Stage points are available at the end of stages 1 and 2 for the top 10 drivers. 7 Changes NASCAR Has Made to Make the Sport Safer 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. To attempt to bank stage points up front, they frequently exchange inferior track positions on the subsequent restart. A Beginners Guide to NASCAR: 6 Highlights of What NASCAR Is Like. There are guys that are better at that style of racing than maybe me, but I still think it comes down to certain circumstances at the end where you are, how it all works, how it all happens. These changes are a far cry from the original spirit of NASCAR races but are working to bring in a younger audience base and provide better value to sponsors. This applies to all top 3 levels of NASCAR competition: the Cup Series, the Xfinity Series, and the Truck Series. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. placed second. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. As NASCAR viewership moves to a larger digital spectatorship when compared to trackside fans, the race format has needed to adapt as well. The crew chief and pit strategies teams need to incorporate stage endings into their race plans, and with stage structures, stage wins can matter as much as race wins for the championship competition. Like, every year. Of course, they could do that anyway without the "stages," but this at least gives fans a starting point. The caution laps counting seems kind of right but so wrong. NASCAR stages are competition yellow flags in the middle of the damn race! Restrictor-plate races have been found to cause bunching up of racers which leaves less time to react to race obstacles. But some drivers say it makes superspeedways even more dangerous; lets look at why NASCAR started stage racing and what the stage racing format is. No one should expect to make money from the picks and predictions discussed on this website. NASCAR hasnt just captured the imagination of its race fans, but also of much of the wider world through the medium of film. For new fans of the sports, stages have been a welcome addition. Only the final stage of the race ends with the traditional checkered flag signaling not just the end of the 3rd stage but also the finale of the entire event. The first two-thirds of 35 of 36 Cup races feel all but irrelevant. This allows for planned breaks around the middle portions of the race which, while generally not as eventful as the start or finish of the race, can have moments that fans dont like missing. Now, they buy their way in. Stage racing was implemented in NASCAR to remove the chance of race domination by single race drivers. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Does NASCAR still race at Rockingham? - Kabuki NASCAR eliminates stage breaks for Cup road course events This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Each Cup race with the exception of the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte (with four) has three stages. 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. 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. NASCAR needs fan viewership to remain a viable product in the crowded sports and media landscape, so it opted to make drastic changes to its race format in an attempt to do so. During the scheduled stage breaks, it is much easier for NASCAR to sell commercial space for official races, which helps with televised broadcasts. Often a couple of racers can gain an intimidating lead that, unless crashes or car trouble occurs, will be maintained all three hours. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. Through 10 races, Busch has two wins, three top fives and five top 10s. Stage racing was implemented to ensure those things were still part of the sport. NASCAR had to make some changes to ensure the survival of the sport. DISTANCE: The race is 62 laps (250 miles) on the 4.048-mile road course. In those races, stage points will be awarded on a designated lap, but there will be no green-and-checkered flag and the racing will continue. This creates more drama and crashes while preventing breakaway victories. 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. This is true for the Truck Series, Xfinity, and the Cup Series, considered the top three tiers of NASCAR racing. The only road course events that will have stage breaks will be Xfinity standalone races at Portland (June 3) and Road America (July 29) and the Truck standalone race at Mid-Ohio (July 8). NASCAR Safety Equipment - The Safety Revolution Continues 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 advice, including picks and predictions, is based on individual commentators opinions and not that of Minute Media or its related brands. NASCAR Stage Racing: Pros and Cons - Beyond the Flag The driver in first place during these stages will be awarded 10 points, second will get 9, third gets 8, and it continues to count down to the 10th position, which is awarded one extra point. Last year through 18 races, the average number of caution laps was 39.9, but it was as high as 44.2 in 2014. 