By Caleb Whisler, Staff Writer
As the 2018 season hits the final stretch for the NASCAR Xfinity Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, NASCAR announced procedural changes for both series for 2019 on Thursday morning.
According to NASCAR, the goal of this restructuring is “aimed at strengthening both the competition on the race track and the identity of each series.”
In 2019, the Xfinity series field will be reduced from 40 cars to 38 cars. As a result of this change, the purse money for 39th- and 40th-place finishers will be redistributed throughout the field.
The Xfinity Dash4Cash program will continue in 2019. Texas Motor Speedway will serve as a qualifier race for the program, with the top four Xfinity Series points earners landing a spot in the opener at Bristol Motor Speedway. The remaining Dash4Cash events will be at Richmond Raceway, Talladega Superspeedway and Dover international Speedway.
In the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, which will be known as the Gander Outdoor Truck Series in 2019, as well as the Xfinity Series, will have more defined participation guidelines.
Team owners in the Xfinity Series earned Playoff points and race wins will only count towards Owner Championship Playoff eligibility if the driver earns points in that series or the Gander Outdoors Truck Series. A Gander Outdoors Truck Series owner’s earned Playoff points and races win will only count towards the Playoffs if the driver earns points in that series.