When we introduced stage racing we took an element of strategy away from the event, Sawyer. Even lauding that the fence "did its . Now he's molding its future, Sports leagues unite to set limits on betting ads, Kaulig Racing has points restored by NASCAR, Larson races past Logano to win at Martinsville, Nemechek holds off Smith for 2nd Xfinity win, Preece claims pole at Martinsville; Elliott 24th, Elliott vows to keep snowboarding after accident, NASCAR star Elliott set to return at Martinsville, Zane Smith to drive in place of suspended Ware, NASCAR's Ware arrested on assault charges, Dirt-racing star Bell tops Reddick to win Bristol, Bowman, Byron penalized for postrace violations, Hamlin's penalties for hit on Chastain upheld, Team owners' feud with NASCAR gives fans excuse to tune out -- again, Owners skip NASCAR meeting over revenue talks, Jones replaces Kenseth in JGR's No. Please logout and login again. Stage racing wasn't always a thing in NASCAR, and is probably one of the newest changes the sport has made over the years. Confused yet? 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. One example of this would be the Daytona 500. which consisted of two 65-lap stages. 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. They claim that NASCAR just wants more restarts because a certain type of NASCAR fan only tunes in to see big crashes. Stages are currently present in all NASCAR point races. That's why less people are watching. The formula for NASCAR has been pretty simple in terms of race format. By pitting early, they would be behind those who stayed out to collect the stage points. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. Poole left the race. Officials believed this was a great way to improve its races. Some would say this change ruins the racing experience. To that, NASCAR likely views its new format as "modernizing tradition" and says something like, "Guilty as charged. After all, keeping the pack together leads to more contact and more drama, Dragon Ball Super chapter 81 release time for English translation confirmed. This is the exploratory stage where fundamental questions are answered, such as what will actually be implemented. He got the finish he deserved, and I didnt do a good enough job to get the finish that we needed out of that one (Dillon was third, Busch 32nd). Lets dig into these reasons a little deeper so you will better understand each of the those given about why NASCAR started stage racing. But that doesnt mean that we dont go to work and try and figure it out and make it better for both of us.. His "Garage Mahal" in Mooresville, NC, was a . the device limits the power output of the motor and hence slows both the acceleration and the overall top speeds . However, a Duel win does not count toward advancing to the playoffs. Felt this (change) would bring some new storylines (in an event).. Just look at the differences in the final 2019 championship standings, the standings without playoffs, and the standings without stages. However, after Dale Earnhardt, Sr.'s fatal crash in the 2001 Daytona 500, safety burst to the forefront of NASCAR's technology development. The adjustments primarily involve reducing the number of laps in the third stage to ensure enough . This brings the total laps to 130 and sets the field up for a 70-lap shootout to the end. Each of the stages starts and ends with a checked green/white flag, not the traditional end of the race checkerboard. To the fans who've stuck with us today, we say thank you.Let's enjoy this #DAYTONA500 on FOX! As far as the playoff points are concerned, leave that for the race wins. I did not mean to do that at all, Chastain told his crew via radio. This added intrigue and strategy is exactly what NASCAR hoped stage racing would accomplish. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. 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. At the end of the year, the drivers at the top of the points leaderboard move on to the playoffs, when wins are taken into account. At this point, why not just have 50-lap sprint races each week? For more information, please read our Legal Disclaimer. The regular season point and playoff point systems are used for all three series; thus, each stage winner receives ten regular season points and one playoff point. 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. These points, different from the previous stage points, accumulate for a playoff-style race where each stage winner gets one playoff point. . This is exciting, because we see everyone win or lose on pit road immediately. These points are different from playoff points and help with qualifying and other track position reward in future races. Drivers now earn bonus points by finishing in the top 10 at the end of the first and second stages of a race. It rewards those who are fast at the beginning of the race. Rewarding guys who hit the wall early or make some other silly error but decide not to pit at the end of the stage with more points than anybody else in the field in the stage is just flat-out ridiculous. 06.06.2017. Why did NASCAR implement stage racing? But why did NASCAR start stage racing? Instead of a long 100 or more lap race that requires endurance and only slows down for yellow flag laps and or caution flags, NASCAR decided to add 2 more stages to each race. Stage 01. NASCAR, known for its trackside excitement, has not remained unaffected by this trend and broke up the 3+ hour single races into stages.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'speedtwitch_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_5',183,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-speedtwitch_com-medrectangle-3-0'); The number and distance of stags per race vary, but the resulting opinions on stage racing have been contentious. In the area of fantasy sports leagues and sports betting, these points offer ways to create more action and build a rooster of winning racers. 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. Essentially, the stage racing format in NASCAR is designed to help keep the pack together and not let one driver dominate. 