DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (May 26, 2011) — NASCAR and Nationwide Insurance today announced an exciting revised version of the successful NASCAR Nationwide Series “Dash 4 Cash” program for the 2011 season. Introduced in 2009 by Nationwide Insurance and NASCAR, “Dash 4 Cash” (Twitter hash tag: #NNSD4C) is a one-of-a-kind bonus program that rewards the highest-finishing eligible driver in designated races with a $100,000 bonus above and beyond the race purse; a 300% payout increase per race from previous years.
The program’s four-race format remains the same. The bonus-paying races start with the July 1 race at Daytona International Speedway, followed by Iowa Speedway on Aug. 6, Richmond International Raceway on Sept. 9 and culminate at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Oct. 14.
Two key revisions to the “Dash 4 Cash” program this year will benefit the drivers competing for the 2011 NASCAR Nationwide Series championship. First, only the top four drivers in the series points standings heading into Daytona’s summer race will be eligible for the $100,000 bonus. That means ultra-competitive racing among the top-10 drivers in the standings at Road America on June 25 which will set the stage for those who will make up the eligibility list at Daytona. The highest-finishing eligible driver at Daytona will receive the first “Dash 4 Cash” payout and automatically qualifies for the next event at Iowa. The three highest-finishing drivers to collect NASCAR Nationwide Series championship driver points at Daytona also qualify for the bonus at Iowa. That same qualifying procedure will be in place for the remaining two events at Richmond and Charlotte.
Another twist: Should any eligible driver win the three “Dash 4 Cash” payouts leading up to Charlotte and then win the Charlotte race, Nationwide Insurance will award an additional $600,000 in Victory Lane, bringing the total “Dash 4 Cash” bonus to $1 million. “We’re excited to partner with Nationwide Insurance to enhance the ‘Dash 4 Cash’ program for the 2011 season and beyond,” said Steve O’Donnell, NASCAR’s senior vice president of racing operations. “Since its inception, the program has brought increased notoriety to the series and more importantly, the teams and drivers competing for the series title.
“We believe the big bonuses for the select ‘Dash 4 Cash’ races, along with a guaranteed winner each week, will certainly continue to drive awareness for the series while creating some very exciting storylines and finishes along the way.”
“The enhancements to the ‘Dash 4 Cash’ program will take the action on the track to a whole new level this year,” said Jim McCoy, director of strategic sponsorships for Nationwide Insurance. “We’re thrilled to create a race within the race that gives fans another reason to tune into the NASCAR Nationwide Series.”
Fans also will be encouraged to join the action by entering for a chance to win a significant prize as part of a NASCAR Nationwide Series sweepstakes to behosted on NASCAR.com. An official announcement with prize elements and rules will take place during the first “Dash 4 Cash” race weekend at Daytona, with the entry period set to begin during that time frame.
“The fans are what drive our sport and we wanted to create an opportunity for them to engage in the program,” O’Donnell said. “We were able to partner with Nationwide Insurance and NASCAR.COM to develop this great opportunity. We can’t divulge the entire plan yet. But we can say that for one lucky fan, the fall Charlotte race will be rewarding.”
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