NASCAR Cup Series

Talladega will no longer be NASCAR elimination race in 2017

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 7:19 p.m. ET

foxsports

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) NASCAR has decided that Talladega Superspeedway won't be an elimination race in next year's championship Chase.

The Alabama track swapped its date with Kansas Speedway in the most significant change to the 2017 schedule released Thursday.

Talladega had been the third race in the second round of the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship to the frustration of many drivers. The race is often unpredictable and drivers didn't like their title chances depending on that event.

The track hosted last Sunday's race, which was marred by several multi-car accidents. In all, 35 cars were involved in wrecks.

In 2017, Talladega will become the second race in the Round of 12 and be held on Oct. 15. Kansas becomes the third and final race in that round, on Oct. 22.