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In the sixth race of the 2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season, the stage format debuted on a short track, and significantly upped the ante at Martinsville Speedway.
Fierce racing for the top-10 spots at the end of Stage 1 and Stage 2 added to the bumping, banging and thrilling racing at Sunday’s STP 500.
Here’s what NASCAR reporters are saying about the Stage format:
“NASCAR really hit on something here, and it’s only going to get better as the playoffs approach and begin.” — Matt Weaver, Autoweek | Full story
“Sunday was what NASCAR drivers, series officials, team executives and former racers forecasted when they introduced stage racing in January.” — Dustin Long, NBC Sports | Full story
“Both stage conclusions were similar to the tight, crowded racing often seen in Saturday night shows at entertaining local short tracks.” — Mike Hembree, USA Today | Full story
“There was hard racing, frayed nerves, angry tempers — all elements one would normally see on the half-mile track — but these elements were also amplified because of the intensity brought about by the awarding of points when the first two stages concluded on Lap 130 and 260 of the 500-lap race.” — Jordan Bianchi, SB Nation | Full story
WATCH: Stage 2 ending sizzles at Martinsville
Kyle Busch was particularly perturbed with Ricky Stenhouse Jr. at the end of Stage 2, as the No. 17 tapped Busch, allowing Chase Elliott to win the stage. Busch promised payback would come eventually for Stenhouse.
“That’s exactly what NASCAR hoped for when it rolled out the stage format in January. NASCAR knew some traditional fans would view it as another gimmick, another way to ruin what was a traditional race. For NASCAR, it made the move to create moments to get fans wanting to watch earlier in the race, a move that could increase interest as well as television ratings.” — Bob Pockrass, ESPN | Full story
Race winner Brad Keselowski, who helped design the new format, said: “That’s what this format is supposed to be about, is having moments like (that). Whether you agree with specific moves is really neither here nor there, but when you put things on the line, when you put more on the line throughout the race, you get more moments like that.”
Other drivers are fans of the stage format, as well.
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– Regan Smith (@ReganSmith) April 2, 2017