NASCAR changes format for practice, qualifying in 2025 season

Last season there was often confusion over NASCAR practice and qualifying. They have now changed procedures to help fix that. There will be more practice time, more stability between the series, and a return to a more simple starting lineup procedure.

Fans were not happy when NASCAR changed practice and qualifying in the Cup Series. Too much going on with the inside and outside rows, Group A goes here and Group B goes there. Slower cars were starting in front of faster cars, it was strange.

There are four different sets of rules for NASCAR practice and qualifying based on track type. The “Standard” rules are this: 25-minute practice for Group 1 and Group 2. Groups and qualifying are determined by metrics. 70% of the metric is previous race finish by owner, the other 30% will be based on owner points. The best cars will be in Group 2.

Then, qualifying will be one lap, one round. This applies to Las Vegas, Phoenix, Miami, Darlington, Texas, Kansas, Charlotte, Nashville, Michigan, Pocono, Gateway, and New Hampshire.

Short track procedure is the exact same, but qualifying will be two laps over one round. That applies to Martinsville, Bristol, Dover, Iowa, and Richmond.

Superspeedway procedure will have no practice, except for the Daytona 500. Qualifying will be one lap, two rounds. Fastest 10 cars in the first round move to the second round. Those 10 will line up based on second-round speed. Atlanta, Talladega, and Daytona are the tracks.

Finally, for the road course procedure, the same 25-minute practice. Then a 20-minute, multi-car qualifying session for Group 1. Group 2 will then do their own 20-minute session. It is a single round of qualifying.

These rules are the same throughout all three national series, but the Truck Series will get a 50-minute practice session for all trucks on road courses.

Other notes from new NASCAR P/Q rules

There are certain tracks that will have expanded NASCAR practice sessions. Bowman Gray, the Daytona 500, COTA, All-Star Race, Mexico City, Indianapolis, and Phoenix Championship. The Xfinity and Truck Series will also have extended practices at select tracks, including Rockingham, Lime Rock, and more.

The other major update has to do with the Daytona 500. NASCAR has FINALLY added a practice session back to the biggest week of the season. There will be a 50-minute, pre-qualifying practice session on Wednesday, February 12.

NASCAR fans at the track will have more to watch during the week. They can now get up on Wednesday morning, watch practice, go spend the day doing whatever they want to do, and then come back for qualifying at night under the lights.

FOX Sports will have rights to practice and qualifying for The Clash, Daytona 500, and All-Star Race on top of the entire Truck Series season of sessions. Prime Video will carry the rest of the first half of the Cup Series season for practice and qualifying. Then TNT Sports will take over the second half of the year on TruTV and Max.

The CW will carry the entire Xfinity Series season for practice and qualifying. Those details have not been released yet.