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. But its an unnecessary element of strategy that does nothing to enhance the on-track product. ARCA * All cars must be equipped with a Race Safe light system. ET Monday. Ever since i got in my pedal powered car 40 or so years ago I have been a lifelong fan of all motor racing, particular NASCAR and Indy, so this site is made to help share the answers to those questions that pop up mid race! I think 100 laps turned out to be a nice compromise. So, in a nutshell, stage racing has achieved what NASCAR anticipated: adding interest and strategy to the sport. Stage points incentivize racing throughout the race and not just for the win and to offer more passing opportunities during the race. It makes the race much more exciting because the drivers are not only pushing their cars to the limit to get the winning points at the end but to gain the extra points they can earn by placing in the top ten of every stage. The final stage most closely resembles a traditional, old-school NASCAR race, as there are no more mandated cautions once the green flag flies and drivers hit the gas. Cars would pit when they could, hoping to get a caution so they could come in and get some fuel and new tires. 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 . There is a 1% chance of rain for the start of the race. Introduced in 2017, NASCAR stages were considered a needed change to the long-standing single-stage race event that the sport was known for. It essentially breaks each race. Stage 1 makes up roughly the first quarter of the race, though this can vary depending on the track. After racing back to the caution was eliminated, the green-white-checkered rule was implemented to help avoid a race from finishing under caution, particularly in the middle of a lap. What things can we look for and try to do. The top 10 at the end of a stage score points. 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. Table of Contents NASCAR also had a an issue when it red-flagged a stage at Pocono after the pits were closed and then issued a one-lap, green-flag dash to the end of the stage, which didn't allow time for drivers who possibly had driven through debris a chance to pit. Stage 2 ends at Lap 29. NASCAR awards a playoff point to the stage winner along with 10 points. While there are plenty of logical and lucrative reasons to implement seasons of stage racing, not everyone is completely sold on it. The higher the rank, the more points they earn, which is reason enough for most drivers to race hard.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'motorracingsports_com-banner-1','ezslot_5',114,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-motorracingsports_com-banner-1-0'); Al lifelong Motor Racing Fan, with a particular love of NASCAR and IndyCar racing. Depending on the course, the first stage can be anywhere from 25 to 30 percent of the races overall duration. Apr 20, 2022 12:01 AM. 'I belong here': R. Truex wins first NASCAR race, Hendrick to drivers after injuries: Take it easy, Bowman out at least 3 races after sprint car crash, Busch barely makes finish in OT win at Talladega, Burton wins Xfinity Series crash-fest at Talladega, Hamlin claims first superspeedway pole at Dega, Harvick was once NASCAR's punk kid. Sometimes stages work out as a 40/60 split, with 30% each for the first and second stages and the remaining 40% representing the final and longest stage. How often do fans moan about qualifying? USA TODAY Sports asked about 200 fans at tracks, on the phone and on social media who have reduced their racetrack trips to explain why. The more entertaining the races are, the more viewers they will get. 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. You also earn playoff points per stage you win, which is added to your postseason total. Stage winners and the overall race winner both get playoff points. Some longtime fans and NASCAR purists met the change with skepticism and outrage. SiriusXM NASCAR Radio will carry the PRN broadcast. Who wants to waste laps running under caution? All betting content is intended for an audience ages 21+. Stage points for the top 10 drivers are awarded at the conclusion of stages 1 and 2. Although it has caused quite a controversy, stage racing is now a standard feature of NASCAR competition, and its something we all need to deal with. However, the older lot might still reminisce about the old days prior to these additions. Every NASCAR season begins with an exhibition race called The Clash. Initially, only on-track incidents resulted in raising the red flag. The truth is that every time NASCAR green-flags a restart, there is a good chance of a great pass or a big wreck happening. The race will be broadcast by FS1, Performance Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. 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. The first 2 stages of a race are usually between 25 and 30 percent of a races total laps each, with some variation depending on the length of a race and the track itself. Playoff points are also distributed to the top-10 finishers in the regular season standings on a sliding scale. The televised racing experience was also a key factor in NASCARs decision to alter the framework of its races. START: Actor, director, author and podcaster Kevin Smith will give the command to start engines at 12:01 p.m. The green flag is scheduled to wave at 12:10 p.m. PRERACE: Cup garage opens at 9 a.m. Driver introductions at 11:30 a.m. Dan Schafer, pastor of Calvary Assembly of God in Heightstown, New Jersey, will give the Invocation at 11:53 p.m. JAGMAC will perform the national anthem at 11:54 p.m. There is a lot to dissect regarding the stage racing format, including how it works and why it was introduced in the first place. It all just comes down to excitement and incentive at the end of the day. A stage winner also receives one playoff point to their tally. The first two are about a quarter distance in length each, with the final stage making up over half the race. While it doesnt happen often, once is enough to piss off a casual fan. While this is nice for fans that like a little of this kind of action, it is contrary to the intended goal of keeping drivers