Double-file restarts to begin at Daytona
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Double-file restarts will begin in the Nationwide Series next weekend at Daytona International Speedway.
The new format was introduced in the Sprint Cup series earlier this month at Pocono after the governing body received positive feedback from fans following its use in the All-Star race.
With no apparent problems in the Cup series officials decided it was time to implement it in Nationwide.
"This is going to be extremely exciting for the Nationwide Series," series director Joe Balash said in a statement. "As they have done in the Sprint Cup series, double-file restarts ... will add to even more close competition in our series and offer more excitement for our fans."
Said Nationwide regular Jason Leffler, "Double-file restarts are going to add a lot of excitement to the races. It's going to allow us the opportunity to race for position on the restarts instead of wasting valuable time trying to get by a lapped car.
"There are going to be times it hurts you, but I think more often than not, it is going to be a benefit. I'm looking forward to it and I think the fans are going to love it."
The same format used in the Cup series will be used in Nationwide. The leader will have the option to restart the field from the inside or outside lane. The first eligible car a lap down or more will earn a lap back and lapped cars choosing to remain ahead of the leaders under caution will be waved around to the end of the field before restarts.
Information from ESPN.com's David Newton was used in this report. He can be reached at dnewtonespn@aol.com.
