NASCAR introduced stage racing in 2017 for all three national series, adding predetermined breaks at specific laps in each race.
Typically, races have three stages, except for the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte, which features four.
Points are awarded to the top 10 drivers at the end of the first two stages (and the third stage at Charlotte), with the winner earning 10 points down to one point for the 10th-place finisher.
Stage racing brought a new strategic element, especially on road courses, since pit stops under caution don’t result in lost laps.
However, in 2023, NASCAR modified the format for road and street courses, removing the automatic caution at stage ends while still awarding points.
This change was intended to align the format with all 10 playoff races, which otherwise took place on ovals.
Despite this, NASCAR wasn’t satisfied with the racing quality without stage breaks, and fan reaction was mixed.
As a result, they reinstated the traditional stage break format for 2024, a change that remains in place for the 2025 season.
The first road course race of the year, the EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas (COTA), will include two stage breaks across three stages.
Other road course races in 2025 will take place at Sonoma, Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, Watkins Glen, Charlotte, and the Chicago street race.
