When the Monster Energy
NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR XFINITY Series roll into Watkins Glen
International this coming August, it will be with a twist.
As announced previously
by the sanctioning body, the 2017 season will feature an enhanced
competition format that will be implemented in both series. Races will
now consist of three stages, with championship implications in each
stage. The Top-10 finishers of the first two stages will be awarded
additional championship points, with the race winner being the recipient
of additional championship and playoff points at the conclusion of the
final stage.
In the Monster Energy
NASCAR Cup Series race, the first two stages will be made up of 20 laps
each, ending with caution periods on laps 20 and 40, respectively. Then,
a 50-lap third segment will take the field to the checkered flag.
Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Race
Stage 1
|
Stage 2
|
Stage 3
|
Lap 1-20
|
Lap 21-40
|
Lap 41-90
|
In the NASCAR XFINITY
Series Zippo 200, the first two stages will be made up of 20 laps each,
ending with caution periods on laps 20 and 40, respectively. Then, a
42-lap third segment will take the field to the checkered flag.
NASCAR XFINITY Series Zippo 200
Stage 1
|
Stage 2
|
Stage 3
|
Lap 1-20
|
Lap 21-40
|
Lap 41-82
|
“The new stage-based
format is going to further drive excitement and close racing at Watkins
Glen International,” said WGI President Michael Printup. “Finishes at
The Glen have been historically exciting for our great fans, especially
in recent years, and we can’t wait to see what these changes do for the
competition here.”
Increasing the sense of
urgency and emphasizing aggressive racing and strategy, the race format
will deliver more dramatic moments over the course of an entire race and
season, with playoff points on the line throughout. NASCAR also
announced a playoff bonus structure that will see the regular season
points leader honored as the regular season champion, earning 15 playoff
points that will be added to the driver’s reset of 2,000.
“These are enhancements
that the NASCAR fan has long sought, and the entire industry has worked
hard to develop a better racing format for our fans,” NASCAR Executive
Vice President and Chief Racing Development Officer Steve O’Donnell said
previously about the changes. “This format puts a premium on every
victory and every in-race position over the course of the season. Each
point can eventually result in winning or losing a championship.”
NASCAR conducted an
in-depth review on fuel mileage when determining the stage lap counts,
with Stage 1 and 2 being approximately 25% to 30% each of the race laps.
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