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 "We have arrived at a format that makes every race matter even
more, diminishes points racing, puts a premium on winning races and
concludes with a best-of-the-best, first-to-the-finish line showdown
race — all of which is exactly what fans want," said Brian France,
NASCAR chairman and CEO.
"We have looked at a number of concepts for the last three years
through fan research, models and simulations, and also maintained
extensive dialogue with our drivers, teams and partners. The new
Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup will be thrilling, easy to
understand and help drive our sport's competition to a whole new
level."
Changes announced by France to the championship format include:
-
A victory in the first 26 races likely will guarantee a driver a
berth in the 10-race Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup — a change
that will put an unprecedented premium on winning a NASCAR Sprint
Cup Series race all season long.
-
Expanding the Chase field from 12 to 16 drivers, with those
drivers advancing to what now will be known as the NASCAR Sprint Cup
Series Chase Grid.
-
The number of championship drivers in contention for the NASCAR
Sprint Cup championship will decrease after every three Chase races,
from 16 to start in the Chase Grid; 12 after Chase race No. 3; eight
after Chase race No. 6; and four after Chase race No. 9.
-
The first three races of the Chase (27-29) will be known as the
Challenger Round; races 30-32 will be known as the Contender Round;
races 33-35 will be the Eliminator Round and race No. 36 will be the
NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship.
-
A win by a championship-eligible driver in any Chase race
automatically clinches the winning driver a spot in the next Chase
round.
-
Four drivers will enter the NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship with a
chance for the Cup, with the highest finisher among those four
capturing the prestigious NASCAR Sprint Cup Series title.
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The top 15 drivers with the most wins over the first 26 races will
earn a spot in the Chase Grid — provided they have finished in the
top 30 in points and attempted to qualify for every race (except in
rare instances).
The 16th Chase position will go to the points leader after race No.
26, if he/she does not have victory. In the event that there are 16
or more different winners over 26 races, the only winless driver who
can earn a Chase Grid spot would be the points leader after 26
races.
If there are fewer than 16 different winners in the first 26 races,
the remaining Chase Grid positions will go to those winless drivers
highest in points. If there are 16 or more different winners in the
first 26 races, the ties will first be broken by number of wins,
followed by NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver points.
As was implemented in 2011, prior to the start of the Chase, all
Chase Grid drivers will have their points adjusted to 2,000, with
three additional bonus points added to their total for each win in
the first 26 races.
After the third Chase race, the Chase Grid will be left with 12
drivers. After the sixth Chase race, the field will drop to eight
drivers, and following the ninth Chase race, only four drivers will
remain in championship contention for the NASCAR Sprint Cup
championship.
The 36th and final race of the season will be the "NASCAR Sprint Cup
Championship." The highest finisher in the Championship race among
the remaining four eligible drivers will win the NASCAR Sprint Cup
Series title.
[© 2014 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
Copyright 2014 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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