Started in 2009 by Nationwide Insurance and NASCAR, the “Dash 4 Cash” (Twitter hash tag: #NNSD4C) is a one-of-a-kind bonus program that rewards the highest-finishing eligible driver in designated races with a $100,000 bonus above and beyond the race purse; a 300% payout increase per race from previous years.

The program’s four-race format remains the same. The bonus-paying races start with the July 1 race at Daytona International Speedway, followed by Iowa Speedway on Aug. 6, Richmond International Raceway on Sept. 9 and culminate at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Oct. 14.

However, the two revisions made to this year program is:

• Only the top four drivers in the series points standings heading into Daytona’s summer race will be eligible for the $100,000 bonus. Hopefully this will increase competitive racing between the Nationwide drivers at Road America on June 25, setting the lineup for the top four heading into Dayton in July.

• Should any eligible driver win the three “Dash 4 Cash” payouts leading up to Charlotte and then win the Charlotte race, Nationwide Insurance will award an additional $600,000 in Victory Lane, bringing the total “Dash 4 Cash” bonus to $1 million.

Keep in mind that the highest-finishing eligible driver at Daytona will receive the first “Dash 4 Cash” payout and will automatically qualifiy for the next event at Iowa. The three highest-finishing drivers to collect NASCAR Nationwide Series championship driver points at Daytona also qualify for the bonus at Iowa. That same qualifying procedure will be in place for the remaining two events at Richmond and Charlotte.

Fans also will be encouraged to join the action by entering for a chance to win a significant prize as part of a NASCAR Nationwide Series sweepstakes to behosted on NASCAR.com. An official announcement with prize elements and rules will take place during the first “Dash 4 Cash” race weekend at Daytona, with the entry period set to begin during that time frame.