Nascar Qualifying Procedures 1200x100

Last updated: 1-23-2026

For procedures used previously, see: 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025.

Rule 7.4 – Qualifying Procedures and Requirements

A. Unless modified by NASCAR, the Qualifying procedures in this Section will apply.

B. NASCAR reserves the right to have more than one vehicle take part in Qualifying runs at the same time.

C. Competitors must adhere to Event-specific Qualifying entry procedures (e.g., blend line requirements).

D. Any Competitor who interferes with another’s Qualifying attempt or engages in unsafe actions may face disciplinary action, including the disallowance of his/her Qualifying speed(s).

E. A timed lap cannot start or end on pit road.

F. Unless otherwise authorized by NASCAR, Teams will be permitted only one set of tires for Qualifying.

G. Once a vehicle leaves the competitive side of pit road, it will not be permitted to return to Qualifying.

H. Each vehicle must have a designated crew member monitoring NASCAR’s radio during Qualifying who is able to communicate directly with the driver.

I. At racetracks without a permanent pit road barrier, only NASCAR Officials, essential Team personnel, and authorized media will be permitted in designated areas. These racetracks include:

  • Atlanta Motor Speedway.
  • Charlotte Motor Speedway.
  • Daytona International Speedway.
  • Kansas Speedway.
  • Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
  • Nashville Speedway.
  • Talladega Superspeedway.
  • Texas Motor Speedway.

J. Team owner Points standings will break ties in Qualifying speeds.

K. If Qualifying is cancelled, starting grid positions will be assigned as outlined in Section 7.7 Starting Grid Position Assignments.

L. The Series Managing Director will have sole discretion in determining whether Qualifying is complete.

M. A Team owner may withdraw from an Event no later than the start of Qualifying.

2026 QUALIFYING ORDER METRICS REV A
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Rule 7.5 – Qualifying Groups and Formats

A. Vehicles will be divided into Qualifying groups (Group 1 and Group 2) and released based on the Qualifying Order Performance Metrics Based Line-Up. For Championship Events 2 and 3, the current calendar year’s Team owner Points standings will be used in the formula.

B. Group 1 will consist of vehicles with higher Performance Metrics scores and will Qualify first; Group 2 will consist of vehicles with lower Performance Metrics scores and will Qualify second.

C. Qualifying formats will vary by racetrack type as follows:

  • One round, one timed lap per round at:
    • Charlotte Motor Speedway
    • Chicagoland Speedway
    • Darlington Raceway
    • Kansas Speedway
    • Homestead-Miami Speedway
    • Indianapolis Motor Speedway
    • Las Vegas Motor Speedway
    • Michigan International Speedway
    • Nashville Superspeedway
    • New Hampshire Motor Speedway
    • Phoenix Raceway
    • Pocono Raceway
    • Texas Motor Speedway
    • World Wide Technology Raceway.
  • One round, two timed laps per round at:
    • Bristol Motor Speedway
    • Iowa Speedway
    • Martinsville Speedway
    • North Wilkesboro Speedway
    • Richmond Raceway
  • Superspeedways (Daytona, Talladega, Atlanta): Two rounds, one timed lap per round. The ten fastest vehicles from the first round will advance and their times will reset for the final round. The ten vehicles competing in the final round will be assigned starting grid positions 1st-10th based on their Qualifying speeds from the final round, in descending order.
  • Road Courses: One 20-minute round per group. Before the beginning of Qualifying, the Series Managing Director will determine “dry” or “wet” conditions, and the mandated or approved use of “dry” or “wet” condition equipment.

D. A Team representative must be present at the Qualifying vehicle release point when his/her vehicle is released for a Qualifying attempt. That Team representative must scan race control and have direct radio communications with the driver during a Qualifying attempt.

E. Unless otherwise authorized by the Series Managing Director, adjustments or repairs may not be made to the vehicle after it has taken the green flag at the start/finish line.

