NASCAR‘s version of the playoffs will for the second year use the Chase Grid format. Here is a basic explanation of how it works as a refresher from last year.
The 16 NASCAR Chase Grid Drivers
NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers that ended the regular season last weekend in the top 30 in the point standings with at least one win automatically became Chase eligible. There would have been two ways a driver with a win would not have made the Chase. Number one, that driver was not in the top 30 in points or number two, there were more than 16 drivers to win at least one race. Since neither of these scenarios came into play, the 11 drivers with at least one win are in the Chase. That left five spots that were then filled with the five drivers highest in the point standings without a win.
Seeding
Each driver on the NASCAR Chase Grid had their point total re-set to 2,000 for the start of the Chase. The drivers with wins were awarded three bonus points per win. The seeding then was set based on the point totals.
First Round, the Challenger Round
This round will cover the races at Chicagoland Speedway, New Hampshire Motor Speedway and Dover International Speedway. A Chase driver that wins any of these three races will automatically advance to round two. Points will be awarded as usual through these three races based on leading a lap, leading the most laps and finishing position in the race. Following the third race at Dover the bottom four drivers in point total will be eliminated from championship contention.
Second Round, the Contender Round
The 12 drivers that advance to this round will have their point total re-set to 3,000. This round will cover the races at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Kansas Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway. Again, a win by a Chase driver in one of these three races earns an automatic advancement to the next round. The points will be awarded again for leading a lap, leading the most laps and finishing position in the race. Following the race at Talladega the bottom four Chase drivers in point total will be eliminated from championship contention.
Third Round, the Eliminator Round
The eight remaining Chase drivers for this round will have their point total re-set to 4,000. This final three-race round will cover the races at Martinsville Speedway, Texas Motor Speedway and Phoenix International Raceway. A Chase driver that wins one of these three races automatically advances to the Championship Race. The points will again be awarded for leading a lap, leading the most laps and finishing position in the race. Following the race at Phoenix the bottom four Chase drivers will be eliminated from Championship contention.
Final Round, NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship Race
The four remaining Chase drivers will have their point total re-set to 5,000 for this final round, one race, winner take all battle at Homestead-Miami Speedway. There will be NO bonus points for leading a lap, most laps led or anything else this time. It is simply cross the finish line before any of the other three championship eligible drivers and win the 2015 NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship.
You can get more details about how the Chase Grid format works at NASCAR.com here.
The NASCAR Sprint Cup playoffs get started this Sunday, September 20th in the MyAFibRisk.com 400 at Chicagoland Speedway.
By: Buck Stevens
