NASCAR opens 2016 season without 2 of its biggest stars

The line, which will vary depending on the track, will determine whether a green-white-checkered restart is considered clean and valid.

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series gets underway with an exhibition on Saturday.

Four-time NASCAR Cup champion Jeff Gordon retired after the 2015 season as an extremely well-liked and respected driver among his peers. If the race leader passes the line on the first lap under green before a caution comes out, it will be considered a valid green-white-checkered attempt. Under the previous rule, the race would be restarted if the yellow came out during the first lap of the two-lap dash to the finish.

The new rule replaces the current (and controversial) “green/white/checkered” rule, which defaulted to a finish under caution after three attempts at a clean finish.

TaxSlayer.com has been a partner with Earnhardt in the Xfinity Series over the years, but this will mark their first partnership with him in the Sprint Cup Series. Meanwhile, the second-place finisher will get 39 points and third place will get 38 points.

Steve O’Donnell, NASCAR’s executive vice president and chief racing development officer, declined to speak for Stewart-Haas Racing as to who it will field in Tony Stewart’s auto at Speedweeks, but stated that Vickers had successfully been cleared to race. Stewart’s looking to end his career with a strong finish and unfortunately for race fans everywhere, it won’t be starting at the Daytona 500.

– The other two open spots will be determined by pole qualifying. The remainder of the field will be set Thursday, Feb. 18 through duel qualifying races.