BROOKLYN, Mich. (Aug. 12, 2016) —The action and the strategy in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Careers for Veterans 200 race is getting more intense in 2016.
In a race that already features high-energy action all over the track, the truck series event on August 27 will feature more drama when the series visits Michigan International Speedway. NASCAR instituted a 20-minute caution clock this year and it will be the first time featured at MIS.
The clock will be set to 20 minutes and triggered at the start of each green-flag run during race events. When the clock counts down to zero, a caution flag then will be displayed and no beneficiary will be awarded. A caution occurring before time expires resets the clock when the subsequent green flag is displayed and the first truck a lap down will be the beneficiary.
“The caution clock is going to add to the race,” NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver Timothy Peters said. “You are going to see a lot more strategy played. Strategy was played pretty big at Michigan before the 20-minute caution clock. Now you will see it played even more.
“Do you hit pit road under green?” Peters continued. “Do you wait until the caution comes out and come down then? There is going to be one person to capitalize on it. Off sequence, track position. Michigan is a track where track position is critical.”
The caution clock will be turned off with 20 laps to go on the high-speed, two-mile oval.
“MIS is very supportive of the new format in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series,” track president Roger Curtis said. “NASCAR continues to be innovative and look to bring the best racing to the track. Our truck race is always one of the best in the series and we cannot wait to see the added drama with the implementation of the Caution Clock.”
The caution clock is not the only change in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. The series now has its own Chase. So a win at Michigan means even more.
The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series has always proven to be unpredictable as 14 different drivers have gone to victory lane in the first 16 races at the track. In fact, three drivers have garnered their first win in the series at the high-speed two-mile oval.
The regular season in the truck series consists of 16 regular season races. A win in the first 16 races all but guarantees a driver entry into the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Chase, provided the driver is in the Top 30 in points and has attempted to qualify for each race.
The seven-race NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Chase will begin at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on Sept. 24. It will feature eight drivers and two elimination rounds, with four drivers competing in the Championship 4 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
The first round, called the Round of 8, consists of the races at New Hampshire, Las Vegas, and Talladega. All drivers will have their points adjusted to 2,000, with three additional bonus points added to their total for each win in the first 16 races. If a driver wins a race in the Round of 8, the driver automatically advances to the next round. The remaining available positions (1-6) that have not been filled by wins will be filled on points.
Each driver who advances to the Round of 6 (Martinsville, Texas, Phoenix) then will have their points reset to 3,000. Drivers who win a race in the Round of 6 automatically advance to the Championship 4. The remaining available positions (1-4) that have not been filled by wins will be filled on points.
The four drivers who advance to the Championship 4 at Homestead will have their points reset to 4,000. The highest finishing Championship 4 driver will win the championship.
All rules outlined above also apply to both series’ owner championship structure.
The truck series helps to conclude the 2016 racing season at Michigan International Speedway. The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series will wind up its summertime at MIS on August 28 with the Pure Michigan 400.
