NASCAR is allowing fans to decide several aspects of the format of its non-championship Sprint Unlimited season opener. Formerly known as the Shootout, the event takes place at Daytona a week prior to the track's 500-mile race, round one of the Sprint Cup calendar.
The 75-lap race will be broken down into three segments, with fans choosing between four options for how the laps should be divided up. The vote will also decide whether teams can make a pit stop after segment one, and if so whether it is for two or four tires, and how many drivers are eliminated after the second segment.
Voting takes place via NASCAR's website and its mobile app. The pit stop and elimination votes only close once the race is underway, meaning teams will not know the exact format of the event as they take the green flag.
NASCAR vice president of competition Robin Pemberton described the vote as a "first-of-its-kind opportunity" for motorsport fans.
"By allowing our fans this type of interaction, it is our hope that more fans will be tuned in to the event than ever before," he said.