NASCAR: Cup championship trophy unveiled

Staff Report, NASCAR Wire Service

Distributed by the Sports Xchange

NASCAR and Monster Energy unveiled the championship trophy for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Thursday.

The trophy -- officially named the "Monster Energy NASCAR Cup" -- stands over 37 inches tall and weighs 68 pounds. Made of machined aluminum, the cup is emblazoned with the outlines of all 23 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series tracks. A hand-formed series seal sits below the Cup and the Monster Energy claw is embedded in the base of the trophy.

The cup holds 600 ounces of liquid, the equivalent of 37 Monster Energy drinks.

The most coveted symbol of stock car supremacy.

Introducing the @MonsterEnergy NASCAR Cup. pic.twitter.com/te7wAEtTNW

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) August 31, 2017

Designed by Jostens, the cup required 300 hours of craftsmanship for its completion. More than 30 design variations were created exclusively for NASCAR.

"Our goal with the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup was to capture the full championship story that unfolds over the course of a season," said Curt Bruns, vice president, motorsports division at Jostens.

"We are honored to work with NASCAR to create this original piece of art that embodies what it takes to excel at the sport's highest level."