NASCAR Cup Series

NASCAR XFINITY Series debuts new Chase format at Kentucky Speedway

Published Aug. 15, 2016 11:13 a.m. ET

foxsports

For the first time in history, the NASCAR XFINITY Series will have a Chase format this year, with 12 drivers eligible to compete for the series championship. Here's how it works.

The XFINITY Chase will begin at Kentucky Speedway on Sept. 24, and feature 12 drivers and two elimination rounds.

A win in the first 26 races all but guarantees a driver entry into the NASCAR XFINITY Series Chase, provided the driver is in the top 30 in points and has attempted to qualify for each race. (Saturday's Mid-Ohio XFINITY winner Justin Marks is not eligible for the Chase because he's only running a part-time schedule).

The Round of 12 consists of races at Kentucky, Dover and Charlotte. All drivers will start with their points adjusted to 2,000, with three additional bonus points added to their total for each win in the first 26 races. If a driver wins a race in the Round of 12, the driver automatically advances to the next round. The remaining available positions (1-8) that have not been filled by wins will be filled on points.

Each driver who advances to the Round of 8 (Kansas, Texas, Phoenix) then will have their points reset to 3,000. Drivers who win a race in the Round of 8 automatically advance to the Championship 4. The remaining available positions (1-4) that have not been filled by wins will be filled on points.

The four drivers who advance to the Championship 4 at Homestead will have their points reset to 4,000. The highest finishing Championship 4 driver will be crowned the NASCAR XFINITY Series champion.

With five races left in the XFINITY regular series, Erik Jones is the No. 1 seed by virtue of his three race victories, with Elliott Sadler and Daniel Suarez in by virtue of wins also. That leaves nine XFINITY regulars currently Chase eligible based on points.

They are:

Ty Dillon, 667 points

Justin Allgaier, 646

Brendan Gaughan, 631

Brennan Poole, 618

Brandon Jones, 595

Darrell Wallace, Jr., 539

Ryan Reed, 526

Ryan Sieg, 483

Blake Koch, 466.

Currently outside the Chase: are Ross Chastain, who is 3 points behind Koch; Dakoda Armstrong (-18) and Jeremy Clements (-36).