The Dash 4 Cash is a bonus program for race winners for designated races in a NASCAR Xfinity Series season. Since its inception in 2009, the program has undergone many changes, most notably the addition of heat races in 2016 for qualification for the bonus that were scrapped the following year. [1]
In order to drum up interest in its second-tier series, NASCAR made the Dash 4 Cash before the 2009 season. The original format included four races where all series regulars not competing in the Sprint Cup Series full-time could compete to win a $25,000 bonus on top of their race winnings if they won. If a Sprint Cup regular won, the money went to the next Dash 4 Cash race until an eligible driver won. The original four tracks were Nashville Superspeedway, Memphis Motorsports Park, Iowa Speedway, and Kentucky Speedway. [2]
The first major changes were made in 2011, when the bonus purse was increased to $100,000. Another major change was that only the top four drivers in point eligible drivers in the previous race could be eligible for the next race, with the exception of the first race at Daytona International Speedway, for which the field was set by the top four drivers in Nationwide Series points after the Road America race. After the Daytona race, Dash 4 Cash races were held at Iowa Speedway, Richmond International Raceway, and Charlotte Motor Speedway. If any driver won all four races, Nationwide would give that driver an extra $600,000, totalling the bonuses at $1,000,000. [3] The program received only minor changes over the next four years, like track changes. [4] The program also expanded to include a parallel fan experience, with fans getting paired with eligible drivers. The fan paired with the driver who won the prize at that race (it changed each year) won a matching $100,000. [5] When Xfinity took over as title sponsor in 2015, the schedule became more spread out, beginning earlier and ending later. [6] Regan Smith created hype in 2015 when he won the first race at Charlotte, sparking speculation that he could win the $1 million bonus since the final race was at Darlington Raceway, where Smith's only Sprint Cup win took place. [7] However, Smith did not win the million dollars.
Before the 2016 season, NASCAR announced sweeping changes for the program, including adding heat races to determine qualifiers. The top two series points eligible drivers from each of the two heats would compete for the bonus. [8] [9] Erik Jones won the first race under the new format. [10]
Prior to the start of the 2017 season, NASCAR unveiled a new race format that divided Cup and Xfinity races into three stages. The top-two Xfinity drivers in the first two stages would be Dash 4 Cash drivers for the four-driver final stage. The other two slots are determined by those who locked themselves into the main field. Phoenix International Raceway replaced Indianapolis as a Dash 4 Cash race. [11] In addition, any Cup driver that has five or more years of Cup racing experience and not declaring to run for points in the Xfinity Series are banned to compete in Dash 4 Cash races. [12] [13] For 2018, the Phoenix date was taken away and replaced by the spring race at Talladega Superspeedway, making it the first year that all four events were run consecutively. The format was changed where the top-four Xfinity drivers from the previous race would be eligible the next week for the money. [14] Additionally, no driver running for NASCAR Cup Series points could participate in the Dash 4 Cash races. [15] The Dash 4 Cash schedule remained the same for 2019. [16]
For 2020, because of delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Dash 4 Cash races started with qualifying at Bristol, then the four races were Atlanta, Homestead (Sunday), Talladega 1, and Pocono.
In 2021, the Dash 4 Cash schedule will consist of the first races at Martinsville, Talladega, and Darlington, with the single date at Dover concluding the event. The field for Martinsville will be determined by the results of the first Atlanta race.
For 2022 and 2023, the Dash 4 Cash races started with qualifying at Circuit of the Americas, then the four races were Richmond, Martinsville, Talladega 1 and Dover.
In 2024, the Dash 4 Cash schedule began with qualifying at Richmond, followed by the four races at Martinsville 1, Texas, Talladega 1, and the final race at Dover.
| Track | 2009 | 2010 |
|---|---|---|
| Nashville | no money awarded | no money awarded |
| Kentucky | no money awarded | no money awarded |
| Iowa | Brad Keselowski | no money awarded |
| Memphis | ||
| Texas | no money awarded |
| Track | 2016 |
|---|---|
| Bristol | Erik Jones |
| Richmond | Ty Dillon |
| Dover | Erik Jones |
| Indianapolis | Justin Allgaier |
The NASCAR playoffs, formerly officially known as the Chase for the Nextel/Sprint Cup, is a championship playoff system used in NASCAR's three national series. The system was founded as 'The Chase for the Championship' on January 21, 2004, and was used exclusively in the NASCAR Cup Series from 2004 to 2015. Since 2016, NASCAR has also used the playoff system in the Xfinity Series and Craftsman Truck Series.
