Graphic: Backfire Racing.
Since 2017, NASCAR Cup Series races haven’t been a single, uninterrupted run to the checkered flag. Every points race is split into three stages, and understanding how that structure works changes how you read the middle of a race, not just the ending.
Splitting the Race Into Thirds
Most Cup races are divided so that the first two stages cover a portion of the total race distance, with the final stage covering the remainder, typically the longest of the three. At the end of stage one and stage two, the race pauses briefly under caution, and the top ten drivers at that moment earn bonus points.
Why Stage Points Matter
Stage points count toward both the regular-season standings, which determine playoff seeding, and the playoff points that carry into elimination rounds. That means a driver who leads at the end of stage one is racing for something real, not just style points, even if they ultimately finish outside the top ten at the end of the race.
Strategic Implications
Because stage breaks are essentially scheduled caution periods, they also create natural pit stop windows. Teams can choose to pit right before a stage ends to avoid losing track position, or push to collect stage points and pit immediately after, accepting a bit of lost track position in exchange for points. This decision-making adds a layer of in-race strategy that plays out well before the closing laps, of the kind that shaped results in races like the one covered in our recent Cup Series playoff coverage.
How It Changes Race-Watching
For fans, stage breaks provide natural checkpoints for gauging who’s actually fast that day versus who’s simply running up front on strategy. A car that dominates stage one but fades in the final stage tells a different story than one that quietly builds speed as the race goes on, and stage results are often a better predictor of a driver’s underlying pace than final finishing position alone.
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