NASCAR is making changes to its practice and qualifying (P&Q) procedures that it believes will enhance the starting lineup process for all three of its national series: NASCAR Cup Series, Xfinity Series and CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. By aligning P&Q sessions for all three categories, NASCAR is intending to simplify procedures, produce more practice time for its three series, produce more consistency in its procedures and return to a more simplified starting lineup set of rules.
NASCAR intends to have a single round of qualifying, with each driver’s starting spot determined only by the car’s qualifying results. Still, there will be different rules for superspeedway P&Q, as noted below.
Additionally, there will be an added practice session prior to DAYTONA 500 qualifying at Daytona International Speedway this February. The 50-minute practice before qualifying is scheduled for Wednesday, February 12 at 10:05AM ET and will be followed by DAYTONA 500 Media Day from noon through 7PM. Daytona 500 Busch Light Pole Award qualifying follows at 8:15PM ET.
In 2025, FOX Sports will broadcast P&Q for The Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium, the DAYTONA 500, the All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Raceway, as well as P&Q for the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. Prime Video is broadcasting NASCAR Cup Series P&Q for the first half of the season – excluding the events outlined above; TNT Sports will broadcast P&Q on Max and truTV for the second half of the NASCAR Cup Series season, while details for NASCAR Xfinity Series P&Q sessions, airing on CW platforms will be announced in the future.
NASCAR CUP SERIES:
Standard P&Q
- 25-minute practice for Group 1; 25-minute practice for Group 2
- Groups and qualifying order are determined by metrics (70% based on previous race finish by owner; 30% based on owner points position. The best scoring cars in metrics will be placed in Group 2.)
- Qualifying will be one lap, one round
- Tracks: Las Vegas 1-2, Phoenix-1, Miami, Darlington 1-2, Texas, Kansas 1-2, Charlotte, Nashville, Michigan, Pocono, WWTR, New Hampshire
Short Track P&Q
- 25-minute practice for Group 1; 25-minute practice for Group 2
- Qualifying will be two laps, one round
- Tracks: Martinsville 1-2, Bristol 1-2, Dover, Iowa, Richmond
Superspeedway Qualifying
- Qualifying will be one lap, two rounds
- Fastest 10 cars in first round advance to final round
- Starting positions 1-10 will be based on fastest qualifying time in final round; remainder of field will start based on qualifying results in first round.
- Tracks: Atlanta 1-2, Talladega 1-2, Daytona-2
Road Course P&Q
- 25-minute practice for Group 1; 25-minute practice for Group 2
- 20-minute qualifying for Group 1, multi cars on track; 20-minute qualifying for Group 2, multi cars on track
- One round of qualifying
- Tracks: Chicago Street Race, Sonoma, Watkins Glen, Charlotte Roval
NASCAR XFINITY SERIES
Standard P&Q
- 25-minute practice for Group 1; 25-minute practice for Group 2
- Qualifying will be one lap, one round.
- Tracks: Phoenix-1, Las Vegas 1-2, Miami, Darlington, Texas, Kansas, Charlotte, Nashville, Pocono
Short Track P&Q
- 25-minute practice for Group 1; 25-minute practice for Group 2
- Qualifying will be two laps, one round.
- Tracks: Martinsville 1-2, Bristol 1-2, Dover, Iowa
Superspeedway Qualifying
- Qualifying will be one lap, two rounds
- Fastest 10 cars in first round advance to final round
- Starting positions 1-10 will be based on finish in final round; remainder of field will start based on qualifying results in first round.
- Tracks: Atlanta 1-2, Talladega 1-2, Daytona-2
Road Course P&Q
- 50-minute practice for all cars
- 20-minute qualifying for Group 1, multi cars on track; 20-minute qualifying for Group 2, multi cars on track
- One round of qualifying
- Tracks: COTA, Chicago Street Race, Sonoma, Watkins Glen, Portland, Charlotte Roval
NASCAR CRAFTSMAN TRUCK SERIES
Standard P&Q
- 25-minute practice for Group 1; 25-minute practice for Group 2
- Qualifying will be one lap, one round.
- Tracks: Las Vegas, Miami, Texas, Kansas, Charlotte, Nashville, Pocono, Darlington
Short Track P&Q
- 25-minute practice for Group 1; 25-minute practice for Group 2
- Qualifying will be two laps, one round.
- Tracks: Martinsville 1-2, Bristol 1-2, North Wilkesboro, Lucas Oil IRP, Richmond
Superspeedway Qualifying
- Qualifying will be one lap, two rounds
- Fastest 10 trucks in first round advance to final round
- Starting positions 1-10 will be based on finish in final round; remainder of field will start based on qualifying results in first round.
- Tracks: Atlanta, Talladega
Road Course P&Q
- 50-minute practice for all cars
- 20-minute qualifying for Group 1, multi cars on track; 20-minute qualifying for Group 2, multi cars on track
- One round of qualifying
- Tracks: Watkins Glen, Charlotte Roval
Expanded Practice Weekends
The following weekends will have an expanded practice session.
NCS: The Clash, DAYTONA 500, COTA*, All-Star Race, Mexico City, Indianapolis, Phoenix Championship
NXS: Daytona-1, Rockingham, Mexico City, Indianapolis, WWTR, Phoenix Championship
NCTS: Daytona, Rockingham, Michigan, Lime Rock, Watkins Glen, New Hampshire, Charlotte Roval, Phoenix Championship
* At Circuit of the Americas (COTA) the NASCAR Cup Series will use the same format as the 2024 events at Watkins Glen and the Charlotte Roval, where cars are assigned to two groups and have two 20-minute practices for each group, resulting in 40 minutes total per car. The COTA practice session will lead directly into qualifying, NASCAR said.
By Anne Proffit
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