NASCAR has unveiled significant changes to its practice and qualifying procedures across all three national series—Cup, Xfinity, and Craftsman Truck—for the 2025 season. These adjustments aim to provide teams with more practice time while simplifying the qualifying process. Here’s a breakdown of what’s changing and how it will impact teams and fans.
Key Changes for 2025
- Expanded Practice Time:
- Teams will now have additional practice sessions at select marquee events.
- The Daytona 500 schedule includes a new 50-minute practice session before qualifying on Wednesday, February 2.
- Streamlined Qualifying:
- Qualifying will revert to a single round at most tracks, with starting positions determined by qualifying speeds.
- Exceptions for certain tracks will maintain unique formats.
- Broadcast Adjustments:
- FOX Sports will air practice and qualifying for major events like the Clash, Daytona 500, All-Star Race, and Craftsman Truck Series races.
- Prime Video will handle Cup Series broadcasts for the first half of the season (excluding FOX broadcasts), while TNT Sports will take over for the second half via Max and truTV.
Cup Series Formats
- Standard Practice and Qualifying:
- A single practice session followed by one round of qualifying.
- Short Track Practice and Qualifying:
- Similar format with adjustments for the track size and layout.
- Superspeedway Qualifying:
- Unique formats to handle the high-speed dynamics of superspeedways.
- Road Course Practice and Qualifying:
- Teams will run two groups with two sessions each (40 minutes total) leading into qualifying.
Expanded Practice Weekends:
- Events: The Clash, Daytona 500, Circuit of The Americas (COTA), All-Star Race, Mexico, Indianapolis, and Phoenix finale.
Xfinity Series Formats
- Standard Practice and Qualifying
- Short Track Practice and Qualifying
- Superspeedway Qualifying
- Road Course Practice and Qualifying
Expanded Practice Weekends:
- Events: Daytona, Rockingham, Mexico, Indianapolis, St. Louis, and Phoenix finale.
Craftsman Truck Series Formats
- Standard Practice and Qualifying
- Short Track Practice and Qualifying
- Superspeedway Qualifying
- Road Course Practice and Qualifying
Expanded Practice Weekends:
- Events: Daytona, Rockingham, Michigan, Lime Rock, Watkins Glen, New Hampshire, Charlotte Roval, and Phoenix finale.
Why These Changes Matter
- More Practice, Better Racing: By increasing track time, teams can fine-tune setups and improve race-day performance, particularly at iconic events like the Daytona 500.
- Simpler Qualifying: The single-round system reduces confusion for fans and streamlines race weekends for teams.
- Enhanced Fan Experience: With more events broadcast across FOX Sports, Prime Video, and TNT Sports, fans can enjoy greater access to practice and qualifying sessions.
Looking Ahead to 2025
These changes reflect NASCAR’s efforts to enhance competition and fan engagement while adapting to the diverse demands of modern racing. The 2025 season promises more action, strategy, and excitement as teams and drivers adapt to the new formats. Fans can look forward to a thrilling season with broader coverage and deeper insights into the sport.