Changes to Practice and Qualifying in 2025

NASCAR has unveiled updated practice and qualifying procedures for the 2025 season, introducing extended practice sessions and streamlined rules for determining starting lineups across its three national series. These changes align with the release of the early 2025 race weekend schedules, which detail events leading up to the season-opening Daytona 500 on February 16.

The updates include several key adjustments:

Practice Sessions: Group practice times increase from 20 to 25 minutes.
Qualifying Format: Single-round qualifying will be standard, except at superspeedways, which will retain a final round for the 10 fastest cars.
Starting Lineups: Positions will now be based solely on qualifying results, eliminating group-based row designations.
Track-Specific Rules: Short tracks will use the fastest of two laps for qualifying, while road courses will implement group qualifying with 20-minute sessions.

Broadcast coverage for these events will also shift in 2025. The Cup Series will split coverage between Prime Video (first half) and TNT Sports on Max and TruTV (second half), with FOX Sports handling select marquee events like the Daytona 500. The Xfinity Series sessions will air on The CW, while FOX Sports will cover the Truck Series.

Cup Series Director Brad Moran emphasized that these changes reflect collaboration across the industry, including input from new broadcast partners under a seven-year media rights agreement. Moran noted the increased practice time is a step toward pre-pandemic norms and welcomed by teams, fans, and sponsors alike.

Detailed track-specific procedures include:

Standard Tracks: 25-minute practices for two groups determined by metrics (70% previous race finish, 30% owner points). Qualifying involves a single lap.
Short Tracks: Similar practice structure, but with two qualifying laps.
Superspeedways: A single 50-minute practice session will precede qualifying at Daytona; all other superspeedways will skip practice. Qualifying includes two rounds, with the top 10 advancing.
Road Courses: 25-minute practices for each group, followed by 20-minute group qualifying sessions with multiple cars on track.
Expanded Practice Weekends: Select events, including the Daytona 500 and All-Star Race, will feature separate, extended practice and qualifying sessions.

The revised format is expected to enhance the race weekend experience while maintaining efficiency, bringing NASCAR closer to its traditional structure.