The Pennzoil 250 is a NASCAR Xfinity Series auto race held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway since 2012. It takes place the Saturday of Kroger Super Weekend. This race replaced the Kroger 200, which had been held at the nearby Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis, formerly known as Indianapolis Raceway Park, for the previous 30 years. Brad Keselowski won the inaugural event.
Dwayne Gray Gaulding Jr. is an American professional stock car racing driver. He last competed part-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, driving the No. 08 Chevrolet Camaro and Ford Mustang for SS-Green Light Racing and part time in the NASCAR Cup Series, driving the No. 15 Ford Mustang for Rick Ware Racing.
Noah Q. Gragson is an American professional stock car racing driver. He competes full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series, driving the No. 10 Ford Mustang Dark Horse for Stewart–Haas Racing. He previously drove full-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series for JR Motorsports from 2019 to 2022 driving the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro, and full-time in the NASCAR Truck Series for Kyle Busch Motorsports from 2017 to 2018 driving the No. 18 Toyota Tundra.
The 2019 Alsco 300 is a NASCAR Xfinity Series race held on April 6, 2019, at Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tennessee. Contested over 300 laps on the 0.533 miles (0.858 km) concrete short track, it was the seventh race of the 2019 NASCAR Xfinity Series season. This was also the season's first Dash 4 Cash race, which would award extra money to the race winner.
The 2020 NASCAR Xfinity Series was the 39th season of the NASCAR Xfinity Series, a stock car racing series sanctioned by NASCAR in the United States. The season began at Daytona International Speedway with the NASCAR Racing Experience 300 on February 15. The regular season ended with the Go Bowling 250 at Richmond Raceway on September 11. The NASCAR playoffs ended with the Desert Diamond Casino West Valley 200 at Phoenix Raceway on November 7.
The 2021 NASCAR Xfinity Series was the 40th season of the NASCAR Xfinity Series, a stock car racing series sanctioned by NASCAR in the United States. The season began at Daytona International Speedway with the Beef. It's What's for Dinner. 300 on February 13. The regular season ended with the Food City 300 at Bristol Motor Speedway on September 17. The NASCAR playoffs ended with the NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship Race at Phoenix Raceway on November 6.
The 2020 Cheddar's 300, branded as Cheddar's 300 presented by Alsco, was a NASCAR Xfinity Series race held on June 1, 2020—postponed from May 30 due to weather—at Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tennessee. Contested over 303 laps—extended from 300 laps due to an overtime finish, on the 0.533-mile (0.858 km) concrete short track, it was the seventh race of the 2020 NASCAR Xfinity Series season. Additionally, it was the qualifier for the season's first Dash 4 Cash race. JR Motorsports driver Noah Gragson took home his second win of the season.
The 2020 EchoPark 250 was a NASCAR Xfinity Series race held on June 6, 2020, at Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton, Georgia. Contested over 163 laps on the 1.54-mile (2.48 km) asphalt quad-oval intermediate speedway, it was the eighth race of the 2020 NASCAR Xfinity Series season and the season's first Dash 4 Cash race. Kaulig Racing part-time driver A. J. Allmendinger won his first ever race on a NASCAR oval.
The 2020 Contender Boats 250 was a NASCAR Xfinity Series race held on June 14, 2020 at Homestead–Miami Speedway in Homestead, Florida. Contested over 177 laps—extended from 167 laps due to a double overtime finish—on the 1.5-mile (2.4 km) oval, it was the tenth race of the 2020 NASCAR Xfinity Series season and the season's second Dash 4 Cash race. Stewart-Haas Racing driver Chase Briscoe won his third race of the season.
