Posted on by Staff Report

“Happy Hours” is back on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio in 2018, and host Kevin Harvick wasted no time discussing a juicy topic with special guest Jeff Gordon on the Tuesday kick-off show.

The Stewart-Haas Racing veteran and Gordon, a 93-time winner at NASCAR’s top level and current analyst for FOX Sports, recounted the memorable post-race brawl at Texas Motor Speedway in 2014, a fight in which Harvick, Gordon and Brad Keselowski all played prominent roles.

“It was definitely not one of my better decisions,” Harvick said of the incident.

VIDEO: Watch the incident

Egged on by questioning from co-host Matt Yocum, the two — with perhaps the benefit of hindsight — jointly discussed the incident more than three years after it happened.

Tensions were high at Texas that fall. It was the first year of the elimination-style Playoffs format, and late contact between Keselowski’s No. 2 and Gordon’s No. 24 resulted in a cut tire for the Hendrick Motorsports driver. The two were battling for the lead and a spot in the inaugural Championship 4 field.

Gordon attempted to approach Keselowski on pit road post-race, but crews kept the two separated. Harvick, walking by the fray, gave Keselowski a healthy nudge, Gordon grabbed his collar and … well, see for yourself.

“I was standing at the back of the car watching this whole thing kind of go on and really, it was supposed to be a shoulder tap. ‘Hey man get in there and fight your own fight,’ ” Harvick said. “Next thing I know it was just a little bit of a nudge about 4 feet forward.”

“I didn’t even know at the time you were pushing him,” Gordon chimed in. “I just knew he came close to me and my arm reached out and got hold of his collar, and it was, ‘I’m not letting go.’ ”

Harvick noted Gordon was “breathing-fire mad,” who admitted after watching the video of the on-track incident … well, maybe Keselowski was on to something when he told Gordon he “left a hole.”

“I look back on it, I can’t say (Keselowski) did too many things wrong in that situation,” Gordon said. “But I was mad the way it turned out.”

MORE HARVICK: All-time wins

Posted on by Official NASCAR Release

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Feb. 6, 2018) – NASCAR® and Digital Ally®, Inc., a company with the mission to provide law enforcement agencies, emergency management, and commercial companies with the highest quality video solutions and software management, announced today a multi-year official partnership, naming Digital Ally “A Preferred Technology Provider of NASCAR.”

As part of the new relationship, Digital Ally will provide cameras that will be mounted in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series garage throughout the season, bolstering both NASCAR’s commitment to safety at every race track, as well as enhancing its officiating process through technology.

“NASCAR takes seriously its role in providing a safe environment for its fans and competitors, and this partnership with Digital Ally is the next step in that commitment,” said Scott Miller, NASCAR Senior Vice President, Competition. “In addition, this partnership is the latest example of NASCAR implementing technological advancements to officiate, and continuing to provide the best racing for our fans.”

Digital Ally is the leading provider of mobile video systems used by thousands of companies and governmental entities in all 50 states and around the world. The company is a pioneer in the design and development of dashboard and body cameras that are utilized across multiple industries and municipalities. Digital Ally has been developing, engineering, and supporting its video technology for more than a decade.

“It’s our goal to provide our customers with video solutions that are customized to meet their unique business needs,” said Stanton Ross, chief executive officer, Digital Ally. “NASCAR has its own unique set of challenges and it was important to design a durable and reliable solution that will stand up to the demanding environment at-track.”

Tune-in to the DAYTONA 500 on Sunday, Feb. 18 at 2:30 p.m. on FOX, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

Posted on by Zack Albert

RELATED: Pollex, Truex receive Myers Brothers Award | Martin, Sherry through the years

Sherry Pollex reported a bit of joyful news from the NASCAR offseason, indicating Tuesday that she has completed her final round of chemotherapy treatment for ovarian cancer.

Pollex, the longtime girlfriend of reigning Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series champion Martin Truex Jr., tweeted out an update on her treatment along with the hashtag #SherryStrong.

Pollex was diagnosed with Stage 3 ovarian cancer in 2014. She revealed last summer a recurrence of the disease that necessitated surgery to remove her spleen.

Pollex and Truex have fought through their adversity with a major push toward philanthropic efforts. The Martin Truex Jr. Foundation has used its annual “Catwalk for a Cause” charity event to raise funds and awareness in the fight against the disease. Last year’s event raised more than $500,000 for the cause.

