NASCAR Announces Choose Rule with Final Schedule

Credit: Debbie Ross for Skirts and Scuffs

NASCAR has permanently implemented the "choose" rule throughout each of its three national series starting this weekend at Michigan International Speedway with the NASCAR Cup Series and Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series. 

The rule, which allows drivers to choose in which lane they prefer to restart, was first used three weeks ago during the Cup Series All-Star Race at Bristol Motor Speedway. Drivers may opt for track position or select the preferred lane.

“Considering feedback from teams, drivers and fans, NASCAR has implemented these changes to enhance competition as we approach the playoffs,” said Scott Miller, NASCAR senior vice president of competition, “We received nothing but positive comments from the drivers on the choose rule following the All-Star Race, and felt it was an important addition to the restart procedure.

The drivers will choose which lane they prefer on the lap before the restart by going to the inside or the outside of the painted orange “V”, which will serve as the designated commitment point. 

“It will essentially look the same,” said Scott Miller, NASCAR senior vice president of competition. “There will be a few subtle differences to handle wave-arounds and free passes and a full field of cars, which we didn’t have at the All-Star event. But it will look very much the same. It will be exactly the same up front, but just some subtleties to handle wave-around, free pass and things like that.”

NASCAR will use the rule in all events for the remainder of the season, except for road courses and superspeedways. 

Drivers may be penalized if they fail to commit to a lane before the commitment box or if they change lanes after the painted mark. 

Also announced on Thursday was the remaining schedule for the rest of 2020, which includes races at Darlington, Richmond, Bristol, and Las Vegas. 

The Cup Series playoffs will begin as scheduled on September 6th at Darlington Raceway, while the Xfinity Series playoffs has been moved to September 26th at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. 

The Truck Series playoffs begins on September 17th at Bristol. The series will also host an event at Darlington for the first time in nine years. 

  

You can view the schedule, which includes three ARCA Menard’s Series races, below:

Sept. 5 at Darlington: Xfinity race (12:30 p.m. on NBCSN)
Sept. 6 at Darlington: Truck race (2 p.m. ET on FS1)
Sept. 6 at Darlington: Southern 500 (6 p.m. ET on NBCSN)
Sept. 10 at Richmond: Truck race (8 p.m. ET on FS1)
Sept. 11 at Richmond: Xfinity race (7 p.m. ET on NBCSN)
Sept. 12 at Richmond: Xfinity race (2:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN)
Sept. 12 at Richmond: Cup race (7:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN)
Sept. 17 at Bristol: Truck race (7:30 p.m. ET on FS1)
Sept. 17 at Bristol: ARCA race (9:30 p.m. ET on FS1)
Sept. 18 at Bristol: Xfinity race (7 p.m. ET on NBCSN)
Sept. 19 at Bristol: Cup race (7:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN)
Sept. 25 at Las Vegas: Truck race (9 p.m. ET on FS1)
Sept. 26 at Las Vegas: Xfinity race (7:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN)
Sept. 27 at Las Vegas: Cup race (7 p.m. ET on NBCSN)
Oct. 3 at Talladega: Truck race (1 p.m. ET on FS1)
Oct. 3 at Talladega: Xfinity race (4:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN)
Oct. 4 at Talladega: Cup race (2 p.m. ET on NBC)
Oct. 10 at Charlotte Roval: Xfinity race (3:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN)
Oct. 11 at Charlotte Roval: Cup race (2:30 p.m. ET on NBC)
Oct. 16 at Kansas: Truck race (7 p.m. ET on FS1)
Oct. 16 at Kansas: ARCA race (10 p.m. ET on FS2)
Oct. 17 at Kansas: Xfinity race (3 p.m. ET on NBCSN)
Oct. 18 at Kansas: Cup race (2:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN)
Oct. 24 at Texas: Xfinity race (4:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN)
Oct. 25 at Texas: Truck race (Noon ET on FS1)
Oct. 25 at Texas: Cup race (3:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN)
Oct. 30 at Martinsville: Truck race (8 p.m. ET on FS1)
Oct. 31 at Martinsville: Xfinity race (4:30 p.m. ET on NBC)
Nov. 1 at Martinsville: Cup race (2 p.m. ET on NBC)
Nov. 6 at Phoenix: Truck race (8 p.m. ET on FS1)
Nov. 7 at Phoenix: ARCA Menards West (2 p.m. ET on Trackpass)
Nov. 7 at Phoenix: Xfinity race (5 p.m. ET on NBCSN)
Nov. 8 at Phoenix: Cup race (3 p.m. ET on NBC)
*All times are Eastern.