NSCAR Media Tour Opens With Major Race Format Changes

Big Changes Coming to NASCAR Races in 2017
(CHARLOTTE, N.C. - JAN 23, 2017 - ) – NASCAR announced sweeping changes to its national touring series race formats in a Monday announcement to start off the 35th Annual NASCAR Media Tour hosted by Charlotte Motor Speedway.

After working with industry stakeholders (spelled sponsors and others,) the television broadcasters, teams and tracks, NASCAR announced new race formats intended to reward aggressive race craft and make each race more important in the year-end results.

Races will now have three stages, with the first two of the stages awarding points to the top-10 racers on a sliding scale. The first and second stage winners gain one point toward the 16-driver playoffs should they qualify, while the overall race winner will receive five playoff points and 40 championship points.

Brian France, NASCAR Chairman and CEO said the new format will be "more compelling on an hour-by-hour basis, week-in and week-out."

Jeff Gordon and Jeff Burton, drivers turned commentators, joined one driver from each manufacturer to speak on behalf of the competition enhancements, which include changing NASCAR's 10-race postseason "the Playoffs" from "the Chase."

"I think this is going to enhance the experience for the competitors as well as the fans at home," said Gordon, a four-time champion.

Chevrolet driver Dale Earnhardt Jr., Ford driver Brad Keselowski and Toyota's Denny Hamlin also said that the changes will benefit the industry and fans.

"There are no off weeks. Every single race matters," Hamlin said. "Not only that but every lap of every race matters. Each accomplishment makes your road to Homestead-Miami (for the season finale) a little bit easier."

Earnhardt said the bonus points carrying through the playoffs give drivers more incentive to battle every lap.

"The stages are going to bring a lot of excitement for the drivers and the fans," Earnhardt added. "This generates a lot of interest in every part of an event. It's an exciting time for NASCAR."

Keselowski said the "single-file, ride-it-out days are gone. I'm really pumped about that."

The changes will go into effect in the season-opening races next month at Daytona International Speedway.

"Everyone had some great input, but it all came back to what's going to be great for the fans," Speedway Motorsports, Inc. President and CEO Marcus Smith said.

Marcus Smith, Speedway Motorsports, Inc. President and CEO and Charlotte Motor Speedway President and General Manager commented on NASCAR's newly announced changes, including a three-stage race format for all three national series in the 2017 season: "Every stakeholder group in our sport has worked together to take NASCAR racing and make it even better. Spectacular sports events are driven by dramatic moments and this sets the stage for 2017 to be one of the greatest seasons in NASCAR history.

"The new format is going to pay off for NASCAR fans. We looked at all these decisions and all these different opportunites from the eyes of a fan. We all really take that to heart. This isn't just our job. We love the sport and this is for the fans."

Below is a comment from Sonoma Raceway President and General Manager, Steve Page, regarding the new format, which will be implemented at the Toyota/Save Mart 350 on Sunday, June 25: "At its core, NASCAR racing is about drivers and race teams battling to be the first across the finish line. Who's got the skill, the guts and the strategy? From this point forward, that narrative is expanded; the events will be more compelling and our fans will enjoy significantly more value. Our kudos to NASCAR for taking the initiative and bringing everyone together to make this happen."

KEVIN HARVICK: Driver of the No. 4 Ford Fusion, 2014 NASCAR Cup Series champion
What do you think of the new format for Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series races? "The most exciting thing to me about the whole format change is just how everybody in our sport came together and had this situation progress into what it has become. When you make the whole race relevant, you shouldn't hear drivers say that they were just pacing themselves. There are real goals where you can gain points, and those points will contribute to your championship Chase all the way through the end of the year until the last round at Homestead. Every moment matters. I think everybody has done a great job with that."

Knowing that stage wins can better prepare you for the Chase, and maybe get you into the Chase, how important are they? "I think they're really important because, as we've seen and experienced, especially last year for us in the Chase, there are going to be problems along the way. You're going to have things pop up. You're going to have accidents, part failures, mistakes and the better that you do through the season, the more cushion that you can give yourself if you're able to win those segments and gain some bonus points. Anything you can do to pad those bonus points is going to be a benefit as you get to the end of the year."

In the past you might have bided your time to better position yourself for the end of the race. Are those days over with this new format? "I think there is still balance there. You still have to go after all the bonus points and the segments that you can in order to pile up as many points as you can if your car is capable of it. You still have to balance the position of trying to win a race, finish a race and gain the big prize at the end of the day. You still want to get everything you can and all the points that you can, but you still have to be smart about it as you go through the day."

Previously you might have tried to get comfortable and settle into a groove. Does the introduction of stages introduce a constant sense of urgency throughout the entire race that may not have always existed before? "I think that's going to change for some people and it's not going to change for others. For us, it has always been something that lap one is really where the battle starts. You wanted to go out and lead laps and do everything you could to stay up front because you just never knew what the race was going to bring you. You never knew when the cautions were going to fall. You never knew when things were going to happen. Now you know when the caution is going to fall and when the segments are going to end. You're almost racing to those moments now where you're trying to strategize those moments to be in front. I think as this moves along you'll see strategies that start to develop as we go through the year and things will progress, people will catch on and we'll go from there."

