Addition of the Wild Card Element Sure to Provide Even More Excitement at America’s Premier Short Track

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NASCAR announced Wednesday that it has added a wild card element to setting the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup field. While the 12-driver Chase field will remain intact, the final two spots will be determined by the number of wins during the first 26 races. That means that the “One Last Race to Make The Chase” on Saturday night, September 10 will be even more important than ever for drivers.

As the host of the final race before the Chase, Richmond International Raceway is likely to play an integral role in deciding the final two positions in the 2011 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.

The top 10 in points following the “cutoff” race at Richmond International Raceway will continue to earn Chase berths. Different from years past, positions 11 and 12 will be “wild card” qualifiers and go to non-top-10-ranked drivers with the most wins, as long as they’re ranked in the top 20 in points.

This means that drivers will have more incentive to battle it out at America’s Premier Short Track. A visit to Gatorade Victory Lane “under the lights” could mean a berth in the 2011 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.

“The addition of the wild card element to the Chase will definitely add to the excitement of the September 10th ‘One Last Race to Make The Chase’ at Richmond International Raceway,” said track president Doug Fritz. “The drama and anticipation will only increase. This will provide even more incentive for drivers to battle it out for the win, which will ultimately provide more exciting on-track action ‘under the lights.’”

Additional changes go into effect at the start of the season and will play a large role in the April 28-30 Crown Royal Presents The Your Name Here 400 NASCAR Weekend at Richmond International Raceway. The new points system – which applies to all NASCAR national series – will award points in one-point increments. As an example, in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, race winners will earn 43 points, plus three bonus points for the win. Winners also can earn an extra point for leading a lap and leading the most laps, bringing their total to a possible maximum of 48 points.

All other drivers in a finishing order will be separated by one-point increments. A second-place finisher will earn 42 points, a third-place driver 41 points, and so on. A last-place finisher – 43rd place – earns one point.

The qualifying order for both the Nationwide and Sprint Cup Series will be based on fastest practice times.  The slowest drivers will qualify first, with the fastest qualifying last.  Historically qualifying order has been based on a random draw.

“The changes in qualifying will be a great addition to our April 30th Crown Royal Presents The Your Name Here 400 weekend, adding to the drama and excitement that fans have come to expect at Richmond International Raceway,” continued Fritz.  “Additionally, the new points system will make it easy to understand for both the casual and hardcore fans of NASCAR throughout the entire season.

I commend Brian France and Mike Helton for listening to the fans and making these changes based on what the fans have said they want to see.  This is just another way that NASCAR is showing the fans that their opinions matter.”

 


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