The pending end of a stage adds some built-in urgency to two part of the race, way before those closing laps. Drivers who finish in the top 10 in Stage 1 and Stage 2 earn additional race points, with the winner of each stage earning 10 points, second place earning nine points, third place earning. On the first lap of every race, there is a short parade lap where each driver has a chance to pass all the other cars before the start of the race. It's like a rollercoaster; the bottom drops out on you. These bonus points apply to the weekly standings. NASCAR is unlikely to rule on Chase Elliott's playoff waiver request until the driver is close to returning to competition, but there is no reason to believe it won't be granted. This is the second straight year Dover's . As with any new innovation in NASCAR, controversy will always follow changes that are made. Kyle Larson won the regular-season points championship and earned the No. ET, NBCSN) Bristol Motor. The starting lineup for theMay 27 race at Charlotte, though, will be set by the same procedure NASCAR will use to set the field for the second Darlington race an inversion of positions 1-20, then positions 21-40 remain the same from the Coca-Cola 600 results. Of the 10 races, four of them take place on 1.5-mile ovals, which are the most popular track type on the schedule. Just make your picks and you could win the grand prize. NASCAR also announced that pit-stall selection for the May 17 Darlington race wouldbe based on charter team owner points, then open team owner points. Thats a mouthful for the actor who popularized the Silent Bob character in a number of his projects. The starting lineup for the first Darlington race wasbe determined by both owner points and a random draw. NASCAR isn't quite ready for that, aside from the Busch Light Clash, so in 2017 the sanctioning body came up with the ideas of breaking up races into three stages. Copyright 2023 Sporting News Holdings Limited. 5 Takeaways: Ricky Stenhouse Jr. clips Joey Logano to win longest Daytona 500 in NASCAR history. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. Now it's time for you to get it done and play to win Clint Bowyer's $5K. One annoyance regarding NASCAR races in the past were phantom debris cautions, when track officials waved the yellow flag because debris was supposedly present on the racing surface. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. Well get on track and kind of see where we stack up and go from there.. These are special races that do not follow any particular format other than the fact that they always include at least two of these exotic stages. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. I havent really seen the replay, but it felt like I just got ran over really for no reason 80 laps into the race. When & Why Did NASCAR Introduce Stage Racing? Some lobbied for "heat racing," which you see on the short tracks of America on any Friday and/or Saturday night. The main difference between the first two stages and the dash stage is that during the dash stage drivers can make any number of pit stops in order to change tires, repair damage, or just refill their fuel tanks. What kinds of runners are used in relay races? Talladega Superspeedway is famous for its dramatic finishes, and the 2023 GEICO 500 only bolstered that reputation. The stage winner is determined by who has the most points after all three periods are completed. Fernando Tatis Jr. had three hits, scored once and fired up the crowd in his return to Petco Park, and Ha-Seong Kim hit a tiebreaking three-run homer as the San Diego Padres beat the Cincinnati Reds 8-3 for their third straight win, The Denver Nuggets took a 2-0 lead over the Phoenix Suns in their Western Conference semifinal as they rallied for a 97-87 victory at Ball Arena, Privacy PolicyTerms of ServiceSign Up For Our NewslettersSite Map, Copyright 2023, The San Diego Union-Tribune |, Team members walk down pit road after the NASCAR 400 auto race was postponed due to weather at Dover Motor Speedway Sunday, April 30, 2023, in Dover, Del. Manage Settings Stage racing is also controversial, and we will reveal why that is the case, even if it has been many years since its implementation. However, the NASCAR season is a grueling marathon. The winner of each race gets a bonus of five playoff points, and the winners of Stage 1 and 2 each get one bonus playoff point. The longest stage is called the "Great American Race." Along the way, there are a lot of ovals and two road courses: Sonoma Raceway and Watkins Glen. The exact number will be determined by a random draw. The choose rule for restarts will be in effect. The table depicting the points the top 10 drivers earn following a races final stage apply following Stage 4 in Charlotte. