NASCAR Cup Series drivers work hard for their wins, but all the blood, sweat, and tears get rewarded once they pull into victory lane. On top of the success and the sponsorship opportunities that come from winning, racers also get some pretty rad trophies for their auto racing accomplishments.
Some of the trophies that have been given out over the years are just over-the-top awesome. I mean, we're talking live sea creatures, guns, swords, and so much more. That's why we're here to check out 10 of the coolest NASCAR trophies.
The 10 Coolest NASCAR Trophies
10. The All-Star Race Trophy
The winner of the All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway gets a gigantic trophy in the shape of a piston, which has reminded many fans of the Piston Cup from the hit Pixar movie Cars.
Winning the All-Star Race is a big deal, so it's good to see the trophy reflects that. Oh, and the million-dollar purse doesn't hurt either.
Driver with most wins: Jimmie Johnson (4)
Team with most wins: Hendrick Motorsports (10)
Manufacturer with most wins: Chevrolet (20)
9. The Eagle Trophy
What's more American than a soaring bald eagle?
Presented at Pocono Raceway, the trophy may not be the biggest or flashiest award compared to others, but it's a true accomplishment that any driver would love to get their picture with.
Pocono 325
Driver with most wins: Jeff Gordon (4)
Team with most wins: Hendrick Motorsports (12)
Manufacturer with most wins: Chevrolet (19)
Pocono 350
Drivers with most wins: Bill Elliott and Denny Hamlin (4)
Team with most wins: Joe Gibbs Racing (10)
Manufacturer with most wins: Chevrolet (14)
8. The Vulcan Trophy
The Vulcan trophy is one to behold. Inspired by the Roman god of fire and the Vulcan statue, which is located close to Talladega Superspeedway in Birmingham, Alabama, the hot-poured iron trophy weighs a whopping 130 pounds.
Geico 500
Drivers with most wins: Jeff Gordon and Brad Keselowski (4)
Team with most wins: Hendrick Motorsports (8)
Manufacturer with most wins: Chevrolet (20)
YellaWood 500
Driver with most wins: Dale Earnhardt (7)
Team with most wins: Richard Childress Racing (8)
Manufacturer with most wins: Chevrolet (22)
7. Classic Coca-Cola Vending Machine
The Coca-Cola 600 is a huge race, and everyone knows it. The driver who sees that checkered flag will be awarded with a traditional piston-style Bruton Smith Trophy, but that's not all.
Also included is a perfectly restored vintage Coca-Cola vending machine, which NASCAR has been giving out since 2010.
Driver with most wins: Darrell Waltrip (5)
Team with most wins: Hendrick Motorsports (12)
Manufacturer with most wins: Chevrolet (25)
6. Loudon the Lobster
It only makes sense that when you win a race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, you get a huge live lobster as the trophy.
It's certainly one of the most unique trophies on the list, and we've seen some hilarious reactions from several drivers, such as Denny Hamlin, who weren't the biggest fans of these crustaceans.
Driver with most wins: Jeff Burton (3)
Team with most wins: Joe Gibbs Racing (7)
Manufacturer with most wins: Ford (12)
5. The Monster Trophy
Dover International Speedway is nicknamed "The Monster Mile," so what better representation than a monster to dole out at Dover?
To make it even cooler, it holds a small replica of the winning race car. This one is definitely up there with one of the more odd trophies given out, but it's still awesome nonetheless.
Driver with most wins: Jimmie Johnson (5)
Team with most wins: Hendrick Motorsports (10)
Manufacturer with most wins: Chevrolet (21)
4. Cowboy Essentials
Winning at Texas Motor Speedway allows a driver to get in touch with their inner cowboy. The main trophy is a set of cowboy boots, but the winner also gets a cowboy hat and a pair of revolvers to complete the look.
I'd expect nothing less from Texas, and you have to admit, it's a pretty sweet trophy.
Driver with most wins: Jimmie Johnson (5)
Team with most wins: Hendrick Motorsports (6)
Manufacturer with most wins: Chevrolet (8)
3. The Harley J. Earl Trophy
Landing in victory lane at Daytona International Speedway has huge perks even without the trophy. The desirable Harley J. Earl trophy includes the names of every single Daytona 500 winner, and the massive main trophy stays at the track.
It's a NASCAR driver's dream to have their name on the trophy, and the race winner will take home a smaller replica of the full-sized one.
Driver with most wins: Richard Petty (7)
Team with most wins: Petty Enterprises (9)
Manufacturer with most wins: Chevrolet (24)
2. Gladiator Sword
Winning a race at Bristol Motor Speedway, a.k.a. "The Last Great Colosseum," rewards drivers with a massive trophy and a gladiator sword. Is it the safest trophy? Absolutely not.
But, NASCAR driver Joey Logano undoubtedly had some fun chopping random items with his trophy after his 2021 Bristol victory.
Driver with most wins: Rusty Wallace (6)
Team with most wins: Hendrick Motorsports (8)
Manufacturer with most wins: Chevrolet (23)
1. Grandfather Clock
Aside from the Cup championship trophy, the grandfather clock at Martinsville Speedway is arguably the best trophy in the NASCAR Cup Series. Just ask Dale Earnhardt Jr. or Jimmie Johnson.
Then again, Johnson has nine of them at this house, and I can only imagine what they sound like at the top of the hour.
Blue-Emu Maximum Pain Relief 400
Driver with most wins: Richard Petty (9)
Team with most wins: Petty Enterprises (12)
Manufacturer with most wins: Chevrolet (26)
Xfinity 500
Drivers with most wins: Richard Petty, Darrell Waltrip, Jeff Gordon, and Jimmie Johnson (6)
Team with most wins: Hendrick Motorsports (18)
Manufacturer with most wins: Chevrolet (32)
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This post was originally published on August 17, 2021.