2017 Daytona 500 First Race to Run Under New NASCAR Stages
By Kent Whitaker:
Earlier in the year I mentioned the new rules being put in place for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. At the time I was not completely sure if the Daytona 500 would be included in the new rules regarding the sectioned race format. Good news! NASCAR has released the answer stating that the Daytona 500 will in fact run under the new multi-stage format.
By Kent Whitaker:
Earlier in the year I mentioned the new rules being put in place for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. At the time I was not completely sure if the Daytona 500 would be included in the new rules regarding the sectioned race format. Good news! NASCAR has released the answer stating that the Daytona 500 will in fact run under the new multi-stage format.
Instead of one long race, with breaks dictated by cautions, the new race format includes stages. Each stage will have a winner and the top-ten drivers will earn extra points geared towards making the Playoffs. Hopefully long boring green flag runs of cars not passing and no leader changes will be in the past.
The new format will include the new stages, as well as natural cautions, which means more restarts and harder driving for position. Here’s how the Daytona 500 will break down under the new format.
The new format will include the new stages, as well as natural cautions, which means more restarts and harder driving for position. Here’s how the Daytona 500 will break down under the new format.
Daytona 500 Stages:
Stage One – 60 laps.
Stage Two – 60 laps.
Final Stage – Stage Three – 80 laps.
Note: stages include laps run under caution etc.
Stage One – 60 laps.
Stage Two – 60 laps.
Final Stage – Stage Three – 80 laps.
Note: stages include laps run under caution etc.
Quick Notes on Stage Points and Regular Points:
Drivers finishing 1-10 at the end of the first and second stages earn additional points. Ten points for first, then nine points for ninth, eight points for eight… you get the idea.
Race-winning drivers also will earn five bonus points per win to be applied following the completion of the regular season.
Points will still be awarded in a similar fashion to years past for the regular race from winner to last place.
Bonus point for leading a lap have been eliminated.
Drivers finishing 1-10 at the end of the first and second stages earn additional points. Ten points for first, then nine points for ninth, eight points for eight… you get the idea.
Race-winning drivers also will earn five bonus points per win to be applied following the completion of the regular season.
Points will still be awarded in a similar fashion to years past for the regular race from winner to last place.
Bonus point for leading a lap have been eliminated.
Why The Stage Points will Make NASCAR more Exciting
I’m a bit of a worrier when it comes to rule changes. Especially when it comes to changing a whole bunch of rules at one time. 2017 may break all records when it comes to changing the way NASCAR racing works via rule changes. I should be freaking out… but I’m amazingly calm. Here’s why!
I’m a bit of a worrier when it comes to rule changes. Especially when it comes to changing a whole bunch of rules at one time. 2017 may break all records when it comes to changing the way NASCAR racing works via rule changes. I should be freaking out… but I’m amazingly calm. Here’s why!
NASCAR has become boring. I’m not going into modern attention spans, if kids today care about cars or racing, travel costs for fans, or jacked up hotel costs. I’m sure everything I just mentioned has a role in how NASCAR is perceived. My point is that the top people in NASCAR have noticed a problem and instead of sitting on their hands they did something.
From what I’ve heard from PR people at various teams is that NASCAR took the time to listen to fans as well as touching base with both drivers and owners. That’s huge! I can’t tell you how many times in the past a driver or owner would state that they had no idea what NASCAR was thinking about when it came to rule changes. Of course they did so in a manner that would not warrant any fines – but you could always find voices questioning any changes.
This time around it seems that drivers, teams, crew chiefs, owners, and a good number of the fans are on-board with the changes that NASCAR has put in place across the top three tiers of racing. The question now is if other sanctioning bodies move towards the same goal. Who knows – the ARCA Racing Series Presented by Menard’s may have to consider similar changes to their format as well.
It will be interesting to see how things pan out at the Daytona 500 this season. I’ll try my best to sit back and enjoy several weeks of on-track green flag racing before I come to any conclusions on how the new Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series rules will change racing for the better in 2017 as compared to the last couple of seasons.
This time around it seems that drivers, teams, crew chiefs, owners, and a good number of the fans are on-board with the changes that NASCAR has put in place across the top three tiers of racing. The question now is if other sanctioning bodies move towards the same goal. Who knows – the ARCA Racing Series Presented by Menard’s may have to consider similar changes to their format as well.
It will be interesting to see how things pan out at the Daytona 500 this season. I’ll try my best to sit back and enjoy several weeks of on-track green flag racing before I come to any conclusions on how the new Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series rules will change racing for the better in 2017 as compared to the last couple of seasons.
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“Kent Whitaker, often called ‘the Deck Chef’ is a sportswriter, culinary writer, and cookbook author with fourteen titles. He covers NASCAR, racing in general, Football, barbecue, grilling, and tailgating. You can visit him on www.thedeckchef.com .”
“Kent Whitaker, often called ‘the Deck Chef’ is a sportswriter, culinary writer, and cookbook author with fourteen titles. He covers NASCAR, racing in general, Football, barbecue, grilling, and tailgating. You can visit him on www.thedeckchef.com .”