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NASCAR unveils lengths of stages for Daytona

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series DAYTONA 500

DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 21: Chase Elliott, driver of the #24 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet, leads the field at the start of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series DAYTONA 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 21, 2016 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Matt Sullivan/Getty Images)

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NASCAR announced Wednesday the lengths of the three stages in each of the upcoming races at Daytona International Speedway.

For the Feb. 26 Daytona 500, the first two stages will be 60 laps each: Laps 1-60 and Laps 61-120.

The final stage of the race will be 80 laps rom Laps 121 through the scheduled conclusion of the race on Lap 200.

For the Xfinity Series’ Powershares QQQ 300 on Feb. 25, the 120-lap race will see the first two stages being 30 laps each, from Laps 1-30 and Laps 31-60. The final stage will be 60 laps.

For the Camping World Truck Series’ Nextera Energy Resources 250 on Feb. 24, the 100-lap race will consist of two 20-lap stages (Laps 1-20 and Laps 21-40), and a third and final stage of 60 laps (Laps 41-100).

When NASCAR announced its enhancements, series officials stated that races would be official at the end of the second stage. Previously races were official after reaching halfway.

Now, the Daytona 500 won’t be considered official until after Lap 120 -- which is 60 percent of the race. The Xfinity race will be official after 60 of 120 laps -- 50 percent of the race. The Truck race will be official after 40 of 100 laps -- 40 percent of the race.

NASCAR factored in fuel mileage considerations in determining the length of the stages.

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