FARC announces points & race format changes

FARC president Jeff Falkner announced on FARCRacing.com that several adjustments would be made to the FARC Elite Series Powered by Smash Beer points system and format for certain races.

The three Texas Triple Crown races will award double points; the season opening Smash Beer 200 at Texas World Speedway, the Karl's Superstores Showdown at the Karl's in San Antonio, and the finale at Texas Motor Speedway. "We've got the big fields and the big purses at the Texas races," said Falkner, "so we think that big points will make these races more interesting, especially when we settle the championship."

Any driver who wins a points race in 2015 will be guaranteed a starting spot in the final race. The rest of the starting field will be determined by rounds of qualifying followed by a 100-mile consolation race for the fastest teams that fail to qualify, after which the top two finishers will transfer to the feature.

Bonus points for qualifying will be extended to the top 10 starters of each race. Pole position will pay 20 points, second place will pay 9, and each position will pay one point fewer until a single point is awarded to tenth place. The bonuses for leading the most laps and gaining the most positions from the start of the race will remain, but they will both be increased to ten points. Previously, these awards as well as the pole paid five points each. With the adjusted bonuses, the most points that any driver can gain in a single race will be 130.

The 50/50 Sprints, which will only be run at short tracks in 2015, will now be allowed to end with a single attempt at a green-white-checkered finish. Just like with feature races, all cars up to three laps down will be allowed to take the restart.

There is no word on other changes that may take place for the upcoming season.