If we're going to have breaks in the racing action, let's at least do it the way short tracks all across the nation do it. Take the 40 car field, divide it up with 20 cars each. You have Heat 1, Heat 2, top 10 of those two heats get into the main. Then you'll have a Last Chance Qualifier and the top 5 in that race gets into the main. You now have a 25 car field for the main event.
You can even add in points. For Heat 1 and 2, Top 10 gets points starting with 10 for first place, 9 points for second, so on and so on. LCQ first place gets 5 points, 2nd place gets 4 points and so on. Then all the cars that compete in the feature gets points. 25 points for the winner, 24 for second place, etc. etc.
It at least will make more sense than Stages, or quarters, or whatever bull**** they're trying to peddle.