Pollex and Truex have also rallied support each September for National Ovarian Cancer Awareness and Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. The foundation made its second annual campaign last year to battle ovarian and childhood cancer, with 29 drivers contributing custom steering wheels, autographed and trimmed in teal and gold for charity.

The couple received the 2017 National Motorsports Press Association’s Myers Brothers Award, presented to individuals and/or groups who have provided outstanding contributions to the sport of stock-car racing.

Posted on by Team Release

MOORESVILLE, NC –TriStar Motorsports will continue competition in NASCAR’s premier series fielding one full-time entry in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series for the 2018 season.

 

The No. 72 Chevrolet will compete with collective efforts of two drivers. TriStar welcomes the return of Cole Whitt and proudly announces the addition of Corey LaJoie to the driver lineup. Corey LaJoie will fill the seat of the No. 72 for the majority of the schedule including the season opener at Daytona International Speedway. Whitt returns to TriStar after a solid effort in No. 72 in 2017. With intentions to shift focus, Whitt has elected to decrease his racing commitments and has requested a limited schedule.

MORE: Driver, crew chief changes

 

Whitt’s NASCAR career includes seven years on the circuit and races in which he has competed in NASCAR K&N Pro Series, NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, NASCAR Xfinity Series and the Monster Energy Cup Series. He completed the full 2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series in the TriStar Motorsports No. 72 securing three top-20 finishes and one top-15 being his best finish of 12th place at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

 

“I want to thank TriStar and the Smith family for allowing me to do something I feel is the right decision for me and my family,” said Whitt. “I am excited and a little nervous to say that I will be racing a limited schedule this year.  I am looking forward to taking the next step in my life and trying to spend most of my time with my family. Stepping back from racing is a hard choice but I strongly believe this is the right path. TriStar has been an amazing blessing to me and my family and I look forward to what the future holds for both of us.”

 

Corey LaJoie, a third generation racer, is very well-known name in the racing community. He is the son of Randy LaJoie, 1996 and 1997 NASCAR Xfinity Series Champion.  Already having an impressive racing career that includes six wins in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East and three wins in the ARCA Series, LaJoie was selected as a member of the 2012 NASCAR Next Class, an industry platform to help spotlight NASCAR’s rising stars and bolster fan recognition initiative cultivating Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series (MENCS) mainstays. In 2016, LaJoie competed in ten Xfinity Series races and earned two top-ten finishes. He made the leap to the MENCS in 2017, earning the highest finish of his rookie year campaign;  11th place, in the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway.

 

“It’s such a great opportunity to work with TriStar Motorsports,” said Corey LaJoie. “I hope to use the learning experiences from my 2017 Rookie Season and work hard for some great finishes this year.  It’s my goal to continue building a successful team with Bryan, while honoring the legacy his dad, Mark left behind.”

 

“We are taking a different approach with our competitive platform for 2018 by utilizing two drivers”, said Bryan Smith, owner of TriStar Motorsports. “It is an opportunity we feel is the best direction for this season and accommodates the goals of both drivers as well as the team.  We are more than pleased with Cole’s efforts in 2017 and are extremely glad to have him back this season.  He has been an integral part of our return to the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series and we appreciate his contributions to our team. We are equally as pleased to add Corey to our driver roster. His attitude, desire and ability are a welcomed addition and we feel he will be a great fit.  We feel both drivers embody the core elements of who we are as a team and are confident each will contribute to the betterment of our program.”

 

TriStar Motorsports has acquired a charter from Front Row Motorsports for the 2018 season and will continue competitive efforts under the direction of Crew Chief Frankie Kerr.

 

Sponsorship details for the MENCS No. 72 are forthcoming in addition to plans for the TriStar NASCAR Xfinity Series program.

Posted on by Brad Norman

Editor’s note: This is the fifth in a series of 14 team previews on NASCAR.com. Next up: Roush Fenway Racing on Feb. 7. A list of team previews already published is at the bottom of this story.

Germain Racing

Manufacturer: Chevrolet

Engine: ECR Engines

Driver: Ty Dillon, No. 13

Crew chief: Matt Borland

2017 standings: Dillon competed in his first full season at the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series level and finished 24th in the standings.

What’s new: Germain Racing enters the 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season with sophomore driver Ty Dillon. Dillon will have a new crew chief in Matt Borland, who signed a multiyear agreement in November. Germain Racing also will field (along with the other Chevrolet teams) a new Camaro in the upcoming season.

