CONCORD, N.C. - On Thursday, NASCAR announced some rule changes for its practice and qualifying procedures for the 2025 season affecting the Cup Series, Xfinity Series and CRAFTSMAN Truck Series.
For the Cup Series, the biggest change can be found in qualifying, at least at most tracks. While the 2024, two-round format will remain largely unchanged for superspeedway races (excluding the DAYTONA 500), qualifying sessions will now consist of one round for all non-drafting tracks in 2025.
At short tracks, drivers will have two circuits with their best time standing as their lap of record. For intermediate tracks - all tracks between one and two miles (except Atlanta Motor Speedway) as well as Pocono Raceway - drivers will get just one lap.
HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS 40 WINS: Which wins made our list of the company's greatest?
For road courses, cars will be divided into two groups with each group participating together in a 20-minute qualifying session with the best lap in that time standing.
Superspeedway races - events at Talladega Superspeedway, Daytona International Speedway and Atlanta Motor Speedway - qualifying will consist of two runs for the pole. The top 10 fastest cars in an initial, one-lap run will advance to the final round where each will run again with the quickest lap earning the pole.
All practice sessions for the season will be expanded from 20 to 25 minutes as well.
Cup Series practice and qualifying broadcasts will be divided between Prime Video (first half of the season) and TNT Sports on Max and TruTV (second half). Exceptions will be made at The Clash, DAYTONA 500 and the NASCAR All-Star Race with Fox Sports maintaining rights.