DANICA PATRICK: Driver of the No. 10 Ford Fusion
What do you think of the new format for Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series races? "This will give us a lot more winners, which I think is a cool thing." 

Knowing that stage wins can better prepare you for the Chase, and maybe get you into the Chase, how important are they? "It puts a lot more emphasis on winning, and there are going to be a lot more winners. I think for a fan, that's one of the things that's easy to recognize – wins. They just get that. They don't get that a top-five was a good day. They get wins."

In the past you might have bided your time to better position yourself for the end of the race. Are those days over with this new format? "I think there will end up being a pattern or flow to what works best to still win at the end of the race, but I think that there will be more moments where some teams and drivers are on the fence about what they think is really possible for their day. They might kind of switch strategies a little bit and try and shoot for stage wins every now and then more than worrying so much about coming out of the pits first after a final pit stop or some scenario like that. It's incentive to do something different." 

Previously you might have tried to get comfortable and settle into a groove. Does the introduction of stages introduce a constant sense of urgency throughout the entire race that may not have always existed before? "I think back to a superspeedway race awhile back and it looked like rain. We thought we were racing to halfway. Then we got halfway and then we thought there was more rain, and it did actually rain, and so we were under yellow for a bit. And then we got back going again and then it was the actual end of the race. What I said afterward was that the race was so exhausting because it was like we were racing to like a quarter and a half and three-quarters and then all the way. It was almost like we were racing for stage wins and there was no rest at all. You had to be up in the mix and you never knew when it was going to come to an end and when you were either going to get rain or some other circumstance stopping you. That race reminds me of what it's like to race for stage wins."

CLINT BOWYER: Driver of the No. 14 Ford Fusion
What do you think of the new format for Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series races? "I think this is a good change. There has been talk and questions whether we needed this in our sport and I think we do. It's going to be a good thing for our fans and a good thing for the racers. Since these stages are going to award points, you have to get into the top-10 and accumulate as many points as you can for the Chase at the end of the year. That's what's going to win you the championship. I think (racing hard to win stages) is going to start early."

Knowing that stage wins can better prepare you for the Chase, and maybe get you into the Chase, how important are they? "These stages are going to be ultra-important starting right off at Daytona. You have to accumulate points so you can establish yourself in the Chase and battle for a championship."

In the past you might have bided your time to better position yourself for the end of the race. Are those days over with this new format? "No. I think it is always going to be most important to win the race. These stage wins, and collecting as many points as you can within that race, are going to be important. It might not necessarily be important that day right there, but when you are going to notice it is when you see it all tallied up at the end of the year and you start talking about the Chase. The guy who does a good job of accumulating stages and running well the whole race is going to be in the catbird's seat for the championship."

Previously you might have tried to get comfortable and settle into a groove. Does the introduction of stages introduce a constant sense of urgency throughout the entire race that may not have always existed before? "It can. That's certainly the intent. This makes every part of the race important."

KURT BUSCH: Driver of the No. 41 Ford Fusion, 2004 NASCAR Cup Series champion
What do you think of the new format for Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series races? "I agree with it. I think it's exciting to add a new element that is a genuine way to earn points, which is to run up front and then make decisions based on how you're running – to either put tires on before that segment ends or during that segment break. It adds more energy to the races. I think it's a win-win, especially for the TV broadcast."

Knowing that stage wins can better prepare you for the Chase, and maybe get you into the Chase, how important are they? "The way that Tony Gibson (crew chief) and I have talked about this is that if we just go out and do our job, go out there and race, race smart, not try to overthink it, we'll find those bonus points. We'll have that consistency. Most importantly, we want to find that checkered flag at the end of the day. Segment wins are nice, but the checkered flag at the end of the day is what we're all about."

In the past you might have bided your time to better position yourself for the end of the race. Are those days over with this new format? "It's all about victory lane and going in there for your sponsors – for Ford, for Monster Energy, for Haas Automation. Those are the people that celebrate with us at the end of the day. Segment wins are like a cherry on top, but you've got to get your cake, and your cake is victory lane."

Previously you might have tried to get comfortable and settle into a groove. Does the introduction of stages introduce a constant sense of urgency throughout the entire race that may not have always existed before? "That's what this is meant to do. It's meant to turn the knob up and to bring in a new element. And then we're going to have less tires this year at a lot of the racetracks, and so you have to bring in tire management – when you're going to use them, when you're not going to use them. And then there's going to be the luck of the draw. Sometimes if you have so many yellows (caution periods) right after you put on a set of fresh tires, you've got all these heat cycles on your tires and you think, 'That was the wrong time to pit.' So it throws more elements in there that you don't know are going to happen."