What to watch: Dillon finished his first full-time season at the sport’s highest level with an average finish of 20.7, but the driver of the No. 13 understands he has to be more consistent if he hopes to notch his first career top 1o or even a celebration in Victory Lane. A new crew chief usually means a new approach, and with the new over-the-wall pit crew rules going into effect in 2018, Borland has a lot to work out with his young driver and his team. However, Dillon is hungry for success and that can go a long way when trying to be aggressive during a race.

Key question(s): It’s no secret that both Ty — and his older brother Austin — have a spotlight on their careers thanks to the their grandfather Richard Childress’ history in the sport. Yet, during NASCAR Media Tour Presented by Charlotte Motor Speedway, Ty Dillon made it clear he wanted to build his own legacy. That starts with making a splash on-track. Can Dillon use the new Camaro body to his advantage as a young driver? Will a new crew chief give him the confidence he needs to stay calm under pressure? How can he avoid the infamous ‘sophomore slump?’

DRIVER 

Ty Dillon, No. 13 Geico Chevrolet: In November, Dillon and his wife Haley welcomed their baby girl and perspective quickly changed for the 25-year-old driver. Using that ‘new dad’ mindset, Dillon spoke in-depth on how he felt he improved toward the end of the 2017 season, especially when pressure began to mount.

Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images

Having early success in both the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and Xfinity Series caused for an adjustment period during Dillon’s rookie season. A pair of 11th-place finishes in the fall (Talladega, Phoenix) were two of his best performances of the season, and he also led 27 laps at Dover in the spring. Those are small victories that can lead toward momentum in 2018.

Another stat that Dillon can use to his advantage? He averaged nearly six spots better at the end of a race than where he qualified. Being able to advance that position even higher at the beginning can only mean good things for the No. 13 team.

PREVIOUS TEAM PREVIEWS

Feb. 1: Front Row Motorsports
Feb. 2: Richard Petty Motorsports
Feb. 3: Leavine Family Racing
Feb. 5: JTG Daugherty Racing

Posted on by Staff Report

The Can-Am Duels are a pair of qualifying races that will determine the bulk of the field and starting lineup for the 2018 Daytona 500 (Feb. 18, 2:30 p.m. ET, FOX, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). NASCAR.com offers a look at how the twin qualifying races (Feb. 15, starting at 7 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) work and how they impact the Daytona 500.

Programming info for Can-Am Duels:
When: Feb. 15, starting at 7 p.m. ET
Where: Daytona International Speedway
TV: FS1
Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

RELATED: Complete Speedweeks schedule


What is the format?
There are two 60-lap, 150-mile races. The drivers in each Duel are determined based on qualifying speeds from single-lap qualifying runs on Sunday, Feb. 11 (12:15 p.m. ET, FOX).

How do the Duels set the Daytona 500 lineup?
While the Feb. 11 single-car qualifying speeds determine the top two starting spots in the Daytona 500, the Duels determine who will line up in the majority of spots on the starting grid for the “Great American Race.”

Drivers in the first Duel race will line up on the inside row for the Daytona 500 (odd-numbered starting position), based on the order in which they finish the first Duel race. Drivers in the second Duel race will line up on the outside row for the Daytona 500 (even-numbered starting positions), based on the order in which they finish the second Duel race. Remember, all Charter teams are guaranteed spots in the Daytona 500.

How can Open Teams make the Daytona 500?
Two Open Teams will make the field as a result of being the best finishing Open Team in each Duel. Open Teams that have not yet become eligible for a Daytona 500 starting grid position will become eligible for remaining starting grid positions, if any, based on final qualifying results, per the rule book.

How important are the Duels for drivers locked into the front row?
While a Duel win doesn’t put you in the Playoffs, the top 10 drivers in each Duel will earn points heading into the Daytona 500.

Drivers locked into the front row of the Daytona 500 need to avoid any sort of calamity in the Duels to keep their starting spot. With qualifying day so early in Speedweeks and a multitude of practices leading up to the Daytona 500, wrecks resulting in backup cars, engine changes and more are all likely to pop up at some point to affect the green-flag order once on the grid.

How are points awarded?
It’s similar to stages in the 36 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series points races. The winner of each Duel will get 10 points, down to the 10th-place driver, who will get one point. Two drivers — each Duel winner — will head into the Daytona 500 with a share of the points lead.

Place in Duels Points awarded
First 10 points
Second Nine points
Third Eight points
Fourth Seven points
Fifth Six points
Sixth Five points
Seventh Four points
Eighth Three points
Ninth Two points
10th One point

What if the Duels are rained out?
If both Duels are canceled due to weather, officials will use qualifying results to determine the four Open teams that would advance.

