After two seasons of restricted on-track activity, NASCAR announced on Friday Morning that practice and qualifying would be returning to the sanctioning body’s top-three series in all events next season.
“NASCAR is excited to return practice and qualifying to its race weekends,” said Scott Miller, NASCAR senior vice president of competition. “We missed seeing cars and trucks on track all weekend long, and so did our fans. We worked closely with our broadcast partners, teams and racetracks to create an exciting, unique qualifying format, while keeping several of the efficiencies that helped our entire industry successfully navigate the pandemic.”
In most NASCAR Cup Series events, the field will be split into two groups based on their finish from the previous race – odd-numbered positions in one, even-numbered positions in the other. Broadcast partners will be afforded to cover a wide range of stories throughout the two-hour practice and qualifying event.
The NASCAR Xfinity Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series will each feature a 20-minute practice session, before teams move into single-car qualifying. However, both series will utilize the same group format as the NASCAR Cup Series when running on road courses.
In six NASCAR Cup Series, five NASCAR Xfinity Series, and eight NASCAR Camping World Truck Series weekends, NASCAR will add an extended practice weekend schedule, which will feature a standalone 50-minute practice session, alongside the qualifying event.
Extended Practice Weekends:
NCS: Daytona 500, Atlanta 1, Bristol (Dirt), Gateway, Nashville, Phoenix 2
NXS: Daytona 1, Atlanta 1, Portland, Nashville, Phoenix 2
NCWTS: Daytona, Atlanta, Bristol (Dirt), Knoxville, Sonoma, Mid-Ohio, Nashville, Phoenix 2
Each extended practice weekend will include one standalone 50-minute practice session, with qualifying procedure based on the specific track type.
NASCAR Cup Series
Ovals
Group A and B each get 15 minutes of practice (groups set by odd/even finish in last race)
Round 1 (Group A) – single car, one lap*, top-five transfer.
Round 1 (Group B) – single car, one lap*, top-five transfer.
Round 2 (Top-10) – single car, one lap*, the fastest car wins the pole.
NOTE: Bristol, Martinsville, Richmond, and Dover will feature two-lap sessions
Superspeedways
Round 1 (all cars) – single car, one lap, top-10 transfer.
Round 2 (Top-10) – single car, one lap, the fastest car wins pole.
Road Courses
Group A and B each get 20 minutes of practice (groups set by odd/even finish in last race)
Round 1 (Group A) – 15-minute timed session, top-five transfer.
Round 1 (Group B) – 15-minute timed session, top-five transfer.
Round 2 (Top-10) – 10-minute times session, the fastest car wins pole.
Dirt
Two 50-minute practice sessions.
Four qualifying races determine the field and lineup for the main race; order of qualifying races based on a random draw.
NASCAR Xfinity Series & NASCAR Camping World Truck Series
Ovals
All vehicles will receive a 20-minute practice session.
Qualifying (all vehicles) – single vehicle, one lap, the fastest car wins the pole.
NOTE: Bristol, Martinsville, Richmond, and Dover will feature two-lap sessions
Superspeedways
Round 1 (all cars) – single car, one lap, top-10 transfer.
Round 2 (Top-10) – single car, one lap, the fastest car wins pole.
Road Courses
All vehicles will get 20 minutes of practice in a single session.
Round 1 (Group A) – 15-minute timed session, top-five transfer.
Round 1 (Group B) – 15-minute timed session, top-five transfer.
Round 2 (Top-10) – 10-minute times session, the fastest car wins pole.
Dirt
Two 50-minute practice sessions.
Four qualifying races determine the field and lineup for the main race; order of qualifying races based on a random draw.
