FLIPPING THE STAGE AND STAGE RACING EXPLAINED

A tie in points, like the one between Kyle Larson and Denny Hamlin at the 2025 Vegas 2 race, can happen because the total points a driver earns in a race come from a combination of their performance in each of the three stages and their final finishing position. A driver doesn't have to win the race to be the day's highest point scorer. Larson's strong finishes in the first two stages, including a stage win, gave him enough points to match Hamlin, who won the race itself.

Kyle Larson's Points at Las Vegas

Stage 1: Finished 2nd, earning 9 points.

Stage 2: Finished 1st, earning 10 points.

Final Race Finish: Finished 2nd, earning 35 points.

Total Points: 9+10+35= 54 points

+ 1 playoff point for Winning Stage 2.

Denny Hamlin's Points at Las Vegas

Stage 1: Finished 4th, earning 7 points.

Stage 2: Finished 4th, earning 7 points.

Final Race Finish: Finished 1st, earning 40 points.

Total Points: 7+7+40=54 points

+5 playoff points for Winning the Race.

Maximum Points Available in a Race

A driver can earn a maximum of 60 points in a single race by achieving a "perfect" race:

Stage 1: Win the stage, earning 10 points.

Stage 2: Win the stage, earning 10 points.

Final Race Finish: Win the race, earning 40 points.

Maximum Total Points: 10+10+40=60 points

+7 playoff points for Winning Stage 1, Stage 2, and the Race.

+8 playoff points at Charlotte 600 because of extra Stage 3.

NASCAR Point Structure

This breakdown shows how points are awarded for stage finishes and final race finishes, illustrating how drivers can accumulate a high point total even without winning the race.

Stage Points (for each of the first two stages):

1st: 10 points

2nd: 9 points

3rd: 8 points

4th: 7 points

5th: 6 points

6th: 5 points

7th: 4 points

8th: 3 points

9th: 2 points

10th: 1 point

Final Race Finish Points:

1st: 40 points

2nd: 35 points

3rd: 34 points

4th: 33 points...and so on, decreasing by one point per position down to the 35th-place finisher, who earns 2 points.

36th-40th: 1 point.

Atlanta underwent a major reconfiguration between the 2021 and 2022 seasons. Its banking was dramatically increased to 28 degrees in the corners, and the racing surface was narrowed. These changes allow for a non-stop, position changing, exciting race similar to Daytona or Talladega.

SUPERSPEEDWAY - This is how Atlanta now races, despite its 1.54-mile length, which traditionally classifies it as an intermediate track. Unlike older intermediate ovals where cars might spread out, Atlanta's design, combined with NASCAR's rules package, creates dense, multi-car packs, much like the iconic Daytona and Talladega circuits. This means constant drafting, strategic lane changes, and the potential for dramatic finishes where mere inches separate the front runners.

THREE WIDE - This is a common sight at Atlanta, showcasing the intense competition. Even with its narrower configuration, the high banking and the pack racing style allow drivers to run side-by-side-by-side as they fight for position. The February 2024 Cup Series race, for example, delivered the closest three-wide photo finish in NASCAR history where Daniel Suarez got his 2nd cup series win.

TAPERED SPACER - This small, conical device is similar to the restrictor plates once used at superspeedways. Placed in the engine's intake, to significantly reduce horsepower.

DRAFTING - Involves aerodynamics, a car moving at high speed creates drag—air resistance. When a trailing car positions closely behind a leading car, it enters a low-pressure zone or vacuum, reducing its own drag. This benefits both vehicles; the trailing car gains speed with less effort, and the lead car experiences smoother airflow, also reducing its drag.

RUNS - Together, cars in a draft can achieve higher speeds than individual cars. When a car is on the tail of another, the leading car experiences increased pressure on its rear (due to the trailing car filling the low-pressure wake) and reduced drag, making it effectively more efficient.

PACK - The larger the pack of cars in the draft, the more effective this aerodynamic synergy becomes, allowing the entire group to sustain even higher speeds. This pack creates runs where one lane will move past another. Drivers at the front will skillfully change lanes to keep the lead or get the lead.

RESTRICTOR PLATES - Effective 1988 Daytona and Talladega ran restrictor plates to limit engine airflow, reducing horsepower and top speeds. This measure effectively bunched the field, fostering the close-quarters, pack racing that became a hallmark of these events.

TAPERED SPACERS - Today, NASCAR Cup Series cars use tapered spacers. These devices replaced restrictor plates, performing the same function but allow more throttle response than restrictor plates. Atlanta Motor Speedway, having been reconfigured for the 2022 season, is now part of this superspeedway circuit that utilizes tapered spacers.

SIDE DRAFTING - is employed when a car briefly pulls alongside another to disrupt its airflow and increase its drag, creating a passing opportunity. Specifically, side drafting involves the front fender of the trailing car creating localized turbulent air that impacts the rear quarter panel and spoiler of the lead car. This disrupts the lead car's clean airflow, increasing its drag and momentarily reducing its downforce, effectively slowing it down and making it vulnerable to a pass.

FUEL MILEAGE - is significantly impacted by drafting. Cars running deeper in the draft benefit from reduced aerodynamic resistance, requiring less throttle input to maintain speed. This results in substantially better fuel economy for cars positioned within the pack and they need less fuel when they pit makeing the pit stop quicker. The lead car constantly punches the largest hole in the air and always has the worst fuel mileage. This can become a critical strategic factor during green-flag pit cycles, as cars that have saved fuel might require less time on pit road.