Field sizes in the NASCAR Xfinity and Gander RV & Outdoors Truck series will be temporarily expanded to 40 teams, bringing both in line with the NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR announced Monday, May 11.
The move from 36 and 32 entries in the Xfinity and Truck series, respectively, is due to the COVID-19 pandemic, allowing more organizations to come to the track with less of a chance of risking failing to qualify, should at least 40 teams show up to the track.
“This move is critical for the long-term health of the NASCAR Xfinity Series and NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series,” Scott Miller, NASCAR senior vp of competition, said in a NASCAR release. “There are many new full-time and part-time team owners who have made significant commitments to our sport and secured sponsorship to participate this season. NASCAR wants to enable these teams to fulfill their commitments and grow their businesses without being affected by circumstances out of their control.”
It is unknown how NASCAR will handle lineups if more than 40 teams show up, as qualifying will not take place at these events.
NASCAR did not give an indication of when the larger fields would return to their usual 36 and 32, but the fields will shrink when qualifying is again included as part of the race schedule.
About the author
Rutherford is the managing editor of Frontstretch, a position he gained in 2015 after serving on the editing staff for two years. At his day job, he's a journalist covering music and rock charts at Billboard. He lives in New York City, but his heart is in Ohio -- you know, like that Hawthorne Heights song.
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