The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series may be off this week but that didn’t stop NASCAR from making announcements to the XFINITY and well as the Trucks Series. On Tuesday, NASCAR announced several updates for the 2020 NASCAR XFINITY Series and NASCAR Gander Outdoors Trucks Series seasons. Additionally, the 2020 Xfinity Series Dash 4 Cash and Gander Trucks Triple Truck Challenge dates and tracks were unveiled.

“These updates to the Xfinity Series and Gander Trucks procedures continue our commitment to strengthening our race teams and providing a stronger field with even greater competition for our fans,” said Meghan Miley, NASCAR Senior Direction of Racing Operations. We’re excited about the return of the Dash 4 Cash in the Xfinity Series and the Triple Truck Challenge with the Gander Trucks. These programs provide our teams with an incredible performance-based bonus opportunity each season. By removing the entry deadline requirement for the Triple Truck Challenge, we ensure our teams and fans know immediately if a driver is eligible to race for additional bonuses.”

In terms of NASCAR first. NASCAR unviled the field size will go from 38 cars to 36 for next season.

o   The field will be set as follows:

• 31 starting positions based on qualifying time
• 4 provisional positions based on rulebook
• 1 past champion provisional.

Also, the participation guidelines have changed too.

• Drivers with more than three (3) years of full-time Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series experience are allowed a maximum of five (5) starts

o   Dash 4 Cash / Final regular season race and Playoffs

• Drivers electing to accumulate Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series points are ineligible

That means the only Cup drivers eligible to race more than five times in 2020 are William Byron, Darrell Wallace Jr., Corey LaJoie, Matt Tifft, Ryan Preece and Daniel Hemric.

Before everyone gets all up in arms about this, the only driver who will have raced more than five times this season is Kyle Busch.

Joey Logano and Brad Keselowski have each raced just two times each. Paul Menard has made only two starts as well. Austin Dillon has raced three times with Ryan Blaney, Chase Elliott and Erik Jones having just one start.

So, it will just be Busch who has to limit his starts from seven to five now.

The same participation rules are set for the Truck Series too. Drivers with more than three (3) years of full-time Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series experience are allowed a maximum of 5 starts. 

Also, for Triple Truck Challenge / Final regular season race and Playoffs, Drivers electing to accumulate Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series points are ineligible. Drivers electing to accumulate Xfinity Series points are also ineligible to compete in the Triple Truck Challenge races and the Championship race

2020 Races

o   Homestead-Miami Speedway (Qualifier – March 21)

o   Texas Motor Speedway (March 28)

o   Bristol Motor Speedway (April 4)

o   Talladega Superspeedway (April 25)

o   Dover International Speedway (May 2)

Eligibility

o   Retained the entry deadline requirement for eligibility.

 

 

 

 

 

2020 Races

• Richmond Raceway (April 18)
• Dover International Speedway (May 1)
• Charlotte Motor Speedway (May 15)

 

Eligibility

• Removed post entry driver and owner caveat.