NASCAR changes qualifying format for Talladega races

NASCAR announced on Thursday afternoon that they’ve made some changes to their qualifying format at Talladega Superspeedway.

When NASCAR visited Talladega in the spring, qualifying was a bit dangerous at times, with slower cars running on the bottom of the apron, and the faster cars on the top. Drivers voiced their displeasure about how it was run, and NASCAR listened.

Here’s the new format:

• Three rounds with the first round divided into two groups amongst the competitors. The first qualifying round is five minutes in length for each group.
• Competitors will be assigned to a first qualifying round group based on the random draw held earlier in the event.
• The 24 eligible competitors that post the fastest single lap speed from either of the first qualifying round groups will advance to the second round. The remaining competitors will be sorted based on their speed posted in the first round of qualifying in descending order.
• There will be a 10-minute break after the completion of the first qualifying round and the 24 remaining competitors that advance to the second round will have their times reset.
• The second qualifying round is five minutes in length and the 12 eligible competitors that post the fastest single lap speed will advance to the third and final round.
• The fastest remaining competitors will earn positions 13-24 based on their fastest single lap speed posted in qualifying in descending order.
• Following a five minute break, the 12 eligible competitors that advance to the final round will have their posted speeds reset.
• The final qualifying round is five minutes in length and the fastest single lap speed will determine positions 1-12 in descending order.

NASCAR’s senior vice president of competition Robin Pemberton says that the new format should make qualifying more appealing to fans.

“This revision in national series qualifying at Talladega should be more exciting for our fans,” Pemberton said (via press release). “It will feature a more accelerated pace, provide greater opportunity for team strategy to come into play and it should more closely resemble actual racing conditions.”

No word yet if this format will also apply to Daytona International Speedway, NASCAR's other superspeedway.

Qualifying for this fall’s Talladega race will be on Saturday, October 18 at 4:30 p.m. EST.