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. ", Chastain said on his radio communications he "did not mean to do that.". This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Daytona 500 has three stages: What are stages in NASCAR? Of the roughly 40-car fields, 16 drivers make it into the first playoff round, and those not going for the title often use the playoff stretch to get their cars ready for the next season. The final stage goes off the points listed above. Stages 1 and 2 make up the first and second quarters of the race, while Stage 3 makes up the races second half. Larson and Suarez lead this NASCAR analyst's list, but he also insists that Corey LaJoie is a driver every fan and spectator should respect. At the end of Stage 1 and 2, the top 10 drivers receive points first-place gets 10 points, second place gets nine, all the way down to a single point for. It consists of three 90-minute periods of racing, with a mandatory two-hour break between each period. And Waltrip shared his thoughts on what we could see later this year. These are the same distances used by the IndyCar Series and Formula One Grand Prix. Just download theFOX Bet Super 6 appon your phone or mobile device, make your picks and submit your selections before the race gets underway this Sunday. This year's Open will roll off sometime after 6 p.m. I told you, he's used to sliding around the tracks and finding the grip wherever it might be, whether it's low or high. That much thought went into it. The 600 is NASCAR's longest race, stretching for 600 miles (966 km). Market data provided by Factset. "As a kid, you wanna do what your heroes do. ^ Only for Coca-Cola 600 NASCAR's modified Cup Series schedule is underway with races at Darlington Raceway and Charlotte Motor Speedway, but new protocols for qualifying and practice sessions are in place to keep race team and NASCAR officials away from the track (and each other) as much as possible. Teams that do not beat the pace car off pit road will lose a lap and restart at the tail of the field; teams that pit more than twice or outside of their designated pit window will also restart at the tail of the field. As the Coca-Cola 600 has an additional stage, slightly different points rules apply. Elliott picked up the win on a Monday last season at Dover Motor Speedway and hell get another shot this year after rain again postponed Sundays race. He almost won Talladega. FS1 will show both races. LaJoie has been in contention to win at those racetracks, and I think he gets it done.". "Theres nothing more that I could do in the situation. With the format being present in each race, you may therefore wonder how NASCAR stages work. Stage lengths will vary based on the type of stage being run. Ross Chastain, driver of the #1 Jockey Chevrolet, drives during practice for the NASCAR Cup Series Wrth 400 at Dover International Speedway on April 29, 2023 in Dover, Delaware. Eventually, just four drivers will still be alive for the Championship 4 race at Phoenix. However, some races can go longer if there are several major accidents near the end of the race. pic.twitter.com/hd30W3dxNa. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. NASCAR has not yet confirmed how it will set the field for its Cup Series races at Atlanta, Martinsville, Bristol, Homestead-Miami and Talladega. Continue with Recommended Cookies. The longest stage before that was 10 laps in 1997. Every NASCAR race is made up of 3 stages, except the Coca-Cola 600, which has 4. Elliott, who finished 12th last week at Talladega, said hes just pushing forward as he drives the No. NASCAR STAR ALEX BOWMAN FLIPS AND LANDS HARD IN SCARY SPRINT CAR CRASH, "Doesnt make any sense to me. Sixteen drivers advanced to the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com. Note that these bonus points are not handed out following Stage 3. This becomes more of a case for drivers who need all the bonus points they can get to make the playoffs. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. Points are awarded to the drivers in the first two stages: Notes The only exception to the 3 stage race is for the NASCAR Cup Series's longest race, the Coca - Cola 600 which has 4 stages that are divided into 4 equal 100 lap quarters with points awarded for stage 3 position. New fans to racing might be asking: Wait, what are stages in NASCAR? Kyle Larson is the 5-1 favorite to win, per FanDuel Sportsbook. The pit window for Cup cars at Daytona is 40 laps, so different teams and manufacturers are sure to implement a wide range of strategies based on the 65- and 70-lap stage lengths. Elliott would like to join him on that list. Cutting up a certain amount of laps for each green flag run. Tom Gatto is a senior editor at The Sporting News. NASCAR also awards points to the top 10 finishers in Stages 1-2 in each race (10 for first place, nine for second and so on). After the parade lap, the race starts with the green flag waving and the pace car pulling away from the rest of the field. FOX Bet Super 6 is a free-to-play contest where you can pick six different outcomes in the NASCAR Stage 2 Contest featuring the Wrth 400 at Dover Motor Speedway to win Clint Bowyer's $5,000 . The shortest stage is called a "sprint stage." 