NASCAR announced that starting this weekend at New Hampshire Motor Speedway the traditional split‑group practice will be replaced by a single 50‑minute session that all Cup Series teams will share. The change is designed to give drivers and crew chiefs a longer, uninterrupted window to work on their cars and to fine‑tune setups under realistic conditions.
A new practice paradigm
The unified session will remain in effect for the rest of the 2026 season at every non‑superspeedway event that does not have an extended practice schedule. By consolidating practice time, NASCAR aims to create a more consistent preparation environment while accommodating the logistical pressures of a packed race weekend.
Team officials and series officials had voiced support for the adjustment, citing the need for more continuous track time to gather meaningful data and to reduce the rush of condensed practice windows. The extra period is expected to improve the quality of qualifying performances and race weekend strategy.
In addition to the longer session, each team will receive one additional practice tire, a modest but valuable resource that can influence setup decisions before the final practice run. This incremental addition is intended to enhance teams' ability to test different configurations without compromising the limited tire allocation.
NASCAR confirmed that existing impound procedures will continue to apply, and the revised practice format will not affect superspeedway events or the season‑ending race at Homestead‑Miami Speedway. The sanctioning body emphasized that the change balances preparation needs with the demands of a busy schedule, and it will monitor team adaptation during the first implementation at New Hampshire.