Catch Up with 2016 Changes in NASCAR XFINITY Series

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Photo - Jerry Markland/Getty Images

Photo – Jerry Markland/Getty Images

2016 Season Brings Some Change and Lots of Excitement

to NASCAR XFINITY Series

With a new season brings tons of excitement and some great new ideas to the table for the NASCAR XFINITY Series. Much like the successful NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Chase, the XFINITY Series has now adopted a new version of NASCAR’s playoff system. Also the fan and driver adorned Dash 4 Cash program returns for 2016, but this time with a tweak to the process. Below are details to the biggest changes the NASCAR XFINITY Series will see in 2016.

  • NASCAR XFINITY SERIES CHASE – The seven-race NASCAR XFINITY Series Chase will begin at Kentucky Speedway on Sept. 24, and feature 12 drivers and two elimination rounds, with four drivers competing in the Championship 4 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

A win in the first 26 races all but guarantees a driver entry into the NASCAR XFINITY Series Chase, provided the driver is in the top-30 in points and has attempted to qualify for each race. Drivers who win two Dash 4 Cash bonuses are also all but guaranteed a Chase berth.

The first round, called the Round of 12, consists of the races at Kentucky, Dover and Charlotte. All drivers will start with their points adjusted to 2,000, with an extra three bonus points added to their total for each win in the first 26 races. If a driver wins a race in the Round of 12, the driver automatically advances to the next round. The remaining available positions (1-8) that have not been filled by wins will qualify on points.

Each driver who advances to the Round of 8 (Kansas, Texas, Phoenix) then will have their points reset to 3,000. Drivers who win a race in the Round of 8 automatically advance to the Championship 4. The remaining available positions (1-4) that have not been filled by wins will qualify on points.

The four drivers who advance to the Championship 4 at Homestead will have their points reset to 4,000. The highest finishing Championship 4 driver will earn the title of NASCAR XFINITY Series champion.

  • NASCAR XFINITY SERIES DASH 4 CASH – The XFINITY Series Dash 4 Cash will start with Two Heats, then a Main at four tracks: Bristol Motor Speedway (April 16), Richmond International Raceway (April 23), Dover International Speedway (May 14) and Indianapolis Motor Speedway (July 23).

Qualifying for each Dash 4 Cash event will set the 40-car field and the starting positions for the Two Heats with the fastest qualifier awarded the Coors Light Pole Award. Odd-numbered qualifiers (1st, 3rd, 5th, etc.) will start in the first Heat in order, while even-numbered qualifiers (2nd, 4th, 6th, etc.) will start the second Heat in  order.

The Two Heats will set the starting positions for the Main with the top two XFINITY Series regulars in each Heat becoming eligible for the Dash 4 Cash bonus. The highest finishing driver among the four Dash 4 Cash eligible drivers will earn an award of $100,000 bonus. If any driver wins two of the four Dash 4 Cash bonuses available, he/she is all but guaranteed a spot in the 2016 XFINITY Series Chase. In short, two Dash 4 Cash bonuses are equal to one race win in the new XFINITY Series Chase format.

Drivers must have declared to earn XFINITY Series points to secure their eligibility for the XFINITY Series Dash 4 Cash bonus.

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