The pre-season exhibition race returns to the purpose-built 0.25-mile track to unofficially kick off the 2023 season.
Of the 36 entries, all teams in possession of a charter, 27 will make the main event. There is a provisional for the highest finishing driver in 2022 points, should they need it. That would first go to reigning champion Joey Logano, and then championship runner-up Ross Chastain.
Race weekend format
Single-car qualifying
- Single vehicle qualifying will occur on Saturday, February 4th following the scheduled practice.
- Qualifying will be single vehicle one (1) round, 3 laps, one (1) warm-up, two (2) timed.
- Qualifying order will be determined by 2022 Owner Points (lowest to highest).
- If there are more than 40 entries to this Event, the fastest four (4) open teams will transfer into the Heat Races.
Heat Races – 4 Heat Races / 25 Laps each
- Only completed green flag laps will be counted toward the official race distance
- Heat race lineups will be set by Qualifying
- Fastest qualifier – Pole for Heat 1
- Second fastest qualifier – Pole for Heat 2
- Third fastest qualifier – Pole for Heat 3
- Fourth fastest qualifier – Pole for Heat 4, etc
- The top five (5) from each race advance through to The Clash
- Remaining five (5) finishing positions from each heat continue through to the Last Chance Qualifier Race 1 and the Last Chance Qualifier Race 2 with their starting position being determined by where they finished in their heat races.
Last Chance Races – 2 LCQ Races / 50 Laps each
- Only completed green flag laps will be counted toward the official race distance
Last Chance Qualifier Race 1
- Those that did not advance from Heat 1 & 3.
- The 6th place finisher from Heat 1 will be on the Pole.
- The 6th place finisher from Heat 3 will be on the outside Pole.
- Lineup – Inside row positions 6-10 from Heat #1. Outside row positions 6-10 from Heat #3
Last Chance Qualifier Race 2
- Those that did not advance from Heat 2 & 4.
- The 6th place finisher from Heat 2 will be on the Pole.
- The 6th place finisher from Heat 4 will be on the outside Pole.
- Lineup – Inside row positions 6-10 from Heat #2. Outside row positions 6-10 from Heat #4
LCQ 1 & 2
- Top three (3) from both LCQ 1 and LCQ 2 advance through to The Clash.
- The remaining drivers are eliminated from the remainder of the Event.
The Clash
- Only completed green flag laps will be counted toward the official race distance
- 27 Drivers will start The Clash main event.
- 26 starting drivers are…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Motorsport.com – NASCAR – Stories…