Should only the second Can-Am Duel be canceled due to weather, the highest finishing Open team from the first Duel would earn a starting berth, with the remaining three positions determined based on qualifying results.

In the event of a complete rainout of the Duels where the event is not rescheduled, the full field will be set according to the NASCAR Rule Book.

MORE: 2018 paint scheme preview

Posted on by Brad Norman

Editor’s note: This is the fourth in a series of 14 team previews on NASCAR.com. Next up: Germain Racing on Feb. 6. A list of team previews already published is at the bottom of this story.

JTG Daugherty Racing

Manufacturer: Chevrolet

Engine: ECR Engines

Drivers: Chris Buescher, No. 37; AJ Allmendinger, No. 47

Crew chiefs: Trent Owens (Buescher), Tristan Smith (Allmendinger)

2017 standings: Buescher, 25th in final standings; Allmendinger, 27th in final standings

What’s new: Namely a technical alliance with Hendrick Motorsports, which JTG Daugherty Racing officials confirmed in November 2017. The aim? Improve the team’s simulation abilities and aero development. The No. 37 team also has a charter of its own after leasing one last year; the organization purchased it from Furniture Row Racing in the offseason. That brings added stability to an organization that grew to two teams in 2017 and rotated three crews chiefs on the flagship No. 47 Chevrolet. And of course, the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 is a new — and welcome — addition for all teams that run Chevrolets. 

What to watch: If a more consistent operation brings more consistency to results. It’s Year 2 for Buescher with JTG, and he enters the season more comfortable in his ride and with the team’s personnel. For Allmendinger, having Smith return as crew chief brings stability he didn’t have last year. 

Key question(s): Will AJ Allmendinger return to his road-course ace form at Sonoma and Watkins Glen? Those road courses likely represent the team’s best shot at winning and advancing into the playoffs … where another road course, at Charlotte, looms as the Round of 16 elimination race.

MORE: At the shop with JTG Daugherty Racing

DRIVERS

Chris Buescher, No. 37 Kroger ClickList Chevrolet: One year after joining JTG Daugherty Racing on loan from Roush Fenway Racing to help the team launch its second-car operation, Buescher is fully under contract for his sophomore season with the team. Coming off a win during his rookie year in 2016, Buescher didn’t get back to Victory Lane last year, but he quietly made noticeable gains.

Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images

His average finish jumped five positions to 21.4, and his top-10 finishes doubled to four. Improving those numbers even more is the goal for 2018. “I feel like we’re making really good progress in the offseason,” Buescher said. “We’ve been in a place where we’ve made our alliance with Hendrick on the simulation and some of the aero development is very promising. … At times last season we didn’t have the performance that we wanted, and that’s frustrating. … We feel like we’ve come a long way through 2017 and the offseason.”

AJ Allmendinger, No. 47 Kroger Chevrolet: Allmendinger had more crew chiefs than top-five finishes in 2017, starting the season with Randall Burnett, before Ernie Cope replaced him atop the box … before eventually giving way to Tristan Smith. It was difficult to meet performance goals with that turnover (Allmendinger’s top-five finishes dropped from two to one, and his top-10 finishes fell from nine to five), but the team hopes it is now better positioned for 2018. Allmendinger remains one of the series’ best road-course racers.

Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images

Sneaking a win at Sonoma or Watkins Glen brings added meaning this year as the playoffs add a road course in the first round at Charlotte, where Allmendinger could shine. Allmendinger’s prowess at Martinsville is an under-the-radar talent.

He said that he and Buescher have a fantastic relationship that should continue to grow.

“I couldn’t have asked for a better teammate than Chris,” Allmendinger said. “He’s got so much talent. I’ve learned a lot from him. But more importantly, he was just easy to work with. And we are able to bounce ideas off each other and feed info to figure out where we needed to get better. Having a full year under our belt, I think that’s something that’s going to allow us to really make both of these teams work together and be one big team and go out there.”

PREVIOUS TEAM PREVIEWS

Feb. 1: Front Row Motorsports
Feb. 2: Richard Petty Motorsports

Feb. 3: Leavine Family Racing

Posted on by Zack Albert

RELATED: 2018 NASCAR schedule

Reggie Ruggiero still answers to “Reg,” or sometimes “The Reg” in a nod to his days as a standout on the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour. Even though the nickname is still his calling card, its origins don’t stem from a conventional shortening of Reginald.

