NASCAR Overhauls Race And Playoff Format
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CHARLOTTE, N.C. (CBSDFW/AP) -- NASCAR is dramatically changing its format for the upcoming season, cutting every race into stages that reward points in hopes of make every lap matter.
The overhaul announced Monday assigns three stages to every race. The top 10 drivers at the end of Stage 1 and Stage 2 will be awarded points on a 10-through-1 scale.
The third portion of the race will be for the overall victory, and although traditional point scoring will be applied for that stage, the win will be worth 40 points.
The rest of the field will be scored on a 35 to 2 scale, and positions 36th to 40 will only receive 1 point.
All points accumulated through the 26-race regular season can be used in the 10-race playoff, which will no longer be called "The Chase."
The new format begins with the Feb. 26 season-opening Daytona 500.
Some drivers are weighing in on the change via social media:
Love what NASCAR has done with the new format. It will give the driver, teams and fans more exciting moments throughout the race.
— Kasey Kahne (@kaseykahne) January 24, 2017
I like the new @NASCAR racing format. This is definitely going to make he Super Speedway races crazy at 3 different stages of the race
— Jamie McMurray (@jamiemcmurray) January 24, 2017
Let's see...
— Jimmie Johnson (@JimmieJohnson) January 23, 2017
WIN. WIN. WIN.
Sounds good to me!@NASCAR ????
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