NASCAR is considering making some alterations to the parameters of the ‘Xfinity Fastest Lap’ award, which gives an additional championship point to the driver who sets the fastest lap in each NASCAR National Series event.
Mike Forde, Managing Director of Communications for NASCAR, brought up the potential point of change on the ‘Hauler Talk’ podcast this week, on the heels of NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs driver Josh Berry returning to the racetrack after crashing on the first lap of the race, and setting the fastest lap while more than 100 laps off the pace.
Sunday’s Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway isn’t the first time it’s happened, either. Twice this season, at Autodromo Hermanos Rodríguez and Watkins Glen, Kyle Larson and the No. 5 Chevrolet set the fastest lap of the race after spending an extended period of time in the garage, whether because of damage repair or mechanical issues.
In turn, Larson’s triumph in earning multiple points via having the fastest lap of the race improved his position in the regular-season point standings, thus giving him more Playoff Points to start the 10-race post-season.
According to Forde, the matter of how the award was earned by Josh Berry and Wood Brothers Racing (which was totally within the scope of the rules) was brought up in a competition debrief on Tuesday.
“It was just one of those things where maybe this is something we do look at,” Forde said. “There’s conversations on both sides, and when we first started talking about this when Larson did it the first time in Mexico City was, the pros of keeping it how it is, is that it gives teams to work on something, fans of the No. 5 car – it almost happened the same exact thing [as Berry] where it was right at the beginning of the fan – fans of Kyle Larson came out to watch him and want to continue seeing him strive for something and compete for something.”
Forde, in speaking about potential changes that could come to the ‘Xfinity Fastest Lap’ award, suggested something to the tune of only awarding the bonus point if the driver finishes on the lead lap, or if the driver was on the lead lap when the fastest lap of the race was set.
However, all of these conversations will be happening over the off-season, and Forde confirms that there will be no changes to the rule in the final nine races of the NASCAR Cup Series campaign. Thus, for the time being, it’s something to watch in the battle for the championship, especially in the elimination race in the first round, if that extra point pays dividends for Josh Berry.
After the word of discussing changes made it to social media, Forde posted an additional message to reiterate that nothing is 100% set in stone, but remedies are being discussed, saying: “For fans in the comments who would hate this change, don’t worry just yet— strictly a discussion. Listen to the pod for more context. There are good reasons to keep it. But good reasons to have the discussion, too. Nothing at all imminent.”
In a media availability on Wednesday, three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Joey Logano was asked about possible changes to the ‘Xfinity Fastest Lap’ award. After giving it some thought, the Team Penske driver agreed that maybe some changes should be made.
“I haven’t given that much thought about that, but yeah. I would say if you’re going to go behind the wall or you’re going to have damage repair, there’s the opportunity of making your car better than stock, better than what you originally went through tech with,” said Logano. “It probably opens the door for shenanigans. I mean, more power to them if they take the time to do that. I mean, you had nothing else to lose and only something to gain, so you go for it.”
“I guess maybe to your point, maybe you’d have to be on the lead lap at the moment you run the lap, or maybe within one lap of the leader. That’s probably a good idea.”
