Back in 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic forced NASCAR to streamline its practice and qualifying procedures, and the format stuck. That will finally change in 2025, as the sanctioning body announced major changes to the structure of its pre-race on-track activities, headlined by the return of single-round time trial-based qualifying at most tracks.
The updated practice and qualifying format includes expanded practice time and simplified starting lineup rules, along with congruity across the Truck, Xfinity, and Cup Series. The starting lineups will be determined by single-round qualifying at all tracks except for superspeedways, and each competitor’s starting position will be determined by their performance in time trials. Previously, lineups were set row-by-row based on performance across several rounds of qualifying.
NASCAR Cup Series practice sessions will be split into two groups granted 25 minutes each at most tracks. Practice groups and qualifying order are determined by metrics, based 70 percent on finishing position by owner in the prior race and 30 percent based on owner points position. The best scoring cars will compete in Group 2 practice.
Qualifying procedure, meanwhile, differs between track type. “Standard” tracks (Las Vegas, Phoenix, Miami, Darlington, Texas, Charlotte, Nashville, Michigan, Pocono, Gateway, and New Hampshire) get one lap of qualifying in a single round. Short tracks (Martinsville, Bristol, Dover, Iowa, and Richmond) get two laps of qualifying in a single round. Road courses (Chicago, Sonoma, Watkins Glen, and Roval) get 20-minute qualifying sessions split into two groups for a single round.
Finally, the superspeedways (Daytona, Talladega, and Atlanta) get one lap of qualifying for two rounds; the first 10 starting positions will be determined by fastest time, while the remainder of the field is set based on qualifying results in the first round.
Things will look different for the season-opening Daytona 500. Qualifying will be preceded by a 50-minute practice round, and as usual, the front row will be determined by fastest time. The remainder of the field must race for position in the Duels at Daytona, after which the starting lineup will be set. Meanwhile, extended practice sessions will be offered at certain tracks throughout the season, including the Phoenix Championship race and the brand new Mexico City race.
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Do you think that more people might watch? I'm thinking that it's to get more commercials!! Which is just more scrap to put up with. Without a true Chevy car but a leftover why waste time at all.