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Drivers battle for position during a NASCAR race. Teams sometimes stay on track during cautions instead of pitting in order to gain track position.
NASCAR introduced stage racing in 2017, the format has reshaped how races are measured. Drivers now score points during the race, not only at the finish. The system rewards pace, track position, and consistency across every segment. It has also created a new stat that shows who controls events from start to finish.
Stage wins now carry weight in both weekly results and the playoff picture. As of March 19, 2026, Kyle Larson leads the NASCAR Cup Series all-time list with 72 career stage wins. Updated data across all three national series shows how active drivers continue to build these totals and close gaps on the all-time charts.
Kyle Larson leads the NASCAR Cup Series stage wins list
Kyle Larson holds the top spot in Cup Series history with 72 stage wins. He passed Martin Truex Jr., who has 66, during the 2025 season. Larson drives the No. 5 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports and has set the pace in the Next Gen era.
Denny Hamlin ranks third with 61 stage wins and remains the closest active driver to Larson. Ryan Blaney moved into fourth place with 50 during the 2026 season. Kyle Busch sits fifth with 48, followed by Joey Logano with 45. Kevin Harvick and Chase Elliott each have 39, while Brad Keselowski has 37. William Byron rounds out the top 10 with 35.
The gap between Larson and Hamlin stands at 11 stage wins. Blaney’s move to 50 has created distance from the rest of the field behind him as active drivers continue to add to their totals.
Xfinity and Truck Series Stage Win Leaders
The NASCAR Xfinity Series has a different all-time leader. Justin Allgaier leads that list with 86 stage wins. Christopher Bell holds second with 33. Noah Gragson and Cole Custer share third with 30 each. Austin Cindric has 27, while AJ Allmendinger, Daniel Hemric, and Austin Hill each sit at 24. Kyle Busch appears in the top 10 with 22, and Ty Gibbs has 20.
In the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, Corey Heim leads with 43 stage wins. Kyle Busch ranks second with 35. Ben Rhodes follows with 26. John Hunter Nemechek and Zane Smith each have 24. Sheldon Creed has 21, while Grant Enfinger and Ty Majeski each have 20. Christian Eckes holds 19, and Johnny Sauter has 17.
These numbers show that stage wins are not limited to one series. Drivers across all three levels use them to build points and control races.
Stage Racing Impact on NASCAR Strategy and 2026 Season
Before 2017, drivers earned points only at the finish. A strong car could lead most laps but still leave with a poor result after a late issue. Stage racing changed that system by adding points during the race.
Now, the top 10 finishers in Stage 1 and Stage 2 earn points, with the stage winner also gaining a playoff point. This format rewards drivers who run up front all day.
Teams now face strategy choices during each race. Crew chiefs decide whether to stay out for stage points or pit early to set up for the final segment.
Five races into the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season, Bubba Wallace and Christopher Bell lead the current stage win count with two each. As the series heads to Darlington Raceway for the Goodyear 400, Larson remains the all-time benchmark while other active drivers continue to close the gap.
Dogli Wilberforce is a sports writer who covers NASCAR, Formula 1 and IndyCar Series for Heavy Sports. With bylines at Total Apex Sports and Last Word on Sports, Wilberforce has built a reputation for delivering timely, engaging coverage that blends sharp analysis with accessible storytelling. Wilberforce has covered everything from major football transfers to fight-night drama, bringing readers the insight and context behind the headlines. More about Dogli Wilberforce
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