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NASCAR revealed major changes to its practice and qualifying procedures for the 2025 season in a press release on Thursday. These updates will affect the NASCAR Cup Series, Xfinity Series, and Craftsman Truck Series, with different procedures depending on the type of track used during race weekends.
Key Changes to Practice and Qualifying in 2025
The 2025 NASCAR season will introduce several key alterations to practice and qualifying formats across the various series. Among the most significant changes are:
- Group Practice Sessions: The duration of group practice sessions will increase from 20 to 25 minutes.
- Single-Round Qualifying: Qualifying at every track, except superspeedways, will now feature a single round.
- Starting Positions: Starting positions will be determined based solely on qualifying results, rather than grouping cars by row.
Brad Moran, the Cup Series Director, mentioned that these changes were a collaborative effort between NASCAR and industry partners, especially as NASCAR enters its first season under a seven-year media rights deal with new broadcast partners in 2025.
Returning to Pre-Pandemic Schedules
Moran explained that the adjustments were part of a move toward restoring race weekend schedules to what they were before the COVID-19 pandemic, which had led to a streamlining of race formats. The slight increase in practice time is expected to be well-received by both fans and industry partners.
"We’ve gotten a lot of feedback throughout the year, and we made a couple of adjustments," Moran said in the press release. "We really wanted to take a fresh look at it. A lot of this came into play back in COVID when we tightened things up, so we’re kind of going back a little to what we used to do again."
Practice and Qualifying Procedures for Different Tracks
The changes to practice and qualifying will vary based on the type of track involved in each race.
Standard Tracks (e.g., Nashville Superspeedway)
For races held on intermediate tracks, such as Darlington Raceway and Nashville Superspeedway, the procedures will differ from those used in 2024. There will be:
- 25-Minute Practice Sessions: Two groups of cars will take part in 25-minute practice sessions each. The groups will be determined based on metrics such as previous race finishes (70%) and owner points (30%).
- One Lap of Qualifying: Qualifying will consist of a single round, with each car completing one lap.
The standard tracks where these procedures will be implemented include Las Vegas, Phoenix (spring), Miami, Darlington, Texas, Kansas, Charlotte oval, Nashville, Michigan, Pocono, Gateway, and New Hampshire.
Short Track Qualifying (e.g., Martinsville Speedway)
Short track races, such as those at Martinsville Speedway and Bristol Motor Speedway, will have the following adjustments:
- 25-Minute Practice Sessions: There will be two 25-minute practice sessions for different groups of cars.
- Two Laps of Qualifying: Each car will complete two laps in one round of qualifying.
This format will be used at Martinsville, Bristol, Dover, Iowa, Richmond, North Wilkesboro (Trucks), and Lucas Oil IRP (Trucks).
Superspeedway Qualifying (e.g., Daytona 500)
Superspeedway races, including the Daytona 500, will feature different procedures:
- No Standalone Practice: There will be no standalone practice sessions.
- 50-Minute Pre-Qualifying Session: A 50-minute pre-qualifying session will be held for the NASCAR Cup Series at the Daytona 500.
- Two-Round Qualifying: Qualifying will include one lap per car, with two rounds. The fastest 10 cars from the opening round will advance to the final round. Starting positions for spots 1-10 will be based on the final round, while the rest of the field will be determined by the first round.
This qualifying format will be used at Daytona (summer race), Talladega, and Atlanta.
Road Course Qualifying (e.g., Mexico City)
For road course races, such as those at Sonoma, Watkins Glen, and the Chicago Street Course, the following procedures will apply:
- 25-Minute Practice Sessions: Two groups will have 25-minute practice sessions.
- 20-Minute Qualifying Session: There will be a single round of qualifying, with each group of cars running for 20 minutes.
This will apply to races at Chicago, Sonoma, Watkins Glen, Charlotte ROVAL, Portland (Xfinity), and COTA (Xfinity and Trucks). For the Cup Series at COTA, expanded practice procedures will be in place.
Expanded Practice Weekends
Some NASCAR weekends will feature separate practice and qualifying sessions for the Cup Series, Xfinity Series, and Truck Series. These special practice weekends include:
- NASCAR Cup Series: The Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium, Daytona 500, COTA, All-Star Race, Mexico City, Indianapolis, and Phoenix Championship Weekend.
- NASCAR Xfinity Series: Daytona, Rockingham, Mexico City, Indianapolis, Gateway, and Phoenix Championship Weekend.
- NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series: Daytona, Rockingham, Michigan, Lime Rock, Watkins Glen, New Hampshire, Charlotte ROVAL, and Phoenix Championship Weekend.
Media Rights and Broadcast Information
The new media rights deal for 2025 will bring NASCAR race weekends to a variety of broadcasting platforms, including streaming services. Key details about the coverage include:
- Cup Series: Practice and qualifying sessions for the first half of the season will be streamed on Prime Video. In the second half of the season, TNT Sports on Max and TruTV will cover the sessions.
- Xfinity Series: All practice and qualifying sessions will be broadcast on The CW.
- Truck Series: FOX Sports will broadcast all practice and qualifying sessions.
