by Austin Konenski, Motorsports Wire
Starting in 2025, NASCAR will introduce an unprecedented rule change to all three levels. On Tuesday morning, Sports Business Journal’s Adam Stern reported that NASCAR will partner with Xfinity to award one point to the driver with the fastest lap in a Cup, Xfinity, or Truck Series race. It will be called the “Xfinity Fastest Lap.”
Due to NASCAR’s new rule change, the max output earned in a race has increased to 61 points, including the finishing position, stage finishes, and the new Xfinity Fastest Lap rule. The new NASCAR rule is what Formula 1 has been doing since 2019; however, the sport scrapped the effort ahead of the 2025 season.
This could drastically change the outlook of the 2025 NASCAR season, as one point can separate a driver from elimination and a championship. It will be interesting to see how this new rule might affect drivers throughout the 2025 season. It could be the difference behind a life-changing NASCAR title in the Cup, Xfinity, or Truck Series.
(USAToday)