The 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series was the 62nd season of professional stock car racing in the United States, the 39th modern-era cup series, and the first Cup season of the 2010s, the 21st century's second decade. Beginning at Daytona International Speedway, the season included 36 races and two exhibition races. The season concluded with the 2010 Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. During the 2009 offseason, NASCAR announced a few calendar changes, including the standardized start time. Rick Hendrick won the Owners' Championship, while Jimmie Johnson won the Drivers' Championship with a second-place finish at the final race of the season. Chevrolet won the Manufacturers' Championship with 261 points. Johnson extended his record of consecutive championships with the 5th title in a row.

Teams and drivers Complete schedule There were 43 full-time teams in 2010.

ManufacturerTeamDriverCrew chief Chevrolet Earnhardt Ganassi Racing 1 Jamie McMurray Kevin Manion 42 Juan Pablo Montoya Brian Pattie Furniture Row Racing 78 Regan Smith Ryan Coniam Pete Rondeau Hendrick Motorsports 5 Mark Martin Alan Gustafson 24 Jeff Gordon Steve Letarte 48 Jimmie Johnson Chad Knaus 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Lance McGrew Phoenix Racing 09 Aric Almirola Marc Reno Nick Harrison Mike Bliss Terry Cook (R) Landon Cassill Jan Magnussen Bobby Labonte Richard Childress Racing 29 Kevin Harvick Gil Martin 31 Jeff Burton Todd Berrier 33 Clint Bowyer Shane Wilson Stewart–Haas Racing 14 Tony Stewart Darian Grubb 39 Ryan Newman Tony Gibson Tommy Baldwin Racing 36 Mike Bliss Johnny Sauter Casey Mears Geoff Bodine Brian Simo Steve Park Ron Fellows Dave Blaney J. J. Yeley TRG Motorsports 71 Bobby Labonte Doug Randolph Paul Clapprood Dan Stillman Andy Lally Mike Bliss Landon Cassill Tony Raines Hermie Sadler Chad McCumbee Brendan Gaughan Whitney Motorsports 46 Michael McDowell Jeremy Lafaver Dodge Terry Cook (R) J. J. Yeley Penske Championship Racing 2 Kurt Busch Steve Addington 12 Brad Keselowski Jay Guy 77 Sam Hornish Jr. Travis Geisler Ford Front Row Motorsports with Yates Racing 34 John Andretti Travis Kvapil Kevin Conway (R) Tony Raines Robert Richardson Jr. 37 Travis Kvapil Kevin Conway (R) David Gilliland Robert Richardson Jr. Tony Raines Dave Blaney 38 Robert Richardson Jr. David Gilliland Kevin Conway (R) Travis Kvapil Dave Blaney Latitude 43 Motorsports 26 Boris Said Frank Stoddard David Stremme Patrick Carpentier Jeff Green Ken Schrader Bill Elliott J. J. Yeley Richard Petty Motorsports 9 Kasey Kahne Kenny Francis Aric Almirola 19 Elliott Sadler Wally Rogers Todd Parrott 43 A. J. Allmendinger Mike Shiplett 98 Paul Menard Slugger Labbe Roush Fenway Racing 6 David Ragan Donnie Wingo Drew Blickensderfer 16 Greg Biffle Greg Erwin 17 Matt Kenseth Todd Parrott Jimmy Fennig 99 Carl Edwards Bob Osborne Toyota Germain Racing 13 Max Papis Bootie Barker Casey Mears Joe Gibbs Racing 11 Denny Hamlin Mike Ford 18 Kyle Busch Dave Rogers 20 Joey Logano Greg Zipadelli JTG Daugherty RacingMichael Waltrip Racing 47 Marcos Ambrose Frank Kerr Michael Waltrip Racing 00 David Reutimann Rodney Childers 56 Martin Truex Jr. Pat Tryson Prism Motorsports 66 Dave Blaney Michael McDowell Scott Riggs Johnny Sauter Ted Musgrave Jason Leffler Mike Bliss NEMCO Motorsports 87 Joe Nemechek Phillipe Lopez Red Bull Racing Team 82 Scott Speed Jimmy Elledge Ryan Pemberton 83 Brian Vickers Ryan Pemberton Jimmy Elledge Casey Mears Mattias Ekström Reed Sorenson Boris Said Kasey Kahne Robby Gordon Motorsports 7 Robby Gordon Ian Watt Samuel Stanley Gene Nead Steve Lane Ted Musgrave Bobby Labonte P. J. Jones Kevin Conway (R)

