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LOS ANGELES, CA – FEBRUARY 04: Kyle Larson 5 Hendrick Motorsports HendrickCars.com Chevrolet and Chase Elliott 9 Hendrick Motorsports NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet during a media press conference, PK, Pressekonferenz for the NASCAR, Motorsport, USA Cup Series Busch Light Clash at The Coliseum on February 04, 2023, at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, CA. Photo by Chris Williams/Icon Sportswire AUTO: FEB 04 NASCAR Cup Series Busch Light Clash at The Coliseum Icon007230204982
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LOS ANGELES, CA – FEBRUARY 04: Kyle Larson 5 Hendrick Motorsports HendrickCars.com Chevrolet and Chase Elliott 9 Hendrick Motorsports NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet during a media press conference, PK, Pressekonferenz for the NASCAR, Motorsport, USA Cup Series Busch Light Clash at The Coliseum on February 04, 2023, at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, CA. Photo by Chris Williams/Icon Sportswire AUTO: FEB 04 NASCAR Cup Series Busch Light Clash at The Coliseum Icon007230204982
Stage breaks have been a regular thing in NASCAR for a while now. However, NASCAR has introduced certain rule changes this year. According to the new rules, road courses would not be having stage breaks anymore. Though it sounds straightforward, it can confuse quite a few drivers and throw team strategy all over the place. A little while ago, the Hendrick Motorsports duo of Chase Elliott and Kyle Larson gave their takes on the absence of stage breaks.
During a recent press conference, Elliott stated, “I don’t have a problem with that. I feel like […] the strategy of your race was extremely already pretty much done and based on where the stage breaks were. […] I haven’t really looked at what it’s going to look like and when you have to stop and things but I know that those stages really dictate a lot of the strategy.”
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Later on, Larson mentioned that he thought it was a good thing to do. He also believed that it was rather “odd in a road course” to pit early for a stage. He further mentioned that this rule change was being advocated by teams last year. He considers the rule change to be “better for the overall race.”
What exactly are stage breaks?
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Stage breaks are a relatively new addition to NASCAR racing. They were first introduced in the 2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season and have since become a staple of the sport. The purpose of stage breaks is to add more excitement to races and to reward drivers who perform well in the early parts of the race.
USA Today via Reuters
Feb 5, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA; Drivers race during the NASCAR Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Jason Parkhurst-USA TODAY Sports TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
During each race, there are typically three stages, each lasting a predetermined number of laps. At the end of each stage, drivers receive points based on their finishing position. The driver who wins each stage is awarded ten points, while the runner-up receives nine points, and so on down the line.
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Overall, the introduction of stage breaks in NASCAR racing has been a polarizing change. Some fans and drivers embrace the new format while others prefer the traditional style of racing. However, with the latest ruling of removing it from road courses, it is left to be seen if this has any positive impact on the sport or not.
