Catching up on the 2016 NASCAR Changes

A Quick Review of the Offseason Moves and Changes

By Richard Tix

Another NASCAR offseason has come and gone and just like any other year, it is hard to keep track of all the moves and changes. It always takes a few races for fans to adjust to driver's in new cars and with new teams, so this year NASCAR Behind the Wall is here to help. 

Driver Moves

• #7 Regan Smith in the #7 (Alex Bowman no Cup ride in 2016)
• #14 Brian Vickers to run Daytona 500 for Tony Stewart. Ty Dillon to also run select races in the #14
• #15 Clint Bowyer moved to HScott Motorsports. Changed from #51 to #15. (Justin Allgaier no Cup ride in 2016)
• #21 Ryan Blaney to run full time in the #21 Wood Brothers ride.
• #23 David Ragan joins BK Racing in the #23
• #24 Chase Elliott takes over for the retired Jeff Gordon (Chase was in the 25 for select races in 2015)
• #34 Rookie Chris Buescher takes over the 34 at FRM
• #38 Landon Cassill moves from the #40 of Hillman to #38 at FRM
• #40 Reed Sorenson will be in the 40 for the Daytona 500. 
• #44 The #9 was changed to the #44 and Hornish Jr was replaced by Brian Scott for 2016 (more on the #44 in NASCAR here)
• #95 Ty Dillon will run 5 races in the #95 (including the Daytona 500). Michael McDowell will run the remaining schedule. He will be in the #59 for the 500.
• #98 Cole Whitt will run the #98 for Premium Motorsports

Rules and News

• NASCAR implements Charter System (more following this link)
• 36 cars get a Charter. All 36 are guaranteed a spot in each race.
• 9 year deal
• Field cut from 43 cars to 40
• Four open spots go to fastest non Charter teams in qualifying
• Only way to get a Charter is to buy one from an existing team
• NASCAR Overtime Line (more following this link)
• Line at each track. After G-W-C flies, leader must cross this line before a real "clean start" is achieved.
• Once a clean start is reached they finish the race, or a yellow brings the race to a finish and the field freezes as it was at the yellow. 
• NASCAR will attempt as many restarts as it takes to get a "clean start."
• Points Adjustment (more following this link)
• First place now gets 40 points, second 39, and so on down the finishing order.
• Bonus points are still added to finish position points like in the past
• Caution Clock in the Truck Series
• If they series runs green for 20 min a competition caution will fly
• New Chase format brought to the Xfinity and Truck Series
• Plenty of sponsor changes for teams and drivers. (find out more about this changes here)
• New 2016 NASCAR Paint Scheme's have been released and will continue to come out. (2016 NASCAR Paint Scheme Page)
• NASCAR Rookie of the Year Race
• Chase Elliott, Ryan Blaney, Brian Scott, Chris Buescher, among others to compete for ROY (more on the 2016 ROY battle here)
• Tony Stewart's last full time season
• A look back at his career in the Cup Series here.