“Actually, my real name is John. Nobody knows me by that, but that’s my real name,” Ruggiero says. “When I was young, we’re an Italian family and we grew up in two- or three-family homes and there were four Johns. Little kids, my cousins, and everybody got a nickname. They just took my last name and shortened it. Well it was ‘Ruggie,’ and then when I started racing, everybody called me ‘Reggie’ and that’s stuck. That’s how I ended up with that name. I mean, nobody knows me by John.”

Around Stewart-Haas Racing, his name still carries plenty of clout. After a successful driving career that spanned from 1968 to 2012, Ruggiero, 66, has found a home in the SHR chassis shop, putting his years of car-building experience to great use.

“I’ve been in [racing] since I was 16, so this is a good way to stay in it,” Ruggiero says. “I mean, you meet a lot of different people every day. I have people coming into our chassis shop that I don’t know but they know me. It’s pretty interesting.”

His legendary career, which began on a small quarter-mile at Plainville (Conn.) Stadium, has kept Ruggiero’s name a familiar one on the SHR shop floor. Ruggiero was a force in the Northeast Modified ranks, with feature wins by the dozens and championships at hallowed tracks such as Riverside Park near the Massachusetts-Connecticut border.

After the Whelen Modified Tour was formed in 1985, Ruggiero stacked up 44 wins and was a perennial contender in the championship hunt. Despite his success, he finished as a tough-luck runner-up seven times in the national standings.

“It was pretty hard to swallow, but it’s the way it was,” Ruggiero says. “I always raced to win, not to run for points. Sometimes that gets you in trouble, and things like that happen, but all in all for my career, had a ton of fun with a bunch of people.”

The fun has continued with Stewart-Haas, where Ruggiero has spent the last year and a half focusing on interior sheet metal and other chassis prep. He’s added a Daytona 500 ring from Kurt Busch’s win last year to his list of memories and keepsakes in racing, and he’s hoping for more this season.

Having several other SHR team members hail from the Northeast has helped Ruggiero settle in, but so has working alongside like-minded crew with rich backrounds in racing.

“Everybody knows Reg,” says team co-owner Tony Stewart. “To know his history and know how many races he’s won, he was the guy that, he was a clean racer. There were guys that I met toward the end of Reg’s career is when I really met him, but the guys that I was around that knew him really appreciated him for his style of racing and how good he was.

“And now we get somebody who … it just still amazes me that we have somebody the caliber of Reggie Ruggiero here that’s in our chassis shop, helping build our race cars. That’s something that I think is really cool. It really sums up what SHR is really about — it’s about racers that want to go out and win races and win championships.”

Posted on by Official NASCAR Release

RELATED: Sign up for Fantasy Live today | How the new Fantasy Live works

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Following a successful first season of stage racing, NASCAR today announced a new fantasy game inspired by the competition format that has created closer, side-by-side racing and even more dramatic moments throughout races.

Accessible via NASCAR.com and the NASCAR Mobile app, the all-new NASCAR Fantasy Live follows the NASCAR official scoring system, allows players to make in-race driver substitutions and features incentives for correctly predicting stage wins, race wins and more.

Players can register at NASCAR.com/fantasy beginning today and set their driver rosters for the 2018 DAYTONA 500 when the race entry list is announced.

“In NASCAR, every lap matters,” said Tim Clark, managing director, NASCAR Digital Media. “The new NASCAR Fantasy Live game reflects the lap-by-lap intensity of modern NASCAR racing by giving fans the opportunity to strategize and adjust their driver lineups in real-time during races.”

In NASCAR Fantasy Live, players pick five drivers to start prior to each Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race. In addition, a sixth “garage” driver on the roster can be swapped in-race for any active driver before the final stage begins.

Game scoring follows NASCAR official scoring and rewards points based on race results and driver finishing position for all three stages. Only drivers in the “starting” position at the end of each race will earn fantasy points.

Individual drivers can be used a maximum of 10 times during the season. If a driver ends the race in the player’s garage, it will not count against the season limit.

During races, drivers running in the top 10 at the conclusion of Stage 1 and Stage 2 receive points, beginning with 10 points for the stage winner, nine points for second place, eight points for third place, and so on.

Mirroring how Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series races are scored, the race-winning driver earns 40 points, the second-place finisher 35 points, the third-place finisher 34 points, and so forth. The final four drivers to finish each race earn one point apiece.

