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For 2017, NASCAR has taken away downforce from XFINITY Series race cars while adding spice to the Dash 4 Cash program.

Following a trend established in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR has made significant changes to the XFINITY cars that should produce a net downforce reduction to roughly 2,000 pounds, down from 2,800.

The spoiler height has been reduced from six inches to 3.5 inches. The outboard region of the splitter has been reduced by four inches, with the splitter leading edge reduced to .25 inches.

The optional side pieces, or “ears,” on the spoiler have been eliminated, and the ride height has been reduced from five to four inches. With lower downforce the cars should be more difficult to handle, thus putting more control in the drivers’ hands.

On Wednesday, NASCAR named the four Dash 4 Cash races for 2017. The early-season races at Phoenix, Bristol, Richmond and Dover will make up the program.

Those events will dovetail with NASCAR’s new three-stage race structures. The top-two series regulars in Stage 1 will join the top two regulars in Stage 2 to compete for the Dash 4 cash bonus, with the top finisher among the four at the end of the race claiming the prize.

Heat races are eliminated in favor of the stages, and Monster Energy NASCAR Cup drivers with more than five years’ experience in the higher series are ineligible to compete in Dash 4 Cash races.