NASCAR has released updates for the 2024 season, and one of them involves qualifying groups. The sport will stick with its current practice and qualifying format, which sees the drivers split into two groups, with the top 5 from each section going into the final round. However, this isn’t an update to the actual format itself.
On Wednesday, NASCAR revealed that any entry that changes its driver after the qualifying order is established will qualify first in their respective group. This comes as teams, mainly in the NASCAR Xfinity and Truck Series, would wait to change their drivers after the order was established. It was used to have a better qualifying position.
The new rule should help give a balanced playing field while ensuring drivers are firmly established in their rides at the beginning of the week, barring unforeseen circumstances. Overall, this is a great rule change for NASCAR and one that will drastically affect how quickly driver announcements happen during the season.
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