Players can also score bonus points by correctly picking the pole winner (5 points), Stage 1 winner (10 points), Stage 2 winner (10 points), winning manufacturer (10 points) and race-winning driver (30 points).

NASCAR Fantasy Live will run throughout the 26-week Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series regular season and culminate with the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on September 9, 2018. The overall points leader after the final race will be crowned 2018 champion and win $10,000.

The NASCAR Fantasy Live enhancements are aimed at providing players more opportunities to engage with the game during races, while honoring the nuances of NASCAR’s stage-based format.

“As our sport continues to evolve, it only made sense for our fantasy game to follow suit,” said Clark. “The new NASCAR Fantasy Live will engage fans more deeply than ever before, and we’re excited about that.”

For more information on NASCAR Fantasy Live, including rules and eligibility requirements, please visit NASCAR.com/fantasy.

The 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season kicks off with the 60th annual DAYTONA 500 on Sunday, Feb. 18 at 2:30 p.m. ET. The race will be broadcast live on FOX, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (channel 90), with additional coverage on NASCAR.com.

Posted on by RJ Kraft

NASCAR Fantasy Live is back with some enhancements for the 2018 season. Players can sign up right now to be ready to go with the start of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season for the Daytona 500 on Feb. 18. Pro tip: One bonus pick must be set by Feb. 11 for qualifying (more on that below!)

Accessing the game to set your roster can be done by logging into your account and going to the Fantasy page (NASCAR.com/Fantasy). You also can access the game by opening the NASCAR Mobile App, logging into your account and clicking the Fantasy icon on the bottom of the app.

Here is a primer to get you up to speed on the revamped game for 2018.

RELATED: Sign up for NASCAR Fantasy Live today! | Game is all new for 2018

How is the new Fantasy Live game different from last year?
First, there’s no more salary cap — you’ll select any driver in the field, but can only use each driver 10 times during the season. Second, we’ve added the ability to change your roster during the race. Finally, we’ve simplified the points — fantasy points are the same as the points that drivers gain during the race.

What is the roster composition?
The roster will consist of five starting drivers as well as a garage driver in reserve (more below on that). Driver and garage selections lock five minutes before the race start time and do not carry over week-to-week, meaning you need to set your roster for each race.

A view of the roster page on a mobile device. (NASCAR Digital Media)

How does the garage driver work?
Players can substitute their one garage driver for any starting driver up until the start of the Final Stage. Once the Final Stage starts, there are no more switches allowed.

So which drivers end up scoring points?
The drivers ending the race in your main roster will comprise the drivers that make up your total score. These are also the drivers who will be counted as being used for that particular race. A driver that ends the race in the garage would not count as being used nor would their results count toward your score.

Are there any limits to how much a driver can be used?
Yes, players can only use a particular driver up to 10 times over the 26 races. A usage meter will be displayed on your roster screen, showing the number of remaining driver uses in green and the pending/already used total in yellow. There is no salary cap in this year’s game.

What is the scoring system?
The scoring will reflect the NASCAR Official Scoring System. For example, if Kyle Larson wins Stage 1 & Stage 2 and wins the race, he will earn players 60 fantasy points for that particular race just as he would earn 60 points for himself in the season standings.

Drivers running in the top 10 at the end of Stage 1 and Stage 2 receive points, starting with 10 points for first, nine for second, etc. The race winner receives 40 points, while second-place receives 35 points, third receives 34 points and all the way down to 1 point for drivers that finish 36th through 40th.

Are there any bonus picks?
Yes, players can make bonus picks for the pole winner, Stage 1 winner, Stage 2 winner, race winner and manufacturer winner. The pole winner bonus pick selection will lock approximately five minutes before the start time of qualifying; Daytona qualifying picks must be set before Feb. 11’s pole qualifying day at 12:15 p.m. ET. All other bonus picks lock five minutes before the race start time. Bonus picks DO NOT count against driver usage.

A view of the roster and bonus selection page on desktop. (NASCAR Digital Media)

What is the value of each bonus pick?
Pole Winner (5 points for correct pick)
Stage 1 Winner (10 points for correct pick)
Stage 2 Winner (10 points for correct pick)
Race Winner (30 points for correct pick)
Winning Manufacturer (10 points for correct pick)

Will my leagues and teams from last year be available?
Yes, any team or league that was active at the end of last season will be available once you log in starting Monday.

How long will the Fantasy Live season last?
The game will cover the 26 regular-season races — from the Daytona 500 on Feb. 18 to the Brickyard 400 on Sept. 9.