In exactly four weeks and four days, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series will return to Phoenix International Raceway, kicking off an historic season for the track as it celebrates its 50th anniversary.
However, a pair of major announcements from NASCAR this spring mean that PIR will not only be celebrating its history this season, it will also be on the forefront of two significant changes in stock car racing.
During his annual “State of the Sport” address this morning, NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France announced changes to the Sprint Cup Series scoring system which will affect the initial makeup of the field in the Chase for the Sprint Cup as well as the Chase itself.
“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,” France said. “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.”
The November race at PIR will be one of the events most directly affected by the new changes. The Phoenix race, which is sponsored by Quicken Loans, will serve as the final elimination race in the Chase. The field of drivers eligible for the Sprint Cup Series championship will be cut from eight to four following the race.
“I think the new scoring system will have a very positive impact on the quality of racing throughout the year and particularly on a crucial stage such as our fall race,” said Phoenix International Raceway President Bryan R. Sperber. “The November Cup race in Phoenix has been a fixture on the NASCAR calendar for the last 25 years, and these changes will only add to that. Our 50th anniversary is all about celebrating the rich racing history in Phoenix, and it’ll be great to cap it of by making some NASCAR history.”
Following is a complete explanation of the new NASCAR points system and Chase for the Sprint Cup format.
– A victory in the first 26 races all but guarantees a berth in the 10-race Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup – a change that will put an unprecedented importance 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 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 at the title, with the highest finisher among those four capturing the prestigious NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship.
Eligibility for the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup
The top 15 drivers with the most wins over the first 26 races will earn a spot in the NASCAR 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 a 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 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.
Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Structure
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 title.
The first round (races 27-29) will be called the Challenger Round. If a driver in the Chase Grid wins a Challenger Round race, the driver automatically advances to the next round. The remaining available positions 1-12 that have not been filled based upon wins will be based on points. Each will then have their points reset to 3,000.
The second round (races 30-32) will be called the Contender Round. Likewise, if a driver in the top 12 in points wins a race in the Contender Round, the driver automatically advances to the next round. The remaining available positions 1-8 that have not been filled based upon wins will be based on points. Each will then have their points reset to 4,000.
The third round (races 33-35) will be called the Eliminator Round. If a driver in the top eight in points wins a race in the Eliminator Round, the driver automatically advances to the next round. The remaining available positions 1-4 that have not been filled based upon wins will be based on points. Each will then have their points reset to 5,000.
Additionally, drivers who are eliminated in the Contender and Eliminator Rounds will have their points readjusted. Each eliminated driver will return to the Chase-start base of 2,000 (plus any regular season wins bonus points), with their accumulated points starting with race No. 27 added. This will allow all drivers not in contention for the NASCAR Sprint Cup title to continue to race for the best possible season-long standing, with final positions fifth-through-16th still up for grabs.
Four Drivers, First-to-the-Finish Championship Finale
The 36th and final race of the season will be the NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship. Simply stated, the highest finisher in that race among the remaining four eligible drivers will win the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series title.
Bonus points for laps led will not apply in the season finale, so the official finishing position alone will decide the champion.
Note: All rules outlined above also apply to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series owner championship structure.
About Phoenix International Raceway
Since 1964, Phoenix International Raceway has been the premier motorsports venue in the Southwest. Host to some of the most notable moments in motorsports history, PIR will celebrate its 50th Anniversary throughout the entire 2014 season. As the only track in the West to have two NASCAR Sprint Cup Series weekends a year, PIR will help kick off the 2014 NASCAR season with its traditional March date and round out the year with the semifinal race for the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup in November. Season tickets for 2014 are available by visiting PhoenixRaceway.com or calling 866-408-RACE (7223).
