NASCAR has significantly updated the weekend procedures for the majority of Cup Series events on the 2026 schedule. Teams are getting more time on the track.
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First reported by The Athletic and then confirmed by NASCAR, teams will now have one unified practice session. They will combine into one group for a 50-minute practice, starting with the weekend at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on Aug. 22-23.
This move to a 50-minute practice session will not include a mandated break. Teams can run laps for the entire session if they desire.
This change will not affect the superspeedway races or those deemed to be expanded. Superspeedway races do not have practice sessions while the expanded weekend events already have 50-minute practice sessions. This includes the finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
The upcoming race weekends at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Iowa Speedway, and Richmond Raceway will still feature the teams split into two groups. They will have the standard 25-minute practice sessions.
The impound rules will remain in effect despite the changes to the procedures. This means that teams will still face restrictions on the adjustments they can make after qualifying.
To account for the move to 50-minute practice sessions, NASCAR will provide the teams with an extra set of tires. This will provide them with the opportunity to go out, run dozens of laps, and then switch to another set of tires to continue dialing in their setups.
This change to the weekend procedures marks the second significant update made by NASCAR as the 2026 season has progressed.
The sanctioning body also updated the superspeedway package for the regular-season finale at Daytona International Speedway.
Cars will have a 4-inch spoiler instead of a 7-inch spoiler, as well as new spoiler braces. The horsepower will drop to 465, but the expectation is that the cars will go faster than they did at the Daytona 500. Drivers also expect the Daytona race to be a bit wild, as they will go out onto the track without practicing.
"I don't know how it's gonna turn out, but it's going to be wild just dropping the green flag on half the spoiler that we had the last time we were there," Christopher Bell said at North Wilkesboro Speedway.
"And they said 'Boys have had it, good luck.' So, yeah, that's nuts, and I'm pumped about it. I think it's going to be fun."