F. Drivers must leave for their Qualifying attempt when called onto the racetrack. Any driver who does not leave to Qualify when called onto the racetrack may lose the opportunity to Qualify. As determined by NASCAR, drivers encountering a mechanical issue must leave for their Qualifying attempt when the next vehicle in line completes its Qualifying lap or the expiration of one minute. Safety issues will be addressed on a case-by-case basis.

G. Upon completion of a vehicle’s Qualifying attempt, NASCAR may Impound the vehicle.

H. NASCAR may modify Qualifying formats based on conditions.

Rule 7.6 – Driver Responsibilities During Qualifying

A. Drivers may be required to meet a minimum speed in Practice to Qualify.

B. Drivers must report on time for their scheduled Qualifying round. Late or absent drivers, as determined by the end of the first Qualifying round, will not be permitted to post a speed in later rounds.

C. Drivers may not attempt to Qualify more than one vehicle.

D. The driver of record for a vehicle will be determined by the Series Managing Director.

Rule 7.7 – Starting Grid Position Assignments

Rule 7.7.1 – Qualifying has been Completed

A. Except for the Daytona 500, starting grid positions will be assigned based on final Qualifying results.

B. Charter Teams are guaranteed a starting grid position.

C. [Removed]

D. Team owner Points standings will break ties in Qualifying speed(s); if still tied, priority will go to the vehicle that posted the speed first.

Rule 7.7.2 – Qualifying has not been completed or not scheduled

A. Except for the Daytona 500, if Qualifying is incomplete, starting grid positions will be determined by the most recent completed Qualifying round results.

B. Charter Teams are guaranteed a starting grid position.

C. If no Qualifying rounds have been completed, eligibility for Open Teams will be determined by Team owner Points standings.

D. Open Teams that entered the Event by the deadline will be eligible for a starting grid position based on Series Team owner Points standings in descending order, as follows:

  • Race 1 (Daytona 500): See Section 7.7.3 Daytona 500 Specific Procedures
  • Races 2 and 3: The previous year’s Team owner Points standings will determine eligibility for up to two Open Teams, with the current year’s standings used for the remaining Open Teams.
  • Race 4 through the final Race: The current year’s Team owner Points standings will determine eligibility for Open Teams.

E. The Performance Metrics Based Line-Up will determine the starting grid positions for all eligible vehicles.

2026 QUALIFYING ORDER METRICS REV A
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F. If Qualifying is not scheduled for an Event, only Teams that submitted their entry by the deadline will be eligible for a starting grid position.

Rule 7.7.3.1 – Qualifying for the Daytona 500

A. The Daytona 500 will use a two-step Qualifying process:

1. Single-Vehicle Qualifying: Will determine the front row for the Daytona 500, the two Open Team entries guaranteed Daytona 500 starting grid positions, and the starting grid positions for the two 150-mile Qualifying Races.

  • Qualifying order will be determined by random draw. The top 20 Team owners from the previous calendar year’s NASCAR Cup Series Team owner Points standings that are present will be the final 20 positions in the Qualifying order based on the random draw. The balance of the field will draw for the first Qualifying positions.
  • All vehicles must compete in Qualifying, unless otherwise authorized by the Series Managing Director.
  • Qualifying will consist of two rounds, one timed lap per round.
  • Drivers must leave for their Qualifying attempt when called onto the racetrack. Any driver who does not leave to Qualify when called onto the racetrack may lose their opportunity to Qualify. As determined by NASCAR, drivers encountering a mechanical issue must leave for their Qualifying attempt when the next vehicle in line completes their Qualifying lap or the expiration of one minute. Safety issues will be addressed on a case-by-case basis. The ten fastest vehicles from the first round will advance, resetting their times for the final round.
  • The ten vehicles competing in the final round will be assigned final Qualifying positions 1st-10th based on their Qualifying speeds from the final round, in descending order.
  • All other vehicles will be assigned starting grid positions in the 150-mile Qualifying Races based on their fastest single lap speed posted in Qualifying, in descending order.

