RELATED: Fast facts on the enhancements
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — NASCAR’s top drivers certainly gave the series’ newest enhancements a double thumbs-up Monday night as the racing sanctioning body unveiled an exciting new brand of racing. And winning.
Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series drivers Dale Earnhardt Jr., Denny Hamlin and Brad Keselowski joined a Who’s Who of NASCAR representatives on stage in downtown Charlotte to formally introduce and strongly endorse the format, which will award points throughout designated portions of the race in addition rewarding the final results.
WATCH: New format explained in 1 minute
“Every single race matters and not only that, every lap matters,” defending Daytona 500 winner Hamlin said. “The old-school fans actually should love this. We’re getting back to crowning your champion over 36 races and every single race matters.”
Added retired driver turned television broadcaster Jeff Burton: “It bridges what it used to be to what it is today.”
Finding an exciting, sensible and fair way to divvy up points and reward effort was the fundamental reasoning behind the change.
And “listening to the fans,” was a common refrain throughout the night.
NASCAR Executive Vice President and Chief Racing Development Officer Steve O’Donnell reiterated that the sport values its fan feedback and anticipates the new points format as a way to spike interest for the fans and to give the drivers and teams new strategies toward a season championship trophy.
WATCH: Junior’s take on the format enhancements
“It’s a real subtle change once you stand back and look at it,” Earnhardt said. “A lot of things we do bring fan interest only or driver interest only. And I think this kind of does both.”
As expected, NASCAR drivers took to social media to offer their reviews of the sport’s big change and it was met with resounding encouragement.
“Let’s see. … WIN. WIN. WIN. Sounds good to me,” reigning seven-time Cup champion Jimmie Johnson posted on Twitter.
Stewart-Haas Racing driver Clint Bowyer tweeted, “Digging the new @NASCAR racing format. Going to be interesting to see how these stage points affect the way the teams race the entire race.”
RELATED: Drivers tweet about 2017 upgrades
Certainly the different format — which will give points to the top-10 finishers in the first two stages, plus points to the ultimate race winner and rest of the entire field — means new tactics. And new opportunity.
As part of the revised format, the regular-season points leader will be honored as the regular-season champion and given 15 playoff points when the standings are reset to start the 10-race playoff run.
“Basically you’re going to throw two cautions,” Earnhardt said, simplifying the in-race changes. “You’re going to know when they are, which is actually kind of comforting.
“You’re going to see basically the same format as far as who wins the race and how the races are decided. The playoff doesn’t really change at all. You’re just going to have two breaks in every race that are going to be potentially rewarding to your driver.
“That, to me, creates interest. “
Keselowski said confidently of the new system, “I would tell anybody, when you want to get up at Lap 30 for that bowl of chips, you’re not going to want to get up. It’s going to be the first segment and you’re going to see some great action.
“You’re going to see a moment like the pass in the grass that’s going to be for the end of the first segment. Those are the moments that are going to make you really want to watch and love NASCAR racing for a long, long time.
“Wait until you see it on the race track,” Keselowski promised, “When you see this on the race track, this is going to be the best racing you’ve ever seen.”