9 Chevrolet with the lingering effects of the accident. The annual event regularly includes rule changes that are intended to heighten competition, but NASCAR took some of the adjustments to another level this year. Proponents for stage racing also like how it makes NASCAR more closely resemble other major sports leagues. "Hendrick won't miss a beat without Bowman, Kyle Bush just won Talladega and Austin Dillon could put his car in the top 10 or 20 easily.". In the above scenario, a driver winning the first two stages would receive 20 points, plus another point for their 36th place finish. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. So NASCAR has not changedthe way it awards points during and after races. I know how hungry he is, and I know how talented he is. The lineup for the Darlington race on May 20, scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m. This stage is used primarily when there is very little passing opportunities during normal race hours. The first two stages are roughly 25% of the race each and award the top 10 drivers with points based on their finish when the green-and-white checkered flag is waved. This raises the probability that fans will keep watching the race even if their favorite driver has a bad start to the race. Picking a champion under the current NASCAR rules system is near impossible, as the entire season ends with one race, four drivers on an even field, and the potential for anything to happen. Per NASCAR.com, the setup is used on superspeedways. At the end of Stage 1 and 2, the top 10 drivers receive points first-place gets 10 points, second place gets nine, all the way down to a single point for. However, when you look at probabilities, drivers who race for the best teams in NASCAR often find themselves ahead in the pack anyway. The cars will run a high-downforce aerodynamics package with a narrower spacer. Stages in NASCAR explained First adopted in 2017, stages in NASCAR effectively break the race up into three mini-races. Following the final stage of each race, NASCAR has a basic scoring system that awards drivers. Chase Elliott, Brad Keselowski, Kevin Harvick, Denny Hamlin, Kyle Larson, Martin Truex Jr. "I would go with Larson. The final fourty percent are divided up between the final two stages. Pit selection for the May 20 Darlington race will be determined by the finishing order of the May 17 race. None of that includes the little intricacies in how the championship, like how playoff points differ from regular points or the conundrum of what will happen if all four championship contenders take each other out in the same wreck in the final race of the season. DAYTONA 500 UPDATES: The latest from the 2023 Daytona 500, LONGSHOTS: 5 likeliest longshots to win the Daytona 500, Daytona's honorary race official:WWE's Charlotte Flair opens up about WrestleMania feud with Rhea Ripley, at Daytona 500. And you have to remember that Josh Berry will be in the 48 [car] instead of [Alex] Bowman. Speedway Motorsports, which owns both tracks, made the switch to ensure that Texas had two Cup events this year. When NASCAR released the lengths of stages for all of its Cup Series races last week, it was clear the lengths of the first two segments were designed to avoid fuel mileage racing within the segments. Stage 2 consists of roughly the second quarter, and Stage 3 makes up the remaining second half. NASCAR has run 216 points-paying races between 2017 and 2022, meaning a driver wins every stage of the race just over 10% of the time. NASCAR has reached the playoff stage of the 2021 Cup Series season. Legal Statement. Below, we will give you a brief explanation on how NASCAR stages work before we dive into further detail regarding when and why NASCAR adopted stage racing. This season, the top 10 drivers who qualified for the playoffs have won a race and the bottom six have not. The winners of Stages 1 and 2 will exit the Open and begin preparing for the All-Star Race. Clerks filmmaker and actor Kevin Smith was scheduled to serve as grand marshal for Sundays race and give the command for drivers to star their engines. The 27-year-old has vowed he wont stop snowboarding or any of the other off-track activities he enjoys, even after teammate Alex Bowman was also injured when he suffered a fractured vertebra in a sprint car crash this week. If the driver wins Stage 3 (or 4 at the 600) and the race, they earn 40 regular season points and five playoff points that are added to their points total when the NASCAR Playoffs begin. