NASCAR announces major changes to 2025 qualifying format with new rounds and group splits

NASCAR has released its revised qualifying and practice format of all three national series for the 2025 season. For starters, the officials have expanded the practice sessions to a total of 50 minutes and the qualifying will be determined based on a single-lap session.

For the superspeedway tracks like the Daytona, Talladega, and Atlanta tracks, there will have two rounds of qualifying and the top 10 drivers will advance to the second round. While the superspeedways usually don't have a practice session, NASCAR has made an exception for the esteemed Daytona 500 race and added a 50-minute practice before the qualifying.

In a post on X, renowned journalist Bob Pockrass shared the in-depth procedures behind the major changes in practice and qualifying for the upcoming seasons.

"Qualifying in 2025 (all series): Only two rounds at superspeedways, where top-10 go to final round. The rest will be one round. Road courses will be split in two groups, 20 minutes each group. Order by metric: 70% previous race finish of car; 30% owner pts," Pockrass wrote.

In a press release, Brad Moran, the Cup Series Director, emphasized on the revised qualifying and practice format, keeping in mind the new broadcasting media rights deal and returning to the race schedule that was streamlined because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

"I think it’s going to be welcomed by the industry,” Moran said via NASCAR. "We’ve gotten a lot of feedback throughout the year, and we made a couple of adjustments through the year, and we really wanted to take a whole fresh look at it. A lot of this came into play back in COVID, when we tightened things up, so we’re kind of going back a little to what we used to do again. We’re going to have a little more practice, which is obviously better for the fans and the partners."

NASCAR will start the 2025 NASCAR season with its inaugural points race at Daytona International Speedway on February 16. Additionally, it has released the weekend schedule for all three national series races.

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Daytona 500 weekend schedule for the 2025 NASCAR season

In addition to the revised practice session for the iconic Daytona 500 race, NASCAR has also released the 2025 Daytona 500 weekend schedule.

Wednesday, Feb. 12

10:05-10:55 a.m. ET – Cup Series opening practice

Noon-7 p.m. ET– Daytona 500 Media Day

8:15 p.m. ET– Cup Series pole qualifying

Thursday, Feb. 13

4:05-4:55 p.m. ET – ARCA Menards Series practice

5:05-5:55 p.m. ET– Craftsman Truck Series practice

7 p.m. ET– Cup Series: Duel 1 qualifying race (60 laps, 150 miles)

8:45 p.m. (approx.) ET– Cup Series: Duel 2 qualifying race (60 laps, 150 miles)

Friday, Feb. 14

1:30-2:15 p.m. ET– ARCA Menards Series qualifying

3 p.m. ET– Craftsman Truck Series qualifying

4:35-5:25 p.m. ET– Xfinity Series practice

5:35-6:25 p.m. ET– Cup Series second practice

7:30 p.m. ET– Craftsman Truck Series race: Fresh From Florida 250 (100 laps, 250 miles; FS1)

Saturday, Feb. 15

10 a.m. ET– Xfinity Series qualifying

Noon ET– ARCA Menards Series race (80 laps, 200 miles)

3:05-3:55 p.m. ET– Cup Series final practice

5 p.m. ET– Xfinity Series race: United Rentals 300 (120 laps, 300 miles; The CW)

Sunday, Feb. 16

2:30 p.m. ET– Cup Series race: 67th Daytona 500 (200 laps, 500 miles; FOX)