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NASCAR changes qualifying rules for rest of schedule

We break down the change NASCAR is implementing for sorting out starting lineups the rest of the 2020 season.

By David Fucillo
A general view of pit road during the NASCAR XFINITY Series Subway Firecracker 250 Powered By Coca-Cola at Daytona International Speedway on July 4, 2015 in Daytona Beach, Florida. Photo by Robert Laberge/Getty Images

NASCAR has instituted a variety of health and safety protocols amidst the Covid-19 pandemic, and the elimination of qualifying laps has been a big one. For most of the re-start, race order has been determined by a random draw using team owner points. Doubleheader events have established order using the previous race’s results, and the Coca-Cola 600 ran a qualifying event, but otherwise it’s been random draw.

On Thursday, the organization announced a change to the rules for establishing the starting lineup for remaining races in all three national series (Cup, Xfinity, Gander Outdoors Truck). Three performance metrics will be utilized, with each one weighted a little different. It breaks down as follows

  • Finishing position from the previous race (weighted 50%)
  • Ranking in team owner points standings (35%)
  • Fastest lap from the previous race (15%)

This change will go into effect next week when NASCAR heads to the Daytona International Speedway Road Course. It will apply on the remaining four Cup Series races before the playoffs begin in September, and then those remaining 11 NASCAR races in the playoff.

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