How does NASCAR decide who goes first?

Last Modified Aug 14, 2024 07:19 GMT
How does NASCAR decide who goes first
NASCAR drivers [Credits: Getty Images]

The pinnacle of stock car racing, NASCAR involves 40 different drivers participating in 36 races throughout the year to claim the championship. NASCAR racing primarily involves racing stock cars, as its name suggests, which are cars utilized by the common public and produced to be street-legal. NASCAR teams are supplied by cars from the primary manufacturers, Toyota, Ford and Chevrolet. The cars used in NASCAR are capable of reaching 190 mph and are powered by Fuel-Injected V8 engines.

The NASCAR series has given birth to many popular names in the history of the United States. The most popular among them all is the “King” Richard Petty. He is inadvertently the best driver of NASCAR with 7 championship titles, 200 races and many other accolades including a Presidential Medal. Jimmie Johnson and Dale Earnhardt are some of the other famous drivers who share the record of 7 titles with him. NASCAR racing gives the most amount of exposure and has a lot of prize money among its stock racing counterparts.

NASCAR Rules for Going First

The drivers line up in a grid of twos forming a double file of cars that start the race. However, all cars cannot start from the same position and inevitably there will be a driver who is in the front, with an advantage to his race. It is often wondered if the driver positions are random but in a race of NASCAR’s caliber everything needs to be predetermined precisely. NASCAR races follow a two-day schedule spread over the weekend. Sunday hosts the main race whereas a qualifying session is held on Saturday for the drivers.

As its name suggests, the Qualifying session is meant for drivers to qualify for the upcoming race on Sunday. This session also determines the order in which the cars will be lined up on the grid during the race start. In every Qualifying session, the drivers are divided into two groups. Each group has the liberty of one timed lap and the drivers need to set their fastest time in order to gain a favorable position on the track. After the first stage of Qualifying ends, the top 10 drivers move on to the next stage in order to set the fastest time again and line up for the Top-10 spots on the grid. The rest of the drivers are lined up as per their time during Sunday’s race.

This rule is modified in order to race on Superspeedways, the drivers are sent out to send their best times instead of dividing them into groups and the Top-10 proceed to the next stage of Qualifying. This is how NASCAR decides who goes first.

FAQ's On NASCAR

A. NASCAR qualifying decides the grid for the race start.

A. NASCAR drivers get one timed lap to attempt the qualifying and two timed laps at shorter tracks.

A. NASCAR drivers start with go-karting and regional series.

A. NASCAR drivers have to be fit enough for attempting the race and they need a lot of stamina.

Related Stories

Former driver Kyle Petty criticizes NASCAR promos for promoting fights and wrecks over real racing Former driver Kyle Petty criticizes NASCAR promos for promoting fights and wrecks over real racing
Former driver Kyle Petty criticizes NASCAR promos for promoting fights and wrecks over real racing
Cleetus McFarland reveals the $2.8T-worth giant’s crisis that led to his encounter with Greg Biffle Cleetus McFarland reveals the $2.8T-worth giant’s crisis that led to his encounter with Greg Biffle
Cleetus McFarland reveals the $2.8T-worth giant’s crisis that led to his encounter with Greg Biffle
1d
Denny Hamlin’s former ally affirms “huge hand” in JGR star’s Martinsville victory Denny Hamlin’s former ally affirms “huge hand” in JGR star’s Martinsville victory
Denny Hamlin’s former ally affirms “huge hand” in JGR star’s Martinsville victory  
1d
“Joey Logano should say the same thing about himself”: NASCAR world defends Ross Chastain amid Penske star’s ‘jacka**’ comment “Joey Logano should say the same thing about himself”: NASCAR world defends Ross Chastain amid Penske star’s ‘jacka**’ comment
“Joey Logano should say the same thing about himself”: NASCAR world defends Ross Chastain amid Penske star’s ‘jacka**’ comment
1d
Kevin Harvick picks Joe Gibbs's ace driver as a favorite to win the 2025 Darlington Cup race Kevin Harvick picks Joe Gibbs's ace driver as a favorite to win the 2025 Darlington Cup race
Kevin Harvick picks Joe Gibbs's ace driver as a favorite to win the 2025 Darlington Cup race
Matt DiBenedetto gets candid with Harrison Burton over sharing Jeff Burton's scheme at Darlington Matt DiBenedetto gets candid with Harrison Burton over sharing Jeff Burton's scheme at Darlington
Matt DiBenedetto gets candid with Harrison Burton over sharing Jeff Burton's scheme at Darlington
$12M-worth Kyle Larson describes 'super weird' IndyCar experience as HMS unveils new paint schemes for Double attempt $12M-worth Kyle Larson describes 'super weird' IndyCar experience as HMS unveils new paint schemes for Double attempt
$12M-worth Kyle Larson describes 'super weird' IndyCar experience as HMS unveils new paint schemes for Double attempt
1d
Bubba Wallace drops two-word reaction on his own NASCAR statistics Bubba Wallace drops two-word reaction on his own NASCAR statistics
Bubba Wallace drops two-word reaction on his own NASCAR statistics
Kyle Busch's wife Samantha gives key advice for parents on getting young kids into racing Kyle Busch's wife Samantha gives key advice for parents on getting young kids into racing
Kyle Busch's wife Samantha gives key advice for parents on getting young kids into racing
1d
Bubba Wallace gets brutally honest on ‘one in a million’ coincidence that sparked his noose controversy Bubba Wallace gets brutally honest on ‘one in a million’ coincidence that sparked his noose controversy
Bubba Wallace gets brutally honest on ‘one in a million’ coincidence that sparked his noose controversy
19h
Sportskeeda logo
Close menu
WWE
WWE
NBA
NBA
NFL
NFL
MMA
MMA
Tennis
Tennis
NHL
NHL
Golf
Golf
MLB
MLB
Soccer
Soccer
F1
F1
WNBA
WNBA
More
More
bell-icon Manage notifications