@ NASCAR Fans, some interesting new Cup Rules for this year, they might actually add some interest to the racing. This is a good overview with the first thing noted is a new Name for the series: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series (guess Sprint was too broke to continue).
There are some interesting new rules surrounding the Daytona 500 this season. As will be the case with all races in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series this year, there will be three stages to the race, with points being awarded after each.
Kenny Bruce of NASCAR's website broke down how the point system will work with multiple stages:
Upon the completion of each of the first two stages, drivers finishing first through 10th will be awarded additional points (10th for first, nine for second, etc.) that will be included in their final total for that race only. Additionally, one point per stage win will be awarded to those drivers qualifying for the 10-race playoff at the end of the season. Race-winning drivers also will earn five bonus points per win to be applied following the completion of the regular season.
For Daytona, there will be two 60-lap stages, followed by an 80-lap final stage.
According to NASCAR senior vice president Scott Miller, Daytona's stages were specifically set at 40 percent, 40 percent and 60 percent in order to play to the excitement of the race.
"We had to kind of set the stages to where they landed as far away from a fuel window as they possibly could-so the teams could either make it to the stage finish or guaranteed that they would have to stop before they made it to the stage finish so we wouldn't turn these races into fuel-mileage races," Miller explained , per Bob Pockrass of ESPN.com.
Other new rules at Daytona this year affect how cars can be repaired during the race. Cars may no longer go to the garage to fix damage. Instead, they're given a five-minute window to fix problems on the pit road. If repairs take longer than five minutes or require more than six crew members to help fix the vehicle, the car will be pulled from the race.
New body components, such as panels, are not allowed. Cars will be able to visit the repair garage to fix mechanical or electrical issues that were not the result of a collision.