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. All picks and predictions are suggestions only. For more information, please read our Legal Disclaimer. The televised racing experience was also a key factor in NASCARs decision to alter the framework of its races. NASCAR back on dirt at Bristol with revamped Easter night race Each driver within the top ten of each stage will receive points associated with their placement. In a stunning development, NASCAR announced Sunday evening that Chase Elliott has been declared the winner of the M&M's Fan Appreciation 400 at Pocono Raceway after both Denny Hamlin and Kyle . Maybe thats just too old school. Brad Keselowski was initially against the premise of stage racing when rumors first spread about the concept in the early 2010s. Required fields are marked *. C'mon, admit it. I think a lot of that is going to come into play this weekend and next weekend, so I am optimistic and hopeful that we will have some really strong runs at Dover and Kansas. Daytona 500 stages: Explaining the format, stage lengths for 2022 It was my first time in a new Cup car, and 80 laps out for what? Formula 1 on the verge of an amazing all-time record in Abu Dhabi, NASCAR: All the facts and figures from year 1 of the new package, NASCAR: Monday Dover race not being broadcast on Fox, NASCAR changes Dover schedule again due to weather. Each driver will earn the points above for each stage that is not the final one. 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. All Rights Reserved | Privacy Policy | Sitemap | Contact Us | About Us. Despite the fact that NASCAR races typically include three stages, the Coca-Cola 600 is the exception to the norm because of its extended distance. If the driver is selected for the 16-car field, these playoff points are added to their overall point total at the start of the playoffs. There was no doubt that the stages changed how people raced and how crew chiefs approached the season-opener, but I don't think we can blame the stages for the unusual amount of carnage, which. But while stage racing likely isnt going anywhere following its first three seasons in the sport, you really have to wonder why its here, what purpose it serves, and above all, whether or not NASCAR should just do away with it. This year, seven of the 16 races have taken more than 3 hours, 30 minutes to complete (including red-flag time). Or four, when talking about the 600-mile race at Charlotte. The formula for NASCAR has been pretty simple in terms of race format. Fans get more action, and televised events fit commercials in better than interrupting green flag racing. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. *Added a required . By placing in the top 10 at the end of the first and second stages of a race, drivers may now earn additional points. Initially, only on-track incidents resulted in raising the red flag. 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. 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. ET Monday to begin the 400-lap race on the 1-mile concrete oval. Each race is divided into three stages (four for the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway), and points are awarded to the top 10 drivers at the end of stages one and two, with regular points still awarded at the end of each race to each competitor as well. The Evolution of Safety in NASCAR | State Racing These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. I think he was actually better than me at the Bristol dirt race and had a better long run car than I did. The main reason is there are no commercial breaks at live race events that can interfere with active racing moments. Second place gets 35 points, third gets 34 points, fourth gets 33 points, until 36th-40th . NASCAR announced Tuesday changes to the stage lengths at 16 Cup Series races for the 2020 season. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". His "Garage Mahal" in Mooresville, NC, was a . Maybe I'm Just Being an Old Guy, But NASCAR Really Sucks Now Depending on the course, the first stage can be anywhere from 25 to 30 percent of the races overall duration. How do they work in Cup Series races, and why did NASCAR opt to bring them in in the first place? Stage points for the top 10 drivers are awarded at the conclusion of stages 1 and 2. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. The breaks abounded for 4.8 percent of the race. The length of stages at Phoenix Raceway will be different than the stage lengths at other major series races like Daytona. 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 Daytona Duels are 2 qualifying races that set the field for the Daytona 500. The Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway is the only NASCAR race that does not have 3 stages. Stages also replace pit stops and give drivers a break they would never have been able to take during the old races. The total number of laps in the race remains mostly unchanged but how races progress through these laps changes drastically. 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. STAGES: Stage 1 ends at Lap 120. When NASCAR races first began, there were no required interruptions during all of the action. That leads to the question that has been asked since even before the 2017 season began: should NASCAR get rid of stages? Stage racing is one of many controversial topics in NASCAR, and there are certainly things that NASCAR needs to fix before stage racing. A short track built within the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum served as the venue for the 2022 competition. Those playoff points (including those earned in the playoffs) carry over to each reset playoff round, except for the finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway. 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. Why did NASCAR implement stage racing? Officials believed this was a great way to improve its races. In his free time, you can find him tinkering with his own vehicles, trying to make them faster and more exciting. