Those who do not make the cut are left to prepare for the next racing season. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. Playoff points are awarded to stage winners and the ultimate winner of the race. All NASCAR races across the 3 major series have stages because the sport wanted to create a better television product by adding more urgency during the middle portions of a race. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Brennan Poole: Ross Chastain probably needs his butt whooped, Monday Cup race at Dover: Start time, TV info, weather, I feel like I just got ran over, Poole said. These points, different from the previous stage points, accumulate for a playoff-style race where each stage winner gets one playoff point. Like, every year. What is stage racing and why does NASCAR do it. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. He is a huge fan of fast cars and motorcycles and has always been drawn to the excitement and thrill of motorsports. In his free time, you can find him tinkering with his own vehicles, trying to make them faster and more exciting. The race was Pooles first Cup start of the season. Confused yet? By having 2 designated caution periods, broadcast networks can burn 2 full-screen commercial periods per stage break: 1 right after the stage ends and 1 after pit stops are completed before the race resumes under green. "Considering feedback from teams, drivers and fans, NASCAR has implemented these changes to enhance competition," NASCAR senior vice president of competition Scott Miller said last year after. Bigger changes have happened seemingly out of nowhere. Most NASCAR races are broken down into three stages. It was my first time in a new Cup car, and 80 laps out for what? STARTING LINEUP: Dover Cup starting lineup. Sure, I understand that the top ten get points for each stage. "It [not having laps count] would really throw a wrench in the whole strategy game. Generally, the first two stages are a quarter of the total race distance each, and the third stage is the remaining half, although that exact split is usually not that easy per existing track lengths. NASCAR vs IndyCar: What are the 4 main differences? While the new points system that accompanies the new race format will come more into focus once the playoffs start, every week there is talk about how stages will play into that weekend's event. As soon as the green flag is raised and the cars accelerate, the final stage most closely mimics an authentic, vintage NASCAR race. NASCAR races were once run start-to-finish with no mandated breaks in the action. Restrictor plates are devices installed between the carburetor and intake manifold that restrict the amount of air and fuel entering the engine's combustion chamber. Stages consist of dividing the race into smaller segments, allowing for commercial breaks and creating more suspense and action for the audience. By pitting early, they would be behind those who stayed out to collect the stage points. But (a) there are still questionable caution flags thrown at times, and that will never change, and (b) stage-ending cautions still create artificial racing that doesnt belong in NASCAR, or anywhere for that matter. The second stage also makes up 25 to 30 percent of the race. Although there are caution laps and times when racing is under a yellow flag, it can be difficult to time commercials perfectly and still give clients the required airtime. Race wins are worth 5 points, while stage wins are worth 1. Another driver, Ryan Blaney, finished third at Pocono and earned himself 38 points. If a driver is pegged back every 65 laps or so as is the case at the Daytona 500 it will ensure they cant get to far away. NASCAR: Dover Cup race not being broadcast on Fox. This is because only the finishing order matters in determining a NASCAR champion. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. The race is scheduled to begin at 12 p.m. It all just comes down to excitement and incentive at the end of the day. All NASCAR points races now have stages. The longest stage of the race is always the final one. The third and final stage decides the winner and all other positions. Stages 1 and 2 offer extra points for each driver, and the Coca-Cola 600, stage 3 also gives the same points. Poole left the race. Each stage length is determined well before the race, and each is ended with a green/white checkered. To determine stage length, NASCAR usually splits the first 60 percent of the race between the first two stages. The wreck happened in the first stage of the race, a fact both Larson and Poole pointed out after the crash. Continue with Recommended Cookies. Safety has always been important to NASCAR. The Weather Underground forecast calls for partly cloudy skies and a high of 60 degrees. I think 100 laps turned out to be a nice compromise. Then-NASCAR president Brent Dewar talked about stage racing and its effect on television viewership in 2017, saying our fans are eating it up.. Instead of a long 100 or more lap race that requires endurance and only slows down for yellow flag laps and or caution flags, NASCAR decided to add 2 more stages to each race. While this is nice for fans that like a little of this kind of action, it is contrary to the intended goal of keeping drivers from crashing through NASCAR official policies. The soul of NASCAR was a bunch of drivers go toe-to-toe and laying it all on the line for one specific reason to win the race. Even if they occasionally occur naturally during the race, there are other moments when the chance isnt there. Furthermore, the introduction of stages gave NASCAR drivers an extra incentive by competing for highly coveted stage points. NASCAR is settling with people in the crowd who sustain life altering injuries like it's nothing. Older fans, however, believe this was a crucial blow to NASCAR's diehard fans. These numbers are all added together to give the number of points each driver has gained from the race. The closer the pack is together, and the more incentives they have to go for the lead, the better the entertainment will be for all the fans. Stages are currently present in all NASCAR point races. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The Stage 1 winner will start on the pole for the final stage - if that driver finishes 15th or better in Stages 2 and 3. Along the way, some yellow or red flags may follow, but essentially the race was one long event with no scheduled stoppages, aside from pit-stops. The stages add playoff benefits and a new point system that encourages racers to push hard like they would during qualifying races and other big events. Here's a sampling of some of the changes for 2004. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. All the drivers are bunched together, 2-by-2, trying to make the most of their fresh tires and improve track position while they still can. 'I belong here': R. Truex wins first NASCAR race, Hendrick to drivers after injuries: Take it easy, Bowman out at least 3 races after sprint car crash, Busch barely makes finish in OT win at Talladega, Burton wins Xfinity Series crash-fest at Talladega, Hamlin claims first superspeedway pole at Dega, Harvick was once NASCAR's punk kid. To ensure ad space buyers and fans of fixed commercial spots that guarantee interruption-free green flag racing. The main reason is there are no commercial breaks at live race events that can interfere with active racing moments. If fans plan ahead, they can figure when to start eating certain snacks. No one should expect to make money from the picks and predictions discussed on this website. Driver intros will take place at 11:30 a.m. When comparing to the five-year averages of the races from 2013-17, 11 races have exceeded the five-year average, but only three by more than 10 minutes. Similar to an ordinary NASCAR event, both the Cup Series and Truck Series races will be divided into three stages, but changes to the format were implemented after Friday practice produced a . So, its kind of pathetic. The racers in the lead change more frequently, which makes the races and, therefore, the season closer in points and more suspenseful for fans. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. Stage points incentivize racing throughout the race and not just for the win and to offer more passing opportunities during the race. The Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway is the only NASCAR race that does not have 3 stages. It is frustrating when green flag racing is interrupted by a commercial break, leaving fans mostly clueless as to what is happening. The average number of cautions per race (9.1) is well ahead of the first 18 races last year (7.5) but not a ton more than in 2015 (8.4). Since then, the winner of each Duel receives 10 championship points. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. The Daytona Duels are 2 qualifying races that set the field for the Daytona 500. The adjustments primarily involve reducing the number of laps in the third stage to ensure enough . By placing in the top 10 at the end of the first and second stages of a race, drivers may now earn additional points. All 3 series use the regular season point and playoff points system, meaning all stage winners receive 10 points and 1 playoff point. Despite the fact that NASCAR prioritizes driver safety in some cases, on some superspeedways, things can actually become more dangerous. The televised racing experience was also a key factor in NASCARs decision to alter the framework of its races. It all just comes down to excitement and incentive at the end of the day. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. That's why less people are buying tickets. So, I think it was the No. All Rights Reserved | Privacy Policy | Sitemap | Contact Us | About Us. It appears as an artificial way to bunch up the field and give teams extra time to make adjustments. Midway through the season -- 18 races down, 18 to go -- it's a smart time to wonder if NASCAR did something right in dividing all of its races into three stages. Wave them off with a green flag, and about three hours later, see them in with a chequered one. DISTANCE: The race is 400 laps (400 miles) on the 1-mile track. and then runs 40 percent of the race in the final stage. Drivers now earn bonus points by finishing in the top 10 at the end of the first and second stages of a race. There are still stages during the season finale, but the Championship 4 earns no stage points in that race. Stage victories are worth one point, whereas race victories are worth five. The truth is that every time NASCAR green-flags a restart, there is a good chance of a great pass or a big wreck happening. When we introduced stage racing we took an element of strategy away from the event, Sawyer. Your email address will not be published. Some of them are quite surprising. Kyle Busch will lead the field to the green flag after qualifying was canceled Saturday by rain. Now more rewards are given more frequently to racers at each stage, and points and stage endings replace multiple cautions per race techniques. Every NASCAR driver will likely say that hasn't changed. Each Cup race with the exception of the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte (with four) has three stages.2022-02-20. Experts state that there are a few reasons why NASCAR implemented stage racing. As NASCAR viewership moves to a larger digital spectatorship when compared to trackside fans, the race format has needed to adapt as well. A stage winner also receives one playoff point to their tally. Its no surprise that the fanbase has declined in recent years. 30% for Stage 1 would be 110 laps, so it would be 110, 110 and 147, which makes Stage 3 pretty short relative to Stage 1 and Stage 2. Often a couple of racers can gain an intimidating lead that, unless crashes or car trouble occurs, will be maintained all three hours. 25% for Stage 1 would be 92 laps. They claim that NASCAR just wants more restarts because a certain type of NASCAR fan only tunes in to see big crashes. NASCAR stated there will be no stage breaks in the Cup road course events at Circuit of the Americas (March 26), Sonoma (June 11), Chicago street course (July 2), Indianapolis road course (Aug. 13), Watkins Glen (Aug. 20) and Charlotte Roval (Oct. 8). Title sponsorship changed the game; it made sense to make sure the sport's biggest stars would be on hand no matter where the series went each week. NASCAR has faced questions from fans and competitors about stage breaks during road course races because those breaks alter strategy in a more defined manner than on most ovals. