The championship has had a number of different names and formats over the years. From its introduction in 1956, and until 2001, the title was awarded for the most points scored over the whole season. From 2002, the driver with the most points at the end of the season is awarded the Grading Points trophy.
From 2002-2008, the title was based on the best 30 scores from 35 meetings designated as National Series rounds. In 2005 this was 30 rounds, with the two lowest scores on each surface dropped. The last round was the National Series Finale and scored double points for everyone. Each driver had on Joker per surface, which gave them double points at the meetings they used them at, Finale excluded.
In 2009 the top 10 scorers from 25 National Series rounds qualified for the remaining ten rounds, dubbed the National Series Shoot Out. Jokers were still available, but not many were used, Drivers started the Shoot Out stage with zero points apart from small bonus points for attending earlier rounds or winning finals. The tenth and final round was the Shoot Out Finale, with double points.
From 2010 onwards, 12 drivers now qualify for the Shoot Out. The qualifying rounds were removed, and all meetings before a cut-off date counted. The Jokers were discontinued. In 2012, the bottom six point scorers dropped out of the competition after round 5.
The Shoot Out series does not appear to have a definitive name. Over the years, official media has referred to it as the National Series, the National Series Shootout, the National Series Championship, the National Points Shoot Out, the National Series Points Championship and the National Points Championship Shoot Out.
| Most Wins | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 515 Frankie Wainman | 14 | 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2018 |
| 2 | 391 Stu Smith | 13 | 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981 |
| 3 | 53 John Lund | 6 | 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992 |
| 4 | 84 Tom Harris | 4 | 2012, 2019, 2021, 2022 |
| 5 | 38 Fred Mitchell | 3 | 1957, 1959, 1960 |
| 212 Frankie Wainman | 3 | 1984, 1985, 1986 | |
| 391 Andy Smith | 3 | 1995, 2006, 2010 | |
| 8 | 245 Alan Wardropper | 2 | 1962, 1964 |
| 100 Tony Neal | 2 | 1967, 1968 | |
| 390 Stuart Smith | 2 | 2009, 2017 | |
| 318 Rob Speak | 2 | 2014, 2016 |