NASCAR is ending the split practice session format starting with the 23rd race of the 2026 season, the New Hampshire Motor Speedway round (August 23). Under the new format, all teams will participate in a single, shared 50-minute practice session. This format will be standard across all races except the end-of-season superspeedway events.
Why was it changed?
Under the current system, a team of 40 cars is divided into two groups, with each group practicing for 25 minutes. Teams complained that the track conditions differed significantly between the groups, making the reliability of practice data questionable. With the new system, all drivers will have the opportunity to practice under the same track conditions. As part of the change, teams will also be allocated an additional set of tires.
Which tracks are unaffected?
The new format covers all oval and road course circuits, but superspeedways are excluded. The Daytona race, which will be held under the new rules, will not include a practice session; teams will go directly to qualifying. The Talladega race in the autumn will also be without practice. However, the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway will remain unaffected, as it already includes an extended practice session for all teams. The qualifying format remains unchanged; the metric determining grid order in case qualifying is canceled due to rain also remains the same.
Is this the end of the restrictions left over from the Covid era?
Since the start of the 2020 season, when the Covid-19 pandemic began, NASCAR has maintained a policy of concentrating race weekends and limiting time spent on track in order to save costs. This step, to be implemented with the New Hampshire leg, will be the first concrete reversal of the six-year restrictive practice.