Statement from Richard Petty: "Since NASCAR started, there has always been change. The world changes and you have to change with it. This new format just adapts to the current and next generation of fans. It's something to help create more excitement during the races. You have to put on a good race, a good show where people want to watch at home and enjoy coming to the track. Having two additional winning moments is a good step in that direction to keep the drivers competitive and fans excited throughout the race and season.

"As an owner, I'm fine with it. I have the same rules as everyone else. That's fair. We just have to figure out how to be the best under this format."

NASCAR's race enhancements announced Monday detailed how and why races will be run in stages in 2017. Below are answers to some of the potential questions.

NASCAR answers to questions:
How many stages are in a race? Three -- Stage 1, Stage 2 and the Final Stage. Stage 1 and Stage 2 will reward drivers who are leading, or in the top 10, at the conclusion of each stage. The Final Stage will determine the race winner.

What is Stage 1? The green flag begins the race, and therefore Stage 1. Its length is approximately 25-30 percent of the event's total length -- it is different for each race, dependent on track size and race length -- with the ending marked via a stage checkered flag (the stage can end under caution, if necessary).

Who benefits most? Drivers who are running first through 10th at the conclusion of Stage 1 will receive stage bonus points, starting with 10 points for first place, nine points for second place, down to one point for 10th place. Additionally, the driver who finishes Stage 1 first will receive one playoff point to carry into the postseason, should that driver qualify. Those can add up quickly over the course of a season.

What about Stage 2? At the conclusion of Stage 1, there is a caution period for drivers to come down pit road (innovative strategies will be crucial under these enhancements.) Stage 2 will then begin with a drop of the green flag for the restart. Its length is approximately 25-30 percent of the event's total length -- it is different for each race, dependent on track size and race length -- with the ending marked via a stage checkered flag (the stage can end under caution, if necessary).

What about Stage 2 bonus points? Same as Stage 1: Drivers who are running first through 10th at the conclusion of Stage 2 will receive stage bonus points, starting with 10 points for first place, nine points for second place, down to one point for 10th place. Additionally, the driver who finishes Stage 2 first will receive one playoff point to carry into the postseason.

What about the final stage? Following another caution period, which gives fans another natural break in the action, the final stage begins with another green flag drop and restart. Drivers then race for the event win ... and the five bonus points that come with it.

How are points distributed? The final stage produces the race results, so the end of the final stage is the end of the race. Whoever crosses the start/finish line first at the checkered flag is the race winner. Race points are then awarded to the entire field based on finishing order. The winner receives 40 points. Second place receives 35 points, third place receives 34 points, fourth place receives 33 points ... down to one point for drivers who finish 36th-40th.
There no longer will be a bonus point for leading a lap, or a bonus point for leading the most laps.

And the winner? The race winner receives five bonus points toward the postseason (this is up from three last year under the new enhancements), plus postseason eligibility. If a driver leads at the end of both Stage 1 and Stage 2, and then wins the race, then he or she would receive seven bonus points to carry into the postseason.

For which series were these enhancements designed? The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, the NASCAR XFINITY Series and the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series will all use this enhanced format.

By rewarding hard racing through the duration of the season, will there be an official regular-season champion? Yes, there formally will be a regular-season champion. That driver will earn 15 additional playoff points to carry into the postseason.

Any more bonus points for points standings at the end of the regular season?

Yes. In addition to the regular-season champion, drivers who finish in the top 10 of the regular season all receive some measure of playoff points to take into the postseason. Here's the breakdown:
First place in regular season points earns a driver 15 playoff bonus points in addition to the points earned with race or stage wins; second place earns 10 playoff points; third place, 8; fourth place, 7; fifth place, 6; sixth place, 5; seventh place, 4; eighth place, 3; ninth place, 2; 10th place, 1.

In this enhanced format, when is a race official? At the conclusion of Stage 2.

How does the postseason work? Once the postseason begins, points will be reset to 2,000 for the opening round, with each driver's accrued bonus points tacked onto that total. Four drivers still will be eliminated in each round of the postseason, setting up a final four in Miami for all three national series.

What is the tweak for playoff points? Playoff points earned for race wins or for leading at the end of Stage 1 or Stage 2 now will carry over round-by-round if a driver continues advancing. It's not just for the first round any more. Additionally, drivers can build off and add to those bonus points.

So if a driver has 70 playoff points heading into the postseason, and then wins the playoff opener (five-point bonus), he or she would advance to the next round and carry 75 additional points -- or more, depending on his or her results over the next two races in the round.

Does winning a race in the postseason still automatically qualify that driver for the next round, regardless of points? Yes. Winning trumps all.

Will bonus points still carry over to Miami? No. Miami is the exception. All four drivers competing for the championship will start with the same amount of points. There will be no bonus points for this race for those final four drivers. First to the line wins the title.

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