Photo: Timothy Peters celebrates in Talladega Superspeedway’s Gatorade Victory Lane during last fall’s fred’s 250 Powered by Coca-Cola. The 2016 fred’s 250 Powered by Coca-Cola, set for October 22, will be part of the new NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) Chase format, similar to the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. The fred’s 250 Powered by Coca-Cola will be the third and final race of the Round of Eight in which the field of eligible drivers for the title will be reduced from eight to six. The NCWTS will also feature a “Caution Clock” in 2016. Like the NCWTS, the NASCAR XFINITY Series will also use a seven-race Chase to decide its championship.
Talladega Superspeedway’s Fred’s 250 Powered by Coca-Cola Race Part of New NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Chase Format; NASCAR XFINITY Series Also to See Changes That Resemble Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup
Seven-Race Chase Formats, New NCWTS Caution Clock to be Implemented in 2016
For the last two years, Talladega Superspeedway’s fall NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race has been the critical final transfer event in the Round of 12 for the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, where four drivers are eliminated from title contention at the checkered flag. Now, NASCAR’s Most Competitive track will be the site of yet another vital cut-off race – this time for the new title format in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.
After the success the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series has enjoyed since 2014 with the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, NASCAR announced today the implementation of a playoff system in both the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and the NASCAR XFINITY Series. It will each feature a seven-race Chase to decide its respective championships starting in 2016. All three series will conclude the Chase with a Championship 4 race at Homestead-Miami Speedway to crown a champion.
Talladega Superspeedway’s fred’s 250 Powered by Coca-Cola, set for Saturday, October 22, will serve as the third and final race in the Round of Eight for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Chase in which the field of title contenders will be reduced from eight to six at the race’s conclusion. Sunday’s Alabama 500, set for October 23, will continue to be the final race in the Contender Round of 12 in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup in which the field of 12 drivers will be trimmed to eight at the checkered flag.
In addition to the format change, a “Caution Clock” will be utilized in the fred’s 250 Powered by Coca-Cola, as well as in all other NASCAR Camping World Truck Series events (except for Eldora Speedway) in 2016. The clock will be set to 20 minutes and triggered at the start of each green-flag run during race events. When the clock counts down to zero, a caution flag then will be displayed and no beneficiary will be awarded. A caution occurring before time expires resets the clock when the subsequent green flag is displayed and the first truck a lap down will be the beneficiary.
The caution clock will be turned off with 20 laps to go at all events in the series, with the exception of Canadian Tire Motorsport Park and Pocono Raceway, where the clock will be turned off with 10 laps remaining.
The new format in the NASCAR XFINITY Series will mean the Talladega 300 (April 30) race winner will be all but guaranteed an 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 in 2016. Drivers who win two Dash 4 Cash bonuses are also all but guaranteed a Chase berth.
In addition to the Talladega 300, the spring weekend at Talladega will consist of the International Motorsports Hall of Fame 200 ARCA Racing Series Presented by Menards event on Friday, April 29, and the GEICO 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race on Sunday, May 1. The winner of the GEICO 500 is all but guaranteed a spot in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.
For information on tickets to Talladega Superspeedway events, call 1-877-Go2-DEGA or visit www.talladegasuperspeedway.com.