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. Caution periods and pitstops were the only breaks teams could count on from the rigors of the endurance race, and teams had to strategize accordingly. NASCAR has had a set term of race format for almost 100 years, and the premise of stage racing greatly affects established team strategies. STAGES: Stage 1 ends at Lap 14. Stage points are available at the end of stages 1 and 2 for the top 10 drivers. Until 2017, the races were merely qualifying events that awarded no championship points. I did not mean to do that at all, Chastain told his crew via radio. This is true for the Truck Series, Xfinity, and the Cup Series, considered the top three tiers of NASCAR racing. Since 2017, the main three sections of NASCAR (cup cars, XFinity, trucks) all compete in races that have three stages per race, with a fourth stage being added into the longer Coca-Cola 600. NASCAR Cup Series: Jimmie Johnson could return in 2021, Broncos' Derek Wolfe to Get MRI on Elbow Injury; Vic Fangio 'Not Optimistic'. NASCAR racing did not always include stage racing. When did NASCAR implement pit road speed limits? Stage racing was implemented to ensure those things were still part of the sport. There are vocal, passionate fans on both sides of the issue. Rewarding guys who hit the wall early or make some other silly error but decide not to pit at the end of the stage with more points than anybody else in the field in the stage is just flat-out ridiculous. You shouldnt be better positioned to make a playoff run because you were leading a random race on lap 130 of lap 250 or something and ended up 28th while someone who ran 11th in the races early stages gets nothing playoff-wise with a second place finish. This brings the total laps to 130 and sets the field up for a 70-lap shootout to the end. When the mid-point of the race is stopped for a stage change, instead of being the highest speed passing portion, some fans may be a little put-off. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. At the stage break, those who had yet to pit would do so, allowing those who stopped before the break to leapfrog back to the front. Some longtime fans and NASCAR purists met the change with skepticism and outrage. Playoff points are extremely valuable during each 3-race round of the playoffs. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. The final stage often accounts for between 40% and 50% of the entire distance, whereas the first and second stages typically make up roughly 25% to 30%. The piece highlighted several factors explaining why stock car racing has yet to recover from the slump caused by the 2008-09 economic crash: A less affluent audience base than other major. The race will be broadcast by FS1, Performance Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. ARCA * All cars must be equipped with a Race Safe light system. The field for the Daytona 500 is determined by the two qualifying events known as the Daytona Duels. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER. Simply put, this will make our great racing even better, France said. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- It is time for the 65th running of the Daytona 500, NASCAR's biggest event on its biggest stage, kicking off what many believe could be one of the sport's biggest seasons . There is a 1% chance of rain for the start of the race. No matter which side you fall on, it seems like stage racing is here to stay. It is now somewhat common to see teams gamble with their pit strategies to maximize stage points. But Would that still be good? The top 10 at the end of a stage score points. Stage points will still be awarded at the stage-ending lap, but the green-checkered flag will not be displayed and there will not be a caution period to interrupt the action. All NASCAR races across the 3 major series have stages because the sport wanted to create a better television product by adding more urgency during the middle portions of a race. It gives drivers reason not to coast (especially at restrictor-plate races) and fans a reason to watch. The reason these points were so valuable is that they are tallied up at the end of a race and decide how many points each driver walks away with. How would stages make racing more exciting, you might ask? Drivers who reel off multiple victories during the season enter the playoffs on much better footing than drivers who point their way into the playoffs with no victories. Sometimes this gamble pays off and other times it backfires greatly. (Chastain). Knowing when the caution comes out allows teams to choose between finishing well in a stage or possibly putting themselves in a better position to win the race. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. The final stage goes off the points listed above. Based on the outcomes of the single-car qualifying event earlier in the week, half of the field competes in each. The breaks abounded for 4.8 percent of the race. The total number of laps in the race remains mostly unchanged but how races progress through these laps changes drastically. The move comes in. Or four, when talking about the 600-mile race at Charlotte. Die-hard track-attending fans are not happy with stage racing implementation since they dont benefit from the onscreen advantages television spectators gain. With that said, however, he also finished first in both Stages 1 and 2, netting him 20 extra points. According to The Times, Constellation Automotive is purchasing the decommissioned racing track Midlands racing track, which was Europe's quickest banked oval racing circuit, for 80m. Since the winners of stages are not necessarily the same victors as the one that completes the 600-mile race first, more fans get to see their favorite drivers win the race stages. The reasons that the stages were added to NASCAR racing all boil down to one thing. We continue to talk about our stuff and how we can get better, Busch said Saturday at Dover. These points add up to positions and advantages in playoff races and continue to accumulate through the first stages of the championship race. And what's not to like? Stage racing wasn't always a thing in NASCAR, and is probably one of the newest changes the sport has made over the years. Your email address will not be published. Though as of 2023 a race ends under caution with the field frozen if a caution occurs in the final lap of an overtime. The obvious reasons why this change was made in 2017 can be blamed on numerous things, starting with the most important. The trucks have been racing on dirt since 2013, however this will be their first go at Bristol. TV/RADIO: Qualifying coverage on CNBC begins at 11 a.m. Pre-race . No reason. Second place gets 35 points, third gets 34 points, fourth gets 33 points, until 36th-40th . Proponents of the changes agree that it is nice that 1st place-driver, 2nd-place driver, and 3rd-place driver, as well as the following several, get some points on a 10-1 scale. Stage 2 ends at Lap 29. The adoption of stages in NASCAR races has generated mixed reactions, with some drivers and fans finding it a positive change while others do not.
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