Official NASCAR Series News Thread

[Happy29]

With the NASCAR media tour kicking off this week in Charlotte it is the unofficial begin of the 2016 NASCAR Racing Season. Here I will post random news stories that occur throughout the year.

NASCAR Announces Changes To Dash For Cash, Truck Series Caution Clock


NASCAR Executive Vice President and Chief Racing Development Officer Steve O’Donnell announced today several racing-related innovations to the NASCAR XFINITY Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, beginning with the 2016 season, designed to ignite and energize the growth of each series.

In the NASCAR XFINITY Series, each event in the annual Dash 4 Cash program will now be comprised of Two Heats and a Main Event. Drivers who win two of the four Dash 4 Cash bonuses are also virtually guaranteed a spot in the 2016 NASCAR XFINITY Series Chase.

In addition, the rugged NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races now will feature a Caution Clock, which will be triggered at the start of each green-flag run. When the green flag is displayed, 20 minutes will be placed on the clock. If/when the clock expires, a caution will be thrown.

“These innovations contain the elements of racing that our fans want the most,” said O’Donnell. “The enhancements put a premium on in-race strategy, and will create an unprecedented level of excitement as teams make tactical decisions that could impact their spot in the Chase.”

The NASCAR XFINITY Series Dash 4 Cash will be comprised of Two Heats and a Main at four tracks: Bristol Motor Speedway (April 16), Richmond International Raceway (April 23), Dover International Speedway (May 14) and Indianapolis Motor Speedway (July 23).

Qualifying for each Dash 4 Cash event will set the 40-car field and the starting positions for the Two Heats with the fastest qualifier awarded the Coors Light Pole Award. Odd-numbered qualifiers (1st, 3rd, 5th, etc.) will start in the first Heat in respective order, while even-numbered qualifiers (2nd, 4th, 6th, etc.) will start the second Heat in respective order.

The Two Heats will set the starting positions for the Main with the top two NASCAR XFINITY Series regulars in each Heat becoming eligible for the Dash 4 Cash bonus. The highest finishing driver among the four Dash 4 Cash eligible drivers will be awarded a $100,000 bonus. If any driver wins two of the four Dash 4 Cash bonuses available, he/she is all but guaranteed a spot in the 2016 NASCAR XFINITY Series Chase. In short, two Dash 4 Cash bonuses are equivalent to one race win in the new NASCAR XFINITY Series Chase format.

Drivers must have declared to earn NASCAR XFINITY Series points in order to be eligible for the NASCAR XFINITY Series Dash 4 Cash bonus.

In addition, a Caution Clock will be utilized in each NASCAR Camping World Truck Series event (except for Eldora Speedway). The clock will be set to 20 minutes and triggered at the start of each green-flag run during race events. When the clock counts down to zero, a caution flag then will be displayed and no beneficiary will be awarded. A caution occurring before time expires resets the clock when the subsequent green flag is displayed and the first truck a lap down will be the beneficiary.

The caution clock will be turned off with 20 laps to go at all events in the series, with the exception of Canadian Tire Motorsport Park and Pocono Raceway, where the clock will be turned off with 10 laps remaining.

[Happy29]

re: Official NASCAR Series News Thread

NASCAR Announces Chases For XFINITY, Trucks



Using the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup format introduced in 2014 as a guidepost, NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France announced today the implementation of a playoff system in both the NASCAR XFINITY Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.

On the heels of a 2015 Chase that saw the highest season-finale viewership in nearly a decade, the NASCAR XFINITY and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series will each feature a seven-race Chase to decide its respective championships, starting in 2016.

“Fans, partners and the industry have embraced the new Chase format like nothing we’ve seen in the sport’s history,” said France. “Winning never has been this important, and the excitement generated the past two seasons in the Sprint Cup Series has led to this implementation of the Chase format in all three national series. Competition in both the NASCAR XFINITY Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series will undoubtedly elevate to new heights and shine a spotlight on the rising stars of our sport.”

The NASCAR XFINITY Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series will implement seven-race, three-round Chase formats with unique characteristics but very much in the same spirit of the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. All three series will conclude the Chase with a Championship 4 race at Homestead-Miami Speedway to crown a champion. However, all three will begin at different tracks: Chicago (Sprint Cup Series), Kentucky (XFINITY Series) and New Hampshire (Camping World Truck Series).

Drivers still must declare a series in which they will earn points, and will only be eligible to compete for a championship in that series. The 16 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers who qualified for the 2015 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup will be ineligible to compete in the 2016 NASCAR XFINITY Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Championship 4 races at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

NASCAR XFINITY SERIES CHASE

The seven-race NASCAR XFINITY Series Chase will begin at Kentucky Speedway on Sept. 24, and feature 12 drivers and two elimination rounds, with four drivers competing in the Championship 4 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

A win in the first 26 races all but guarantees a driver entry into the NASCAR XFINITY Series Chase, provided the driver is in the top 30 in points and has attempted to qualify for each race. Drivers who win two Dash 4 Cash bonuses are also all but guaranteed a Chase berth.

