The NASCAR XFINITY Series Dash 4 Cash has a new, unique format for 2016 with heat races setting the field and determining which four drivers are eligible in the main race for the Dash 4 Cash prize, and a $100,000 check for each event.
Saturday’s race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway was the fourth and final Dash 4 Cash event this year; and a Chase berth was on the line for Ty Dillon , who previously took the D4C win at Richmond. However, Dillon did not race his way into a Dash 4 Cash spot at Indianapolis.
Here is a quick rundown of how the format works.
THE RACES
Bristol Motor Speedway (April 16)
— Erik Jones took the Dash 4 Cash prize (recap)
Richmond International Raceway (April 23)
— Ty Dillon took the Dash 4 Cash prize (recap)
Dover International Speedway (May 14) — Erik Jones took the Dash 4 Cash prize (recap)
Indianapolis Motor Speedway (July 23)
— Justin Allgaier took the Dash 4 Cash prize (recap)
Dash 4 Cash race format, schedules
| Event | TV | Heat race length (for both) | Main race length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bristol | FS1 | 50 | 200 |
| Richmond | FS1 | 35 | 140 |
| Dover | FS1 | 40 | 120 |
| Indianapolis | NBCSN | 20 | 60 |
RACE FORMATS
Coors Light Pole Qualifying will determine the starting positions for the two heats.
Odd-numbered qualifiers (First, third, fifth, etc.) will compete in the first heat, while even-numbered qualifiers (second, fourth, sixth, etc.) will compete in the second heat.
These heat races determine the starting positions for the main race in addition to who will be eligible for the Dash 4 Cash in the main. The front row for the main race will be made up of the winners of the two heats, with the fastest of those two from Coors Light Pole Qualifying making the lane choice.
The first heat determines the odd-number starting positions for the main, while the second heat determines the even-number starting positions for the main. Heat races will be held just before the main race at each track.
For Richmond, due to wet weather changing the schedule, the lineups for the heat races were set by the rulebook, meaning in this case, the NASCAR XFINITY Series owner standings.
DASH 4 CASH ELIGIBILITY
The top-two finishing NASCAR XFINITY Series points-earning drivers in each of the two heats will make up the Dash 4 Cash field in the main race. Dash 4 Cash drivers will carry a red windshield header to signify their Dash 4 Cash eligibility. The highest finisher in the main among the four eligible drivers wins the Dash 4 Cash and a $100,000 prize.
Should a driver win the first three Dash 4 Cash prizes and the Indianapolis race outright, that driver will earn an additional $600,000.
CHASE ELIGIBILITY
If a driver earns two Dash 4 Cash wins over the four Dash 4 Cash races, that is equivalent to a regular-season race win (without the race win bonus points) for XFINITY Series Chase eligibility.