The 2020 Unhinged 300 was a NASCAR Xfinity Series race held on June 20, 2020 at Talladega Superspeedway in Lincoln, Alabama. Contested over 113 laps on the 2.66-mile (4.28 km) superspeedway, it was the 11th race of the 2020 NASCAR Xfinity Series season and the season's third Dash 4 Cash race. Kaulig Racing's Justin Haley picked up his first career Xfinity Series victory.
The 2020 Pocono Green 225, branded as the Pocono Green 225 Recycled by J.P. Mascaro & Sons, was a NASCAR Xfinity Series race held on June 28, 2020 at Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. Contested over 91 laps—extended from 90 laps due to an overtime finish—on the 2.5-mile (4.0 km) triangular racecourse, it was the 12th race of the 2020 NASCAR Xfinity Series season and the season's fourth and final Dash 4 Cash race. Chase Briscoe won his fourth race of the season.
The 2022 Ag-Pro 300 was the ninth stock car race of the 2022 NASCAR Xfinity Series, the 31st iteration of the event, and the third race of the Dash 4 Cash. The race was held on Saturday, April 23, 2022, in Lincoln, Alabama at Talladega Superspeedway, a 2.66 mile permanent triangle-shaped superspeedway. The Dash 4 Cash in this race is consisted of Brandon Jones, Landon Cassill, A. J. Allmendinger, and Austin Hill, since they were the highest finishing Xfinity regulars after Martinsville Speedway. The race was extended from 113 laps to 124 laps, due to three NASCAR overtime attempts. At race's end, Noah Gragson of JR Motorsports would grab the win, after being able to take the lead on the final restart. This was Gragson's seventh career Xfinity Series win, and his second of the season. To fill out the podium, Jeffrey Earnhardt of Richard Childress Racing and A. J. Allmendinger of Kaulig Racing would finish 2nd and 3rd, respectively. Allmendinger would win the Dash 4 Cash, after finishing ahead of Cassill, Jones, and Hill.
The 2016 Fitzgerald Glider Kits 300 was the seventh stock car race of the 2016 NASCAR Xfinity Series season and the 34th iteration of the event. The race was held on Saturday, April 16, 2016, in Bristol, Tennessee at Bristol Motor Speedway, a 0.533 miles (0.858 km) permanent oval-shaped racetrack. The race took the scheduled 200 laps to complete, with the first 100 laps being split into two 50-lap heats of 20 cars. At race's end, Erik Jones, driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, would complete a late race charge on the final restart with three to go to win his third career NASCAR Xfinity Series win and his first of the season. To fill out the podium, Kyle Busch, driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, and Kyle Larson, driving for Chip Ganassi Racing, would finish second and third, respectively.
The 2016 ToyotaCare 250 was the eighth stock car race of the 2016 NASCAR Xfinity Series season and the 30th iteration of the event. The race was held on Saturday, April 23, 2016, in Richmond, Virginia at Richmond International Raceway, a 0.75 miles (1.21 km) permanent tri-oval shaped racetrack. The race was increased from 140 laps to 149 laps, due to a NASCAR overtime finish. The first 70 laps would be split into two 35-lap heats of 20 cars. Dale Earnhardt Jr., driving for his team, JR Motorsports, would charge to the lead on the final restart, and held off Ty Dillon for his 24th career NASCAR Xfinity Series win, his first of the season, and his first win since 2010. This would also end up being his last win in the Xfinity Series. Junior would also dominate the race as well, leading 128 of the 149 laps. To fill out the podium, Elliott Sadler, driving for JR Motorsports, would finish in third, respectively.
The 2016 Ollie's Bargain Outlet 200 was the tenth stock car race of the 2016 NASCAR Xfinity Series season, and the 35th iteration of the event. The race was held on Saturday, May 14, 2016, in Dover, Delaware at Dover International Speedway, a 1 mile (1.6 km) permanent oval-shaped racetrack. The race took the scheduled 120 laps to complete, with the first 80 laps being split into two 40-lap heats of 20 cars. Erik Jones, driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, would take the lead early, and dominate most of the race for his fourth career NASCAR Xfinity Series win, and his second of the season. To fill out the podium, Bubba Wallace, driving for Roush Fenway Racing, and Alex Bowman, driving for JR Motorsports, would finish second and third, respectively.