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Based on the original schedule, a Saturday-Sunday doubleheader at Pocono Raceway would be next (June 27-28), followed by what now would be a Saturday-Sunday doubleheader with an IndyCar race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 4-5. The All-Star Open will again precede the All-Star Race and will again produce three of the final four starters in the field, which this year will be 21 cars. Horsepower will be in the 500-510 range. In addition, the winner of each stage earns one playoff point . Tad Rogers is a former world-class athlete who now uses his training to help others achieve their goals. Find out the stage lengths for the races in all three NASCAR national series: The NASCAR Cup Series, Xfinity Series and Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series. More AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports, FIFA president Gianni Infantinos tactic of publicly criticizing broadcasters for offering too little to screen the Womens World Cup has not worked out yet, Former Cy Young winner Trevor Bauer is about to start his first game for his new team the Yokohama BayStars, Mookie Betts had three hits, including a two-run homer, as the Los Angeles Dodgers went deep four times in a 13-4 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies. NASCAR officials confirmed today the stage lengths for all three of its major touring series, including the races scheduled at Bristol Motor Speedway in 2021. Each stage has a length before it ends. Stage 2 also is 25-30 percent of the race, with Stage 3 made up of whatever mileage is left after the first two stages, usually roughly half. In addition, because some of the mid-week Cup races stuffed into the schedule are shorter in distance than originally planned, NASCAR has released modified stage lengths for the confirmed races in May and June. Which of these drivers Ross Chastain or Denny Hamlin will have the fastest lap by the end of Stage 2 and how many yellow lapswill there be? The race will be shown on TSN3 in Canada. At the end of each race, the winner gets five playoff points and 40 regular points. Even in todays landscape, where the cars are more alike than ever before, larger teams have more funds to attract better sponsorships, and therefore hire a more experienced and talented team around the driver. Stage 1: 65 laps - Lap 1-65 Stage 2: 65 laps - Lap 66-130 Final Stage: 70 laps - Lap 131-200 Daytona International Speedway is 2.5 miles, making 200 laps around the iconic track 500 miles. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, Before 2017, some of the best drivers liked to run throughout the middle of the pack, or to hold back until the second half of the race. Tom Gatto is a senior editor at The Sporting News. And if their favorite driver had some bad luck early on, stage racing still gives that driver a fighting chance to finish the race with a high placing. A race win during the regular season almost guarantees a driver a spot in the playoffs, aside from a couple of rules to insure that someone doesnt win the first race of the year and then park their car until September. If worst comes to worst and the race has to stop, the driver in the lead after at least 100 laps or the end of Stage 2, whichever comes first, will be declared the winner. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. In the previous decade, there was plenty of chatter about bringing more action to NASCAR racing, since many (most?) NASCAR announced the 2021 stage lengths for the NASCAR Cup Series, the NASCAR Xfinity Series and the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Points can also be earned by finishing in the top 10 at the end of a race stage. Instead, the lineups for upcoming races at those tracks will be set mostly by the finishing orders of prior races. He has experience in track and field, wrestling, and martial arts, and he knows exactly what it takes to be successful. Daytona 500 has three stages: What are stages in NASCAR? NASCAR All-Star Race format: Explaining the extra stages, inversions & other changes for 2021, put in additional stages and devisedintricate methods, Starting lineup for the 2021 All-Star Race, 15 laps | 15 laps | 15 laps | 15 laps | 30 laps | 10 laps, Be a past NASCAR All-Star Race winner and compete full time in theSeries, Be a past NASCAR Cup Series championship and compete full time. Often, we either never saw this debris, or it was so small that it had a minute chance of causing actual damage to the cars. 1-5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10-11, 12-13, 14-15, 16-17, 18+, "Chevy again because I feel good about them right now.". Waltrip's word when it comes to racing is worth its weight in gold because he's no stranger to this sport. 7 NASCAR drivers have won all 3 stages of a race (or all 4 at the Coca-Cola 600), with Martin Truex Jr becoming the first driver to accomplish the feat in 2017 at Las Vegas. When Kyle Busch crossed the finish line at the Homestead-Miami Speedway in mid-November last year, 4.578 seconds before the second-place driver, he moved into rarified air. "The overtime rule is only for the end of the race . "My heroes my brother Darrell, Dale Earnhardt, Richard Petty raced and owned teams," Michael explained. For playoff spots not given out as a result of race wins, the final places are filled in by points. (Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images). A typical race lasts three hours and covers 236 miles. So that's why I started a Busch team for the Xfinity Series behind my house out in the country. Every race is divided into 3 stages: Stage 1, Stage 2, Final Stage. At the end of the third stage, which marks the end of the race, the winner gets five playoff points in addition to 40 race points.