Talk around the NASCAR garage has picked up about a possible change to the Cup Series practice format. They may ditch its two-group-25-minute practice format for a single, non-stop 50-minute session. 

Nothing’s been made officially, but recent changes to the NASCAR schedule, along with comments from insiders, have got fans speculating that longer, united practice sessions might be around the corner as early as 2026.

In 2025, NASCAR went ahead and bumped up practice time from 20 minutes to 25 minutes per group, giving on-track time back to teams that had taken a hit in previous years. 

Currently, we’ve got Group A and Group B as the two groups that each get a 25-minute practice session before qualifying. It’s a system that’s been doing a good job of cutting down on traffic congestion and keeping costs predictable for the teams, but it also limits total track time and makes it harder for rookies, smaller teams and getting back on the road after a technical issue.

NASCAR Cup Series possible shift toward a single extended session

NASCAR: Cup Series-PracticeGary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

The rumour really started gaining traction after a known and trusted NASCAR insider on social media started saying that NASCAR is thinking about extending the weekend practice windows. 

Some of the speculation is coming from NASCAR’s own scheduling choices for 2025,  particularly the decision to add those 50-minute practice sessions to some of their big-hitter events like the Daytona 500, the Brickyard, and a few other races. So, making it a generalized rule seems plausible.

These limited long sessions have shown that NASCAR’s willing to experiment when the right time comes along, and they’ve created a pretty good foundation for all these rumours about a full-time switch to the format.

Discussions in the fan community have highlighted a bunch of benefits that a single 50-minute session could bring. A longer block gives teams more wiggle room to make all sorts of track adjustments, simulate different stages of a race, and get some more consistent data. 

It also fits in a lot neater with a standard broadcast hour, giving the TV partners an easier, more predictable scheduling window. TV productions have been saying for ages they prefer a scheduling model that doesn’t have split sessions — and a united format could really help improve the weekend’s flow for viewers at home.

However, some challenges could stop NASCAR from going this route. People in the industry have said that extended practice increases operational costs for the teams — you’re talking extra fuel, tire wear, and engine load when you’re out on the track for longer. 

Especially for the smaller teams, that has been a major point of contention. They feel like any move to increase costs without giving them a direct competitive advantage is just not worth it. And, NASCAR’s current structure is a big help in managing traffic and keeping incident risk down during practice, and that’s a real concern in this Next Gen era when teams have so much going on.

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My love for motorsports started in my childhood in Tunisia, watching races with my family. Fast forward to today, … More about Farah Ben Gamra