The 2023 Ag-Pro 300 was the 9th stock car race of the 2023 NASCAR Xfinity Series, and the 32nd iteration of the event. The race was held on Saturday, April 22, 2023, in Lincoln, Alabama at Talladega Superspeedway, a 2.66 miles (4.28 km) permanent tri-oval shaped superspeedway. The race was increased from 113 to 121 laps, due to multiple NASCAR overtime finishes. In a chaotic and caution-filled race, Jeb Burton, driving for Jordan Anderson Racing, would hold off Sheldon Creed and the rest of the field on the final lap, and earned his 2nd career NASCAR Xfinity Series win, and his first of the season. This was also the first NASCAR win for Jordan Anderson Racing. To fill out the podium, Creed, driving for Richard Childress Racing, and Parker Kligerman, driving for Big Machine Racing, would finish 2nd and 3rd, respectively.
The 2024 Dude Wipes 250 was the 7th stock car race of the 2024 NASCAR Xfinity Series, and the 17th iteration of the event. The race was held on Saturday, April 6, 2024, at Martinsville Speedway in Ridgeway, Virginia, a 0.526 miles (0.847 km) permanent asphalt paperclip-shaped short track. The race was originally scheduled to be contested over 250 laps, but was increased to 251 laps due to a NASCAR overtime finish. In a wild and action packed race that saw numerous spins and wrecks, Aric Almirola, driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, would survive a chaotic overtime restart, and won the race after a multi-car incident occurred on the final lap with him in the lead. This was Almirola's fifth career NASCAR Xfinity Series win, and his first of the season. Almirola was the most consistent driver of the race, winning the first stage and leading a race-high 148 laps. To fill out the podium, Sam Mayer, driving for JR Motorsports, and Chandler Smith, driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, would finish 2nd and 3rd, respectively.
The 2024 Andy's Frozen Custard 300 was the 8th stock car race of the 2024 NASCAR Xfinity Series, and the 20th iteration of the event. The race was held on Saturday, April 13, 2024, at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas, a 1.5 miles (2.4 km) permanent asphalt quad-oval shaped intermediate speedway. The race took the scheduled 200 laps to complete. In one of the closest finishes in Xfinity Series history, Sam Mayer, driving for JR Motorsports, would make a last-lap pass for the lead on Ryan Sieg, and held him off in a wild photo finish to earn his fifth career NASCAR Xfinity Series win, and his first of the season. The margin of victory was 0.002 seconds, tying it for the second closest finish in Xfinity Series history, alongside Milwaukee 1996 and Talladega 1999. Sieg led 17 of the final 18 laps in the race, before being passed by Mayer on the final lap. Justin Allgaier was most consistent driver of the race, winning both stages and leading a race-high 117 laps, but ultimately fell back and rounded out the podium by finishing 3rd.
The 2024 Ag-Pro 300 was the 9th stock car race of the 2024 NASCAR Xfinity Series, and the 33rd iteration of the event. The race was held on Saturday, April 20, 2024, at Talladega Superspeedway in Lincoln, Alabama, a 2.66 miles (4.28 km) permanent asphalt quad-oval shaped superspeedway. The race was originally scheduled to be contested over 113 laps, but was increased to 124 laps due to numerous NASCAR overtime attempts. In an action packed race with numerous lead changes, Jesse Love, driving for Richard Childress Racing, would take advantage of the lead on an overtime restart, and held off the field to earn his first career NASCAR Xfinity Series win in his ninth career start. RCR continued to show their dominance at superspeedways, with Austin Hill leading a race-high 41 laps and Love leading 28 laps. Hill was involved in a wreck in the late stages, and ultimately finished 14th. To fill out the podium, Riley Herbst, driving for Stewart–Haas Racing, and Anthony Alfredo, driving for Our Motorsports, would finish 2nd and 3rd, respectively.
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