When NASCAR returned last spring after a seven week hiatus due to the global shutdown in response to the pandemic practice sessions and qualifying runs were eliminated in the name of safety.  Practice and qualifying returned in a limited capacity during the 2021 season.  In 2022, NASCAR is returning to a full weekend of racing activities including practice sessions and qualifying runs…but with some changes.

NASCAR’s senior vice president of competition Scott Miller spoke on the change saying, “NASCAR is excited to return practice and qualifying to its race weekends.  We missed seeing cars and trucks on track all weekend long, and so did our fans. We worked closely with our broadcast partners, teams and racetracks to create an exciting, unique qualifying format, while keeping several of the efficiencies that helped our entire industry successfully navigate the pandemic.”

Among the changes in practice and qualifying procedures, the Cup Series drivers will be divided into two groups for practice and qualifying. 

NASCAR is also introducing what they are calling an “expanded weekend” where a 50 practice session will be separate from the qualifying sessions.  NASCAR has listed the races at Daytona in February, Atlanta, the dirt race at Bristol, World Wide Technology, Nashville, and the championship weekend at Phoenix as “extended weekend” events.  In addition, the Camping World Truck Series races at Knoxville, Sonoma, and Mid-Ohio are also listed as “extended weekend” events.

In the Cup Series, NASCAR has divided the qualifying sessions into four categories – one lap, two lap, superspeedway, and road course.

Under the one lap qualifying format, the drivers will be divided into two groups where they will get a 15 minute practice session before making a single qualifying run.  The top five drivers from each group will move on to round two where the top driver will sit on the pole.  As before, the field will be set according to a driver’s qualifying run.

Under the two lap format, the procedure will be the same as for the one lap format with the exception that drivers get two laps to qualify instead of just one.

In the super speedway format all of the drivers will qualify in a single group and have just one lap to make their attempt.  The top 10 drivers will move on to the second round and have one lap to try and make the pole.

In the road course format the divers will be separated into two groups and have a 20 minute practice session before being given 15 minutes of qualifying time.  The top five drivers from each session will have 10 minutes to make a run for the pole.

At the dirt race in Bristol, the format will remain the same with four qualifying races to set the field.  The drivers will also have two 50 minute practice sessions for this race.



In the Xfinity Series the qualifying formats are for single lap, double lap, super speedway, and road course.  The format for the single and double lap sessions will have all of the drivers getting a 20 minute practice session before making a qualifying run and setting the field.

In the super speedway format, the drivers will have one lap to make a qualifying run with the top 10 drivers moving on to a second round to set the pole.

In road course qualifying the drivers will get a 20 minute practice session before being divided into two groups and getting a 15 minute session to qualify.  The top five drivers from each group will have 10 minutes to decide the pole position.



Like the Xfinity Series, the Camping World Truck Series formats will be divided into single lap, double lap, super speedway, and road course formats.

The Truck Series drivers will also have a 20 minute practice session before making their qualifying runs with all drivers qualifying in the same group.

For the super speedway tracks, the Truck Series drivers will all have one lap to qualify with the top 10 drivers moving on to a second round to set the pole.

For road course races the drivers will be divided into two groups and have 15 minutes to make a qualifying run.  The top five drivers from each group will have an additional 10 minutes to determine the pole position.

For the two dirt track races, the drivers will get two 50 minute practice sessions and set the field via four qualifying races.