The first round, called the Round of 12, consists of the races at Kentucky, Dover and Charlotte. All drivers will start with their points adjusted to 2,000, with three additional bonus points added to their total for each win in the first 26 races. If a driver wins a race in the Round of 12, the driver automatically advances to the next round. The remaining available positions (1-8) that have not been filled by wins will be filled on points.

Each driver who advances to the Round of 8 (Kansas, Texas, Phoenix) then will have their points reset to 3,000. Drivers who win a race in the Round of 8 automatically advance to the Championship 4. The remaining available positions (1-4) that have not been filled by wins will be filled on points.

The four drivers who advance to the Championship 4 at Homestead will have their points reset to 4,000. The highest finishing Championship 4 driver will be crowned the NASCAR XFINITY Series champion.

NASCAR CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES CHASE

The seven-race NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Chase will begin at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on Sept. 24. It will feature eight drivers and two elimination rounds, with four drivers competing in the Championship 4 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. A win in the first 16 races all but guarantees a driver entry into the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Chase, provided that the driver is in the Top 30 in points and has attempted to qualify for each race.

The first round, called the Round of 8, consists of the races at New Hampshire, Las Vegas, and Talladega. All drivers will have their points adjusted to 2,000, with three additional bonus points added to their total for each win in the first 16 races. If a driver wins a race in the Round of 8, the driver automatically advances to the next round. The remaining available positions (1-6) that have not been filled by wins will be filled on points.

Each driver who advances to the Round of 6 (Martinsville, Texas, Phoenix) then will have their points reset to 3,000. Drivers who win a race in the Round of 6 automatically advance to the Championship 4. The remaining available positions (1-4) that have not been filled by wins will be filled on points.

The four drivers who advance to the Championship 4 at Homestead will have their points reset to 4,000. The highest finishing Championship 4 driver will win the championship.

All rules outlined above also apply to both series’ owner championship structure.

[Happy29]

re: Official NASCAR Series News Thread

Bass Pro Shops Joins Martin Truex, Jr.

Bass Pro Shops will serve as a primary co-sponsor on Martin Truex Jr.’s Furniture Row Racing Toyota Camry during the 2016 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season. The announcement was made today at NASCAR's Media Tour in Charlotte.

The partnership calls for nine primary Bass Pro Shops paint schemes on Truex’s No. 78 Toyota, beginning with two races during Daytona Speedweeks; the 150-mile qualifying race on Thursday Feb. 18 and the season-opening Daytona 500 on Sunday Feb. 21.

Bass Pro Shops’ remaining seven primary races on the No. 78 will be at Phoenix (March 13), Fort Worth, Texas (April 9), Talladega, Ala. (May 1), Kansas City, Kan. (May 7), Charlotte (May 29), Daytona (July 2), Bristol, Tenn. (Aug. 20) and Homestead, Fla. (Nov. 20). Bass Pro Shops will have an associate sponsorship status when it’s not a primary on the No. 78 Furniture Row Racing Toyota.

The partnership represents an expansion of Bass Pro Shops longstanding relationship with Truex, an avid outdoorsman, who was previously sponsored by the Springfield, Missouri-based company from 2004 through 2009 when he drove for Dale Earnhardt Inc., which resulted in two Xfinity Series Championships (2004, 2005). Bass Pro Shops was the primary sponsor of these two championships.

[Happy29]

re: Official NASCAR Series News Thread

http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2016/01/19/dale-jr-and-jimmie-johnson-new-batman-and-superman/

Dale Jr. and Jimmie Johnson the new Batman and Superman?



The Batmobile never looked so normal.

Hendrick Motorsports teammates Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and Jimmie Johnson will be having a #HeroFaceOff at the NASCAR Auto Club 400 in March, when they take the green flag in stock cars painted to promote the upcoming “Batman vs. Superman” film.

Dale Jr. will be playing the role of the cape crusader, while six-time champ Jimmie Johnson’s “Superman” nickname will finally come full circle. They’ll also be wearing specially-designed fire suits that haven’t yet been revealed, so no telling if they have built-in six-packs…of the abdominal variety.

[Richzilla]

re: Official NASCAR Series News Thread

I'm pretty much done with Nascar after about 40 years following the sport.

I used to live for race day..Not any longer.

Between the gimmick chase and all the other nonsense it's just not the same.

