Gifts for NASCAR Fans
In a recent social media post, NASCAR Xfinity Series veteran Jeb Burton explained how stage points make a major difference in the performance of smaller teams in the overall standings.
A major talking point as the NASCAR Xfinity Series draws closer to the start of the playoffs is the battle between cousins Jeb and Harrison Burton. With one race to go, Harrison, son of NASCAR legend Jeff Burton, sits in the playoff picture 31 points in front of Jeb, son of 2002 Daytona 500 Champion Ward Burton.
While this battle rages into its final week, it has also taken on the role as key evidence for those who support NASCAR’s heavily criticized Playoff format.
For example, in a post on social media, long-time NASCAR broadcast Dave Moody claimed that this battle would not exist under a 36-race championship format, saying that with the cutoff, it means so much more to the teams entering this weekend.
Of course, if the series were under full-season points, this would be a midpack battle with little implications. Or, in the words of Moody, “Under a ‘Count Them All’ format, it would be a nothingburger for 15th place in the standings.”
But, a shocking detractor from this statement was Jeb, with the 32-year-old saying that under that system, which did not have stage points, which are bonus points dulled out twice during a race, Harrison would be in seventh and he would be in 12th, a stark improvement over their 11th and 13th positions, saying that this is a disappointment.
For his evidence, Burton is utilizing the weekly “NASCAR Winston Cup Points” update from @NWCS_Standings on X, who keeps up with the old points system in all three series weekly. While drivers would race differently under the old system as opposed to the current one, the full-season points currently used by NASCAR during the regular season often reflect similar standings.
Burton then clarifies that “The little guys’ cars don’t get a lot of stage points and this right here shows you that’s all that matters is stage points vs finishing races.”
In fact, finishing races is something that Burton and Jordan Anderson Racing do well, with the No. 27 team tied for fourth among top teams and drivers in lead lap finishes in the series this season. Adding to his points, Harrison and his AM Racing crew are tied for second with Jesse Love and Sam Mayer, who sit fourth and third in points.
Nonetheless, the Burton Battle will rage on into WWT Raceway this weekend, while Harrison looks to be locked in, anything can happen, and a good day from the No. 27 could see Jeb returning to playoff contention.
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