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Its no surprise that the fanbase has declined in recent years. NASCAR has transformed the football field at the Coliseum into a quarter-mile track and hopes Sunday's race attracts football fans who wouldn't normally watch racing. Not all NASCAR races have the same number of stages. Would love your thoughts, please comment. Let's also say that he finished fourth in the second stage, earning him seven points, and second in the first stage, giving him nine points. Brennan Poole on Ross Chastain at Dover pic.twitter.com/cyj2TBODqL. But why did NASCAR start stage racing? 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. Common critiques of stage racing from these fans usually revolve around the idea that stage racing is gimmicky. 275 max[] jg90270 max[] jg90270 (bs133hmfg) []np However, the older lot might still reminisce about the old days prior to these additions. The Decline and Fall of NASCAR - The American Conservative MORE: NASCAR outlaws Ross Chastain Martinsville move, MORE: Hendrick Motorsports president says no changes in driver policy. If a driver wins both stages and the race, he/she earns a . Rockingham Motor Speedway will begin a new life as a dedicated used car storage centre for the owner of Cinch and WeBuyAnyCar. Simply put, this will make our great racing even better, France said. That is just the nature of that beast of restrictor plate racing.. NASCAR racing did not always include stage racing. Every NASCAR season begins with an exhibition race called The Clash. Kevin Harvick dominated a 400-mile race Sunday in Las Vegas, leading 214 of 267 laps and comfortably winning both stages and the . I think the fans would ultimately lose.". Teams now occasionally risk with their pit strategy to increase stage points. Stages in NASCAR explained First adopted in 2017, stages in NASCAR effectively break the race up into three mini-races. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'speedtwitch_com-leader-1','ezslot_18',114,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-speedtwitch_com-leader-1-0');Stages break the 3-hour single race into 3 mini races, each with its own points and race winners, while helping to keep racers more bunched together during the middle of the race duration. It wasnt uncommon for many teams to elect to pit before the first stage in a road course race and eschew points to put themselves in better track position for the final two stages. The 2022 event was raced on a short track created inside the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. 1) Just like all the other major racing series in the world, NASCAR has become a money deal. Analysis: How the addition of stages affected the Daytona 500 - Motorsport The last stage is always the longest distance of the entire race, and usually involves a pitstop as well. It also has the added strategy of teams pitting during a stage by dividing the length of that stage in half or thirds, depending on the number of pit stops anticipated during the stage. NASCAR - Pros, cons of new stage-racing format in 2017 - ESPN A pit road penalty or bad pit stop early has consequences. This is a key decision-making phase in implementation. Stages break the race up and give drivers new ways to strategize using pitstops and other racing necessities to gain more points and do better in each stage. The first two are about a quarter distance in length each, with the final stage making up over half the race. Fortunately for the sport, a lot of younger fans seem to dig into the Saturday night dirt heat feel of the race stages, and aren't turned off by it. 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. It essentially breaks each race. I could go on the short run, but not the long run. Racing throughout the years has been exciting and entertaining, but as the technology in the cars improved and the drivers became better, the close racing of the past was lost in the smoke. This is exciting, because we see everyone win or lose on pit road immediately. It certainly should be. The top 10 finishers in each duel do earn stage points in the same manner as every other race. A stage winner also receives one playoff point to their tally. By nature, stage racing also creates another unnecessary element that takes away from the competition itself. I was side-by-side with (. Only the final stage is ended with the traditional chequered flag, as that is the end of the race. Busch will start on the pole and Dillon in the last starting spot in Sundays Cup Series race at Dover Motor Speedway after qualifying was cancelled Saturday. Dillon was instrumental in convincing his grandfather, team owner Richard Childress, to bring Busch into the fold at RCR. When did NASCAR implement stages? Where the Term Came From Should NASCAR get rid of stage racing? - beyondtheflag.com Stage winners and the overall race winner both get playoff points. ET Monday. What is stage racing and why does NASCAR do it. NASCAR created stage racing in 2017 to increase competition throughout the race. The content on this site is for entertainment and educational purposes only. Another driver, Ryan Blaney, finished third at Pocono and earned himself 38 points. In fact, up until 2017, the race was all-out until you finished. I think 100 laps turned out to be a nice compromise. Playoff points are also distributed to the top-10 finishers in the regular season standings on a sliding scale. Now we have a 30 year legacy with the knee-jerk restrictor plate. At Auto Club Speedway, the stage breaks went for 12 . 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. The top 10 at the end of a stage score points. 1991 It all just comes down to excitement and incentive at the end of the day. 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. So what's to like about the stages? The only NASCAR races without stages are 2 non-points races, the Duels at Daytona, and the Busch Light Clash.