Limited schedule ManufacturerTeamDriverRounds Chevrolet Keyed-Up Motorsports 90 Casey Mears Scott Riggs Morgan-McClure Motorsports 4 Kevin Lepage Norm Benning Racing 57 Norm Benning Stavola Labonte Racing 10 Terry Labonte Bobby Labonte Tommy Baldwin Racing35 Johnny Sauter Aric Almirola Tri-Star Motorsports Tony Ave Dodge Ash Racing 02 Brandon Ash K-Automotive Motorsports 92 Mike Wallace Brian Keselowski Stratus Racing Group 75 Derrike Cope Whitney Motorsports 81 J. J. Yeley Scott Riggs Terry Labonte Ford Wood Brothers Racing 21 Bill Elliott Trevor Bayne Toyota BAM Racing 49 David Gilliland Braun Racing 32 Reed Sorenson Mike Bliss Jacques Villeneuve Jason Leffler Gunselman Motorsports 64 Tony Raines Todd Bodine Chad McCumbee Landon Cassill Josh Wise Jeff Green Kirk Shelmerdine Racing 27 Todd Bodine Michael Waltrip Racing 51 Michael Waltrip 55 Prism Motorsports Michael McDowell Dave Blaney Mike Bliss Terry Labonte Terry Cook (R) NEMCO Motorsports 97 Jeff Fuller R3 Motorsports 23 Johnny Sauter Josh Wise Robby Gordon Motorsports 07 P. J. Jones Robby Gordon Kevin Conway (R)

Team changes Roush Fenway Racing removed one of their cars because of the five to four car maximum rule. Richard Petty Motorsports and Yates Racing merged to form one team. Richard Petty Motorsports switched from Dodges after the merger to Yates Racing with Fords. Richard Childress Racing removed one of their cars to form a three car team.

Driver changes Martin Truex Jr. left Earnhardt Ganassi Racing's No. 1 car to drive for Michael Waltrip Racing's No. 56 in 2010, replacing Michael Waltrip, who ran a partial schedule with the team's No. 51 and Prism Motorsports No. 55. Truex Jr. signed a multi-year agreement, with options for further years. Jamie McMurray moved from Roush Fenway Racing to replace Truex Jr. in the No. 1 for Earnhardt Ganassi Racing.

Rule changes It was announced in January as part of the annual preseason media tour in Charlotte that, after years of restrictions, drivers would be let loose as it were, popularly referred to as "Boys, Have At It". Rules were altered to allow for "bump drafting", especially at Daytona and Talladega. On February 10, the green-white-checker finish rule was altered in all three major series (including the Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series) to allow for up to three attempts for said finish. Starting with the Shelby American, NASCAR extended its post-race inspections to include the first car out of the race that was not involved in a wreck; in other words, the first start and park.

At Martinsville, spoilers returned to the Car of Tomorrow after the finish of the 2009 Aaron's 499 that saw Carl Edwards' car becoming airborne and flying into the catch fencing after colliding with eventual winner Brad Keselowski on the last turn.

All teams were capped at four full-time teams starting in 2010, the only casualty of this was Roush Fenway Racing's No. 26 Ford, Which was closed following 2009. However, teams were able to have a part time fifth car for lower division rookie drivers. In 2016, NASCAR banned any form of a fifth car.

Hall of Fame opens

On May 11, the NASCAR Hall of Fame was officially opened in Charlotte, North Carolina. The three-story building houses historic artifacts, interactive displays and the shrine for inductees. The Charter Class of 2010 — made up of seven-time champions Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt, NASCAR founder Bill France Sr., his son and owner/driver Junior Johnson — were inducted on May 23.

Schedule The total scheduled distance of the season was , but race distances could be shorter or longer depending on weather and green-white-checker finishes. The final schedule was released on September 15, 2009.