It feels too manufactured/forced at times. It used to mean much more to win the title when it was a season long battle...now 1 bad week and your out or you can miss 1/3 of the season and win the title....I'm done.

I still love watching Supercross,MotoGP and many other forms of racing.

I have also put my money where my mouth is....I have not renewed my season tickets at Kansas Speedway....We were founding fans that bought in before the track was finished.

[franko3219]

re: Official NASCAR Series News Thread

I don't mind the chase format. However, I'm not a big fan of the caution clock idea. The issue with NASCAR fans is that they complain because a race is boring, then complain when NASCAR tries to do something. I believe the problem with NASCAR is that it is losing popularity, not because of a chase format, or lack of cautions; rather, they are losing popularity because they have gotten away from their roots. No one wants to see anyone get killed or injured, but let the drivers have their personalities on and off the track. I'm not a kenseth fan, but I don't believe he should have ever been suspended. The only people that were happy about that were Logano fans and people who don't even watch the sport to begin with.

[BurghFan]

re: Official NASCAR Series News Thread

You know, I just saw the news about the Xfinity/CWTS Chase and was thinking about when you were gonna start this thread.
________________

Rich, I agree with you on the "gimmicky" part, the current version of the Chase is silly with the rounds and elimination. They can keep the 16 cars and the win and be in the top 30 and your in part, but get rid of the rounds and elimination. If the really think they have to keep them, maybe just do 2 5-race segments eliminating the bottom half after the 1st 5 and letting the final 5 races determine the championship instead of a single race.

[Cutter15]

re: Official NASCAR Series News Thread

Yeah guys, I'd much rather see the potential champion coast around the mid twenties during the final race of the year. That's MUCH better than 4 drivers trying to win that race while trying to avoid being caught up in shenanigans from the other 39. Ah, the days of 3 cars finishing on the lead lap with the 10th place finisher 15 laps behind were so awesome, man! I bet you could get an ice cold Coca-Cola for a nickel too!

[superjames1992]

re: Official NASCAR Series News Thread

I am undecided on the caution clock. I mean, I hate it, but I also hate fake debris cautions. At least now the fake cautions will be predictable, I guess.

[tacosaban]

re: Official NASCAR Series News Thread

caution clock is just for trucks right or is it sprint cup also

[Cutter15]

re: Official NASCAR Series News Thread

Trucks only for now. Supposedly being used as an experiment for the future.

[Redacted01]

re: Official NASCAR Series News Thread

Trucks only for now. Supposedly being used as an experiment for the future.

I hope it's an experiment that fails. I prefer long, green flag racing. Trucks might need it for competitive purposes, but Sprint Cup doesn't.

[Richzilla]

re: Official NASCAR Series News Thread

Yeah guys, I'd much rather see the potential champion coast around the mid twenties during the final race of the year. That's MUCH better than 4 drivers trying to win that race while trying to avoid being caught up in shenanigans from the other 39. Ah, the days of 3 cars finishing on the lead lap with the 10th place finisher 15 laps behind were so awesome, man! I bet you could get an ice cold Coca-Cola for a nickel too!

Now the first 20 races don't mean much at all. Champion missed a third of the season. That manufactured drama is a joke. I will enjoy supercross and drink my nickel coke.

Bottom line it's not all about one last race...It's about a season long struggle each one used to matter.

Glad you enjoy what we have now. I do not.

I feel like the sport has turned it's back on the fan base that kept it going during the first 50 or so years is all. Things change I understand that. I just do not have to blindly go along with what they tell me is exciting. New doesn't always mean better.

[Thrash13]

re: Official NASCAR Series News Thread

You're acting as if Kyle Busch raced so-so after returning from injury. The guy was absolutely incredible after returning, winning 5 races of the 25 he started (16 top-10 finishes). That's a legit champion any way you slice it. I enjoy watching Formula 1 as well, but I'd MUCH rather watch an exciting final race for the title than to have the championship sealed weeks in advance of the finale.

I haven't been a Nascar fan for 40 years like you have, so my opinion probably doesn't count as much either. That being said, Nascar is as exciting as it's been the 10 years or so I've been following it.

I'm looking forward to the 2016 season more than any in recent memory. The Sprint Unlimited can't get here soon enough!

[franko3219]

re: Official NASCAR Series News Thread

It appears that Stewart was injured in an ATV accident. He's been hospitalized with a back injury. No word on the severity yet, and no indication on whether or not this will keep him out of the car for any period of time, in what is supposed to be Stewart's last season. I hope it's nothing major. I'd like to see him make a charge like Gordon did for his final season.

http://www.foxsports.com/nascar/story/tony-stewart-hospitalized-with-back-injury-sprint-cup-series-daytona-500-020216