This article contains statements that are anachronistic. (June 2020) |
The 2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series was the 69th season of professional stock car racing in the United States, and the 46th modern-era Cup series season. The season began at Daytona International Speedway with the Advance Auto Parts Clash, the Can-Am Duel qualifying races and the 59th running of the Daytona 500. The season ended with the Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Jimmie Johnson entered the season as the defending champion, having won his record-tying seventh Cup championship that he shares with Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt. Martin Truex Jr. of Furniture Row Racing won the championship, his first in the series. Toyota won the Manufacturers' Championship for the second year in a row.
This was the third season of the current 10-year television contract with Fox Sports and NBC Sports and the second of a five-year race sanctioning agreement with all tracks.
Monster Energy became the entitlement sponsor for the series in 2017 after Sprint Corporation decided not to remain as the sponsor. Sprint had been the title sponsor since 2004 when their partner Nextel replaced Winston after the 2003 season, but Sprint became the official sponsor for the 2008 season after buying out Nextel in late 2005. Monster Energy is the third title sponsor for NASCAR's top series since it first established such a sponsorship in 1971.[1]
The 2017 season marked the final year for three full-time Cup Series drivers: Dale Earnhardt Jr.,[2]Matt Kenseth,[3] and Danica Patrick. It was also the last season for Michael Waltrip.[4] Additionally, Chevrolet retired the Chevrolet SS, replacing it with the Camaro ZL1 in 2018.[5] It was announced that Target Corporation would end its NASCAR sponsorship with Chip Ganassi Racing following the 2017 season.[6]