona 500</a> (the first points race of the season) on February 19, both at <a href="/facts/Daytona_International_Speedway/xjdW3BFS">Daytona International Speedway</a>. The season ended with the <a href="/facts/NASCAR_Cup_Series_Championship_Race/Act1HQba">NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race</a> at <a href="/facts/Phoenix_Raceway/nMoJQwVx">Phoenix Raceway</a> on November 5. </p><p>This was the final season for <a href="/facts/2014_NASCAR_Sprint_Cup_Series/yvIDf13w">2014</a> champion and <a href="/facts/Stewart%E2%80%93Haas_Racing/A9IzjG1U">Stewart–Haas Racing</a> driver <a href="/facts/Kevin_Harvick/fXmSIkSw">Kevin Harvick</a>, who announced his plans to retire at the end of the season on January 12, 2023. This was also the first season since <a href="/facts/1999_NASCAR_Winston_Cup_Series/NEX9Rywp">1999</a> without <a href="/facts/2004_NASCAR_Nextel_Cup_Series/93vJITLJ">2004</a> champion <a href="/facts/Kurt_Busch/8JhWR2Il">Kurt Busch</a>, who announced on October 15, 2022, that he would retire from full-time Cup Series competition. On August 26, 2023, Busch announced his complete retirement from the Cup Series. </p><p>Following the <a href="/facts/2023_Coke_Zero_Sugar_400/JAzMVTqr">2023 Coke Zero Sugar 400</a> at Daytona, <a href="/facts/Martin_Truex_Jr./GGvRMc2s">Martin Truex Jr.</a> of <a href="/facts/Joe_Gibbs_Racing/SqSC5FRd">Joe Gibbs Racing</a> clinched the regular season championship. <a href="/facts/Ty_Gibbs/DpBunsfg">Ty Gibbs</a>, also of Joe Gibbs Racing, won <a href="/facts/NASCAR_Rookie_of_the_Year/67Rd4IjQ">NASCAR Rookie of the Year</a> honors after <a href="/facts/Noah_Gragson/81oUKaL9">Noah Gragson</a> was suspended and released from <a href="/facts/Legacy_Motor_Club/6YTddU4J">Legacy Motor Club</a> in August 2023. Prior to the <a href="/facts/Xfinity_500/s337T0KN">Xfinity 500</a> at <a href="/facts/Martinsville_Speedway/j7MGt6tq">Martinsville</a>, <a href="/facts/Chevrolet/lp04IP4m">Chevrolet</a> claimed its 42nd Manufacturers' Championship. At season's end, <a href="/facts/Ryan_Blaney/uK0AET86">Ryan Blaney</a> of <a href="/facts/NASCAR_operations_of_Team_Penske/0QrtvQk2">Team Penske</a> won the 2023 championship. </p>