from crashing through NASCAR official policies. Not all NASCAR races have the same number of stages. All the drivers are bunched together, 2-by-2, trying to make the most of their fresh tires and improve track position while they still can. Only the final stage is ended with the traditional chequered flag, as that is the end of the race. So what's to like about the stages? The end of the race offers more significant points, and each driver that finishes the race will get at least one point. The Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway is the only NASCAR race that does not have 3 stages. This event marks the first NASCAR Cup Series race on the dirt since 1970. Except now, cars flip into the fence with regularity. If a driver is pegged back every 65 laps or so - as is the case at the. NASCAR: Just how good is Bubba Wallace at superspeedways? As soon as the green flag is raised and the cars accelerate, the final stage most closely mimics an authentic, vintage NASCAR race. Your email address will not be published. The content on this site is for entertainment and educational purposes only. 1) Just like all the other major racing series in the world, NASCAR has become a money deal. As soon as he ran into me, I just kind of got shoved into the corner, like way too deep, and then I was just immediately turned around. Required fields are marked *. Often a couple of racers can gain an intimidating lead that, unless crashes or car trouble occurs, will be maintained all three hours. All advice, including picks and predictions, is based on individual commentators opinions and not that of Minute Media or its related brands. The final stage goes off the points listed above. NASCAR is settling with people in the crowd who sustain life altering injuries like it's nothing. NASCAR hasnt just captured the imagination of its race fans, but also of much of the wider world through the medium of film. Stage racing was introduced across NASCAR's three biggest series, the Cup Series, the Xfinity Series and the Truck Series, before the start of the 2017 season. Similar to an ordinary NASCAR event, both the Cup Series and Truck Series races will be divided into three stages, but changes to the format were implemented after Friday practice produced a . Stage points are awarded to the top 10 finishers after stages one and two. 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. Half the field competes in each one based on the results from single-car qualifying held earlier in the week. NASCAR had to make some changes to ensure the survival of the sport. NASCAR also had a an issue when it red-flagged a stage at Pocono after the pits were closed and then issued a one-lap, green-flag dash to the end of the stage, which didn't allow time for drivers . Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Let's say Chase Elliott won a race at Pocono Raceway, earning him a total of 40 points. Each stage length is determined well before the race, and each is ended with a green/white checkered. NASCAR announced the change Tuesday in a session with reporters at the NASCAR R&D Center. It all just comes down to excitement and incentive at the end of the day. A Beginners Guide to NASCAR: 6 Highlights of What NASCAR Is Like. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". Bill France Jr., former NASCAR president, did too. As winners pass the finished line to the green checkered flag that signals the end of the first two stages, the leading 10 drivers will be awarded stage points. NASCAR equips each car with an Incident Data Recorder (ICD) that is essentially the sport's "black box," mounted on the driver's side of the chassis in a "shoe" designed by safety engineers. Advancing teams carry their playoff points all the way through to the Championship Race at Phoenix Raceway in November. The playoffs start better for drivers with a string of triumphs than those who have to work their way through the regular season with no wins. Common critiques of stage racing from these fans usually revolve around the idea that stage racing is gimmicky. But after the first season with stages, Keselowski said I like stage races because there is a reward at the end of each one of them.. They talk about giving points for qualifying. Stage racing and the subsequent cautions provide organic commercial breaks during which fans miss nothing. Stage racing was implemented to ensure those things were still part of the sport. Want to know the most dangerous tracks this season? There is nothing better than watching a close race from the comforts of your living room, except for maybe a viewpoint from the trackside. 20 in 2018, Keselowski: Current car design not up to par. These points add up to positions and advantages in playoff races and continue to accumulate through the first stages of the championship race. Although there are caution laps and times when racing is under a yellow flag, it can be difficult to time commercials perfectly and still give clients the required airtime. But Would that still be good? Of course, they could do that anyway without the "stages," but this at least gives fans a starting point. To ensure ad space buyers and fans of fixed commercial spots that guarantee interruption-free green flag racing. Stages consist of dividing the race into smaller segments, allowing for commercial breaks and creating more suspense and action for the audience. CONCORD, N.C. NASCAR will do away with stage breaks in all six Cup road course races and select Xfinity and Truck races this season, but teams will continue to score stage points. 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. Yes, stage racing adds the element of strategy. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. It is frustrating when green flag racing is interrupted by a commercial break, leaving fans mostly clueless as to what is happening. Most first and second stages make up about 25 to 30 percent of the total distance while the final stage is 40 to 50 percent of the total distance. (Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte, which has an extra stage) These stages are not equal in length in miles and are divided based on the total length of the track and the mile goal of the event. Watching a race takes some preparation and rationing of snacks. As NASCAR viewership moves to a larger digital spectatorship when compared to trackside fans, the race format has needed to adapt as well. Motor Racing Sports is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Knowing when the caution comes out allows teams to choose between finishing well in a stage or possibly putting themselves in a better position to win the race. The top 10 finishers in each stage receive points on a 10-1 scale in the NASCAR points standings. At Auto Club Speedway, the stage breaks went for 12 . We also participate in other affiliate programs which compensate us for referring traffic. "Considering feedback from teams, drivers and fans, NASCAR has implemented these changes to enhance competition," NASCAR senior vice president of competition Scott Miller said last year after. The top 10 during regular season standings also receive a gradation of playoff points. Bobby Allison flipped into the fence in 1987 and nascar flipped its shit. At Phoenix Raceway, the stage breaks lasted for 12 laps, equating to .26 hours or 15.6 minutes. 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. Stages, like the playoffs themselves among other changes NASCAR has made over the years, have been criticized as being gimmicky, and they certainly dont fit the mold of what youd expect from a sport that thrives off its grassroots fanbase. At the stage break, those who had yet to pit would do so, allowing those who stopped before the break to leapfrog back to the front. The total number of laps in the race remains mostly unchanged but how races progress through these laps changes drastically. Stages help the most in preventing breakaway leaders in the first few laps of the race. 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.. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Stage 3 is made up of whatever miles are left over after the initial two stages, which is typically about half of the race. In its press release, NASCAR termed stage racing competition format enhancements. NASCAR hopes viewers will be more engaged in watching miniature races within the framework of a traditional race. Just uncalled for. For new fans of the sports, stages have been a welcome addition. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. I dont know. I thought Austin did an awesome job with what we had at Martinsville, running 12th there, that was good. A stage is a division of the total race duration into usually three or occasionally four parts. Those who do not make the cut are left to prepare for the next racing season. You might be wondering why NASCAR races now have stages. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. A profound loss of a racing icon changed the way NASCAR viewed safety. Not all, of course, but most. STAGES: Stage 1 ends at Lap 120. Brennan Poole on Ross Chastain at Dover pic.twitter.com/cyj2TBODqL. A racer that gets an early start will most likely not be ahead the entire race as race conditions change and the race stops and starts at least twice more. The 2022 event was raced on a short track created inside the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. As NASCAR viewership moves to a larger digital spectatorship when compared to trackside fans, the race format has needed to adapt as well. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. #DAYTONA500 pic.twitter.com/N7xf3dX6FD. NASCAR earlier this month announced the stage lengths for those 36 Cup Series races in 2020, beginning with Sunday's 200-lap Daytona 500. After an early-race crash sparked by Ross Chastain parked Brennan Poole in Mondays Cup race at Dover Motor Speedway, Poole said Chastain probably needs to get his butt whooped.. NASCARs equivalent of the home-field advantage found in other sports is playoff points. The NASCAR racing stages are very easy to understand once you know how it works. Drivers now earn bonus points by finishing in the top 10 at the end of the first and second stages of a race. Stage racing is simply NASCAR's way of bunching the field up a couple of times and trying to create something interesting . By nature, stage racing also creates another unnecessary element that takes away from the competition itself. When did NASCAR implement pit road speed limits? STAGES: Stage 1 ends at Lap 14. 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. And each time it does, it has seen the very predictable consequences . At the end of each race stage, points and playoff points are tallied and awarded to the winning drivers. Joe is the owner and creator of this website. So, now that you know what and why stages were included in NASCAR, you can enjoy the sport better. 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. Race stages also break up speed top-speed races that push cars to their limits for 100s of laps. I think the fans would ultimately lose.". 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. How NASCAR Stages Work. The closer the pack is together, and the more incentives they have to go for the lead, the better the entertainment will be for all the fans. 30% for Stage 1 would be 110 laps, so it would be 110, 110 and 147, which makes Stage 3 pretty short relative to Stage 1 and Stage 2. If there was a wild wreck or two, it was even better. So, its kind of pathetic. 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. Here is the all-aluminum 2017 F-250 Super Duty, Tune-Only Challenger Hellcat puts down 705WHP, Behind the scenes: Lamborghini Aventador LP 750-4 SV (Superveloce) promotional video. NASCAR has had a set term of race format for almost 100 years, and the premise of stage racing greatly affects established team strategies. That's OK. Let's just think about the stages themselves. Some of them are quite surprising. Continuing its tradition of innovation, NASCAR, in collaboration with drivers, teams, and manufacturers, built a new generation of car the NASCAR Next Gen car aimed to further reduce costs. Often winners of stages and winners of the overall race are not the same, which also creates more action for sports betting, a very lucrative attraction NASCAR offers.