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NASCAR Unleashes ‘Xfinity Fastest Lap’ Bonus – A Game-Changer in the Points Battle

Carl Smith by Carl Smith
February 16, 2025
in Motorsports
Reading Time: 5 mins read
0
NASCAR Unleashes ‘Xfinity Fastest Lap’ Bonus – A Game-Changer in the Points Battle

Feb 16, 2025; Daytona Beach, Florida, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Chase Briscoe (19) leads the field during the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-Imagn Images

In a groundbreaking shift for stock car racing, NASCAR will introduce the “Xfinity Fastest Lap” bonus across all three of its national series in 2025. The move, spearheaded by Comcast, adds a crucial single point to both the driver and owner standings for the car that posts the quickest lap time in any given race.

While Formula 1 abandoned its fastest lap bonus ahead of 2025, NASCAR is embracing the chaos—and unlike in F1, where only the top ten finishers were eligible for the extra point, every single car on the grid now has a shot at cashing in on the bonus, regardless of finishing position.

This new rule isn’t just for show—it could dramatically impact playoff qualification, regular-season championships, and even the fight for the Cup title itself.


How the ‘Xfinity Fastest Lap’ Bonus Works

  • The driver and team that set the fastest lap in a race get one extra point in the driver’s and owner’s championship standings.
  • Every car is eligible, regardless of finishing position. The only restriction? A Cup driver who runs an Xfinity or Truck race cannot collect driver points in those series.
  • If multiple drivers set the same fastest lap, the tiebreaker goes to the one who finishes higher.
  • Bonus money is on the line: The driver with the most fastest laps at season’s end will earn:
    • $30,000 for the Cup Series (donated to charity)
    • $20,000 for the Xfinity Series
    • $10,000 for the Truck Series
  • The Championship Round is excluded, but drivers in the final four can still rack up fastest laps toward the season-long award.

Why This Changes the Game

While one point might seem insignificant, it could be the deciding factor in a cutthroat playoff system where razor-thin margins determine who makes the cut.

Crew chiefs are already scheming, knowing that strategy could now dictate fastest-lap battles just as much as raw speed.

“If you’re in that bubble and need a point on a guy, you might gamble to grab the fastest lap,” explained Travis Peterson, crew chief for Michael McDowell.
“We see some of that stuff in F1, and it could easily come into play in NASCAR now.”

Picture this: You’re running a lap down at Daytona with no hope of a top finish. Do you pit for fresh tires late in the race, run a hot lap, and steal an extra point? That could be the difference between making the playoffs and heading home early.

Even at intermediate ovals and short tracks, where fastest laps traditionally come from long-run dominance, expect teams to fine-tune strategies to find those extra tenths.


How It Would Have Changed History

NASCAR has never awarded a fastest lap bonus before, but if this rule had been in place last year, the 2024 championship race might have looked very different:

  • Kyle Larson would have won the regular-season title by a single point over Tyler Reddick (he lost it by one in reality).
  • Christopher Bell would have made the Championship 4 outright instead of losing the tiebreaker to William Byron.
  • The fight for playoff cutoffs would have been even more chaotic, with teams chasing every last available point.

Now, 2025 will bring that drama in real-time, making every race a ticking time bomb of strategy, team politics, and last-ditch efforts to steal the fastest lap.


Could This Backfire? The NASCAR Chaos Factor

With a new points system comes new opportunities for manipulation—and you can bet that teams will test every loophole possible.

  • Drafting games on superspeedways: Will teammates slow down, swap positions, or work together late in races just to snatch the fastest lap?
  • Midfield gambles: Could teams deliberately sacrifice track position for new tires late in a race just to secure an extra point?
  • Playoff desperation moves: Expect the Daytona regular-season finale to be a mad scramble, with bubble drivers possibly ditching partners, pitting out of sequence, or hanging back just to take a shot at a quick lap.

While NASCAR insists the move is meant to reward pure speed, expect teams to exploit every rule in the book—because in a championship where one point can change everything, the Xfinity Fastest Lap bonus is now a weapon, not just an accolade.


Final Verdict: A Welcome Shake-Up or Strategic Overload?

Love it or hate it, the Xfinity Fastest Lap is here to stay—and it’s going to add another layer of unpredictability to a sport already known for its chaotic finishes and game-changing strategies.

For fans, it means more strategy, more drama, and more reasons to watch every single lap unfold. For drivers, it means no lap is meaningless, because that extra point could be the difference between playoff heartbreak and championship glory.

Every point matters. Every lap counts. And in 2025, the race just got faster.

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