Daytona Beach, FL (My Sportsbook) - NASCAR on Thursday announced a change to its Sprint Cup Series race format with the addition of double-file restarts throughout each event, beginning this weekend at Pocono Raceway.

Following each caution, the first and second-place drivers will lineup side- by-side as the green flag waves for each restart.

"We've heard the fans loud and clear," NASCAR chairman Brian France said in a statement. "'Double-file restarts - shootout style' are coming to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. This addition to the race format is good for competition and good for the fans."

The race leader will have the option to restart on the inside or outside lane. The second-place driver would then restart next to the leader. Regardless of where the leader starts, drivers in odd number positions (3rd, 5th, 7th places, etc.) will restart on the inside lane, while drivers in even number positions (4th, 6th, 8th places, etc.) will restart on the outside. All restarts will use the same format regardless of the number of laps remaining in the race.

The "free pass" will now remain in effect for the entire race, meaning the first eligible car a lap or more down will continue to earn one lap back following a caution. In the past, the free pass - also known as the "lucky dog" rule - ceased during the final 10 laps.

NASCAR recently used the double-file format last month for the all-star race at Lowe's Motor Speedway.

Current Sprint Cup points leader Tony Stewart, who won the all-star event, favored NASCAR's rule change.

"I'm excited about it," Stewart said. "The good thing is that when they drop the green, you're going to be racing with the guys you're racing for position instead of trying to clear lapped cars.

"Since NASCAR has adapted the 'free pass,' I think that's something that now justifies being able to put those lapped cars to the back and let them race with each other, and let the guys who are racing on the lead lap do the same. I'm behind NASCAR 100 percent on this."