NASCAR makes changes to Nationwide, Camping World truck series

NASCAR has announced three changes in the NASCAR Nationwide Series (which becomes the XFINITY Series in 2015)  and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series for the 2015 season.

The updates include:

--Beginning next season, the qualifying rule for the NASCAR XFINITY Series and the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series will resemble that of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, and will emphasize speed.

--The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series maximum starting field will be set at 32 trucks.

 --The drivers’ last name will be featured on the back window of each series’ cars and trucks, helping fans to better identify the drivers.

“Our mission of providing the best on-track product possible is always among our top objectives,” said Robin Pemberton, senior vice president of competition and racing development. “We’re confident in the direction these changes will take these series.”

Qualifying procedure

Next season in the NASCAR XFINITY Series, cars starting in positions 1-33 will be determined by their fastest single lap during qualifying in descending order with the fastest qualifier starting first. The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series will follow the same procedure for positions 1-27.

In the XFINITY Series, the next six positions will first be assigned to the highest ranking cars in owner points that have attempted all of the races, have not already earned a starting position through qualifying and have entered the event by the posted entry deadline. The final starting position will be awarded to the most recent eligible past champion driver. If there is no eligible past champion driver, then a seventh car will make the field based upon owner points.

In the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, the next four positions will first be assigned to the highest ranking trucks in owner points that have attempted all of the races, have not already earned a starting position through qualifying and have entered the event by the posted entry deadline. The final starting position will be awarded to the most recent eligible past champion driver. If there is no eligible past champion driver, then a fifth truck will make the field based upon owner points.

Prior to this enhancement, the top 30 cars and top 25 trucks in owner points in each series, respectively, were guaranteed a starting spot in each of those series’ events. Starting next year, a maximum of seven cars and five trucks will be locked into a given NASCAR XFINITY Series or NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race, respectively.

If a qualifying session is cancelled because of inclement weather, each series’ field will be set per the rule book with starting lineups determined by practice speeds.

Maximum of 32 trucks to start

As NASCAR continues to encourage and reward hard racing, help solidify and build the ownership base, add even more drama and intrigue to the race weekend and most importantly, provide fans the best competition possible, the maximum starting field for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series will be set at 32 trucks starting in 2015, as opposed to the 36-truck field in previous years.

A maximum NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starting field continues to stand at 43 cars while the NASCAR XFINITY Series will remain at 40.

Drivers' names on rear window

This new design element is part of the implementation of NASCAR’s Industry Action Plan, specifically in the area of Driver Star Power. This enhancement will feature the drivers’ last name displayed on the upper rear window of cars and trucks, helping fans more easily identify the drivers. The window treatment will not affect the on-track competition and placing it on the back window allows for both series sponsors – XFINITY (starting in 2015) and Camping World – to continue to maintain placement on the front windshield.

NASCAR