Although Comcast’s Xfinity Telecommunications brand will conclude its title sponsorship of NASCAR’s second-tier series by the end of 2025, it will continue its association as a premier partner. As part of this renewed premier-partner arrangement, NASCAR has introduced a new rule — similar to one adopted by F1 in 2019 — that awards an extra point to the driver who records the fastest lap time in a race. Had this rule been in place last year, it would have greatly influenced the playoff rankings.
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The one-point addition for the fastest lap means the maximum number of points a driver could earn in a race has increased to 61. This includes the points rewarded for finishing position, stage finishes, and the new ‘Xfinity Fastest Lap’ rule. It can alter the dynamics of the 2025 NASCAR season, as a single point could be the difference between a driver facing elimination or advancing toward a championship victory.
For instance, during the 2024 Cup season, eight drivers logged multiple fastest laps in the season. Kyle Larson would have won the Cup Series regular-season championship with five more playoff points to his tally if this rule was in place last year. Larson had recorded five fastest laps last season, the highest by a driver.
Besides Larson, Christopher Bell’s season could have taken a different turn with the extra three points he could have earned from the fastest laps. It could have potentially earned him a spot in the Championship 4 over William Byron.
If NASCAR awarded one point for the "Xfinity Fastest Lap" in 2024, these would have been the point totals:
– 5: Larson
– 3: Bell, Hamlin, SVG
– 2: Keselowski, Gibbs, Wallace
– 1: Logano, Blaney, Reddick, Hemric, Chastain, Busch, Cindric, Bowman, Elliott, Truex, Stenhouse,…— Austin Konenski (@AustinKonenski) February 4, 2025
The #20 JGR driver clocked the fastest lap at the Round of 8 opener at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, which would have positioned him to contend at Phoenix Raceway in the season finale. Later, at the Martinsville Speedway finale during the Round of 8, Bell could have edged out the #24 HMS driver by a single point.
Bell’s teammate, Denny Hamlin, along with Shane van Gisbergen, would have also benefited from this rule change, each adding three extra points to their 2024 tally. Brad Keselowski, Ty Gibbs, and Bubba Wallace would have accrued two additional points each for recording the fastest laps in two races.
Meanwhile, a plethora of drivers would have each gained one extra point, seeing a significant shuffle in the standings. That includes Joey Logano, Ryan Blaney, Tyler Reddick, Daniel Hemric, Ross Chastain, Kyle Busch, Austin Cindric, Alex Bowman, Chase Elliott, Martin Truex Jr., Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Chase Briscoe, Carson Hocevar, John Hunter Nemechek, Austin Dillon, and Corey LaJoie.