2. Two 150-Mile Qualifying Races: Will determine the final starting grid positions for the Daytona 500.

  • Grid positions for Race 1 and Race 2 will be based on final Qualifying results.
  • NASCAR may adjust assignments to balance Charter and Open Teams in each Race.
  • Vehicles will be assigned to Race 1 or Race 2 before determining grid positions.
  • Teams will be divided equally between Race 1 and Race 2 based on final Qualifying results.
  • Odd-numbered Qualifying Charter Teams (1st, 3rd, 5th, etc.) will go to one Race, while even-numbered Qualifying Charter Teams (2nd, 4th, 6th, etc.) will go to the other.
  • Odd-numbered Qualifying Open Teams (1st, 3rd, 5th, etc.) will go to one Race, while even-numbered Qualifying Open Teams (2nd, 4th, 6th, etc.) will go to the other. Open Teams not in the previous year’s standings will be assigned via random draw.
  • Once assigned to a Race, vehicles will receive starting grid positions based on final Qualifying results.

B. All vehicles that earned a starting grid position in the Daytona 500 based on final Qualifying results must compete in their respective 150-mile Qualifying Race.

C. If Qualifying is cancelled due to adverse conditions, starting grid positions for the 150-mile Qualifying Races will be assigned based on Team owner Points standings.

Rule 7.7.3.2 – Daytona 500 Qualifying Procedures

A. All Charter Teams will receive a starting grid position regardless of Qualifying Race results.

B. The remaining starting grid positions will be assigned to Open Teams.

C. Forty vehicles will be assigned starting grid positions. If an Open Exemption Provisional vehicle is entered for an Event with 41 or more vehicles Qualifying, 41 vehicles will be assigned starting grid positions. This will include all Charter Teams, remaining eligible Open Teams, and the Open Exemption Provisional vehicle.

D. First position and 2nd position assignment will be determined as follows:

  • 1st position: Fastest single-lap speed in the last completed Qualifying round.
  • 2nd position: Second-fastest single-lap speed in the last completed Qualifying round.

E. Third position-40th position will be determined as follows:

  • Inside row: Charter Teams, the fastest Open Team from Qualifying, and highest finishing Open Team from the first Qualifying Race that was not the fastest qualifying Open Team.
  • Outside row: Charter Teams, the second fastest Open Team from Qualifying, and highest finishing Open Team from the second Qualifying Race that was not the fastest qualifying Open Team.

Rule 7.7.3.3 – Daytona 500 Starting Grid for Adverse Conditions

A. The following procedures will apply when Qualifying is completed:

  • If Qualifying was completed but neither Qualifying Race was completed, the inside row will be determined by Qualifying Race starting grid positions and will include all Charter Teams and the first two Open Teams based on final Qualifying results. The outside row will be determined by Qualifying Race starting grid positions and will include all Charter Teams and the first two Open Teams based on final Qualifying results.
  • If Qualifying Race 1 was completed and Qualifying Race 2 was not completed, the inside row will be determined by Qualifying Race 1 and will include all Charter Teams, the fastest Open Team based on final Qualifying results, and the highest-finishing Open Team. The outside row will be determined by Qualifying Race 2 starting grid positions and will include all Charter teams and the fastest two Open Teams.

B. The following procedures will apply when Qualifying is not completed:

  • If Qualifying was not completed and neither Qualifying Race was completed, starting grid positions for the Daytona 500 will be determined by the previous calendar year’s Team owner Points standings. All Charter Teams and the four highest-ranked Open Teams will be assigned starting grid positions in descending order of those standings. Any Open Teams without a starting grid position from the previous calendar year’s Team owner Points standings will become eligible for assignment based on the random drawing.
  • If Qualifying was not completed and the Qualifying Races were completed, the inside row for the Daytona 500 will consist of all Charter Teams and the two highest-finishing Open Teams based on their Qualifying Race finishing positions. The outside row will consist of all Charter Teams and the two highest-finishing Open Teams based on their Qualifying Race finishing positions.