NASCAR Already Discussing Significant Change to Fastest Lap Rule

What’s Happening?

Though the three NASCAR National Series have yet to have their season finale, NASCAR’s Mike Forde claims that there are already discussions about modifying NASCAR’s Xfinity Fastest Lap bonus point for next season.

During the latest episode of the NASCAR’s podcast Hauler Talk, Forde, NASCAR’s Managing Director of Communications, said that during NASCAR’s weekly competition debrief, officials discussed potential changes to the Xfinity Fastest Lap bonus point following recent trends amongst drivers. 

On multiple occasions this season, drivers who have wrecked out of races early have returned to the garage area, repaired their car, and returned to the track to attempt to set the fastest lap of the race. In doing so, per a new rule introduced by NASCAR prior to the start of the season, that driver is awarded a bonus point towards their season’s points.

This season, Kyle Larson did so at Mexico City and Watkins Glen, scoring a valuable bonus point after finishing 15 laps down in the latter, and, this past weekend at Darlington Raceway, in the first round of the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs, Wood Brothers Racing’s Josh Berry did so after his lap one crash, adding a high note to an otherwise dreary day.

During this episode of Hauler Talk, Ford stated that NASCAR officials are in early discussions about potentially changing the rules of the bonus point.

This could include requiring the driver who set the fastest lap to finish on the lead lap to be awarded the bonus point or only awarding the point to someone who scored the fastest lap while on the lead lap, though they could still finish off the lead lap.

Though he was quick to note that these are just early, “short” discussions and that nothing should change through the final nine races of the NASCAR season, and that this is likely just a topic that NASCAR will discuss during the off-season.

“I think that’s some of the conversation in the offseason, nothing is going to be changing over the next nine races,” said Forde.

Forde once again stressed that there are no impending changes for next season in a post on X after some discussion amongst online fans on the matter.

For fans in the comments who would hate this change, don't worry just yet! Strictly a discussion. Listen to the pod for more context. There are good reasons to keep it. But good reasons to have the discussion too. Nothing at all imminent. https://t.co/5CicJH5VQx

— Mike Forde (@mforde) September 3, 2025

Of course, during this discussion, Ford did note that there are some benefits to allowing drivers off the lead lap to win the bonus point, with Forde saying that at Watkins Glen, Larson fans got to see their driver “compete for something” while multiple laps down.

NASCAR introduced this bonus point on Feb. 4; this bonus point is not only applicable to Cup drivers but all three NASCAR National Series. So far, Larson has four bonus points, something that helped boost him a spot in the final regular season standings, earning him one more Playoff Point than he would have had if he hadn’t scored those bonus points.

Larson is far from first in bonus points earned this season, with Joe Gibbs Racing’s Denny Hamlin scoring six, carrying the weight of the team’s series-leading seven points. To check out the current leaders in bonus points earned and keep up with weekly winners, make sure to check out and bookmark the article linked below.

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