No. Race title Track Date Budweiser ShootoutDaytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach February 6 Gatorade Duels February 11 1 Daytona 500 February 14 2 Auto Club 500 Auto Club Speedway, Fontana February 21 3 Shelby American Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Las Vegas February 28 4 Kobalt Tools 500 (Atlanta) Atlanta Motor Speedway, Hampton March 7 5 Food City 500 Bristol Motor Speedway, Bristol March 21 6 Goody's Fast Pain Relief 500 Martinsville Speedway, Martinsville March 29 7 Subway Fresh Fit 600 Phoenix International Raceway, Avondale April 10 8 Samsung Mobile 500 Texas Motor Speedway, Fort Worth April 19 9 Aaron's 499 Talladega Superspeedway, Talladega April 25 10 Crown Royal presents the Heath Calhoun 400 Richmond International Raceway, Richmond May 1 11 Showtime Southern 500 Darlington Raceway, Darlington May 8 12 Autism Speaks 400 Dover International Speedway, Dover May 16 Sprint Showdown Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord May 22 Sprint All-Star Race 13 Coca-Cola 600 May 30 14 Gillette Fusion ProGlide 500 Pocono Raceway, Long Pond June 6 15 Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips 400 Michigan International Speedway, Brooklyn June 13 16 Toyota/Save Mart 350 Infineon Raceway, Sonoma June 20 17 Lenox Industrial Tools 301 New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Loudon June 27 18 Coke Zero 400 Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach July 3 19 LifeLock.com 400 Chicagoland Speedway, Joliet July 10 20 Brickyard 400 Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Speedway July 25 21 Sunoco Red Cross Pennsylvania 500 Pocono Raceway, Long Pond August 1 22 Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips at The Glen Watkins Glen International, Watkins Glen August 8 23 Carfax 400 Michigan International Speedway, Brooklyn August 15 24 Irwin Tools Night Race Bristol Motor Speedway, Bristol August 21 25 Emory Healthcare 500 Atlanta Motor Speedway, Hampton September 5 26 Air Guard 400 Richmond International Raceway, Richmond September 11 Chase for the Sprint Cup 27 Sylvania 300 New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Loudon September 19 28 AAA 400 Dover International Speedway, Dover September 26 29 Price Chopper 400 Kansas Speedway, Kansas City October 3 30 Pepsi Max 400 Auto Club Speedway, Fontana October 10 31 Bank of America 500 Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord October 16 32 TUMS Fast Relief 500 Martinsville Speedway, Martinsville October 24 33 AMP Energy Juice 500 Talladega Superspeedway, Talladega October 31 34 AAA Texas 500 Texas Motor Speedway, Fort Worth November 7 35 Kobalt Tools 500 Phoenix International Raceway, Avondale November 14 36 Ford 400 Homestead-Miami Speedway, Homestead November 21

Calendar changes For the 2010 season, all races adopted standardized start times; east coast day races began at 1:00 pm. ET, west coast day races began at 12:00 pm. PT (3:00 pm. ET), and most night races began at 7:30 pm. ET. These changes were intended to alleviate fan confusion over the inconsistent scheduling practices of previous seasons, allow teams a "shorter" race day due to the earlier start times, and to provide more "flexibility" in the event of rain delays. The Coca-Cola 600 maintained its traditional early-evening start time, while the Coke Zero 400 was delayed due to weather. The Autism Speaks 400 was moved before the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race and the Coca-Cola 600. The Subway Fresh Fit 600 and Samsung Mobile 500 switched their dates.

Broadcasting

United States Fox Sports, their corporate sibling Speed, TNT, and ESPN/ABC are in the fourth year of an eight-year television contract scheduled to expire after the 2014 season. Showtime is going to show a highlights show for the first time.

Fox Fox Sports broadcast the first 13 races, including the Budweiser Shootout, the 52nd Daytona 500, and the Coca-Cola 600. With Dover moving to mid-May, Fox ended their coverage with the 51st Coca-Cola 600. The Sprint All-Star Race XXVI along with the Gatorade Duels, practice sessions, and all qualifying and practice sessions (except for Daytona qualifying, which aired on Fox) were all broadcast on Speed. The network's Gopher Cam mascot, Digger, returned for on-screen displays.

TNT Time Warner's Turner Sports division (through TNT) broadcast the next six races, including the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona in its limited commercial interruption wide open coverage format. That race will also be telecast in 3-D on both NASCAR.com and DirecTV. TNT's coverage will begin with the June Pocono race and end with Chicagoland. Qualifying and practice sessions will remain on Speed. Adam Alexander will be the new lead announcer, with Lindsay Czarniak hosting pre-and-post-race shows, replacing Bill Weber and Marc Fein respectively.

ESPN/ABC