NASCAR will consolidate Cup Series practice into a single 50-minute session beginning with the upcoming race weekend at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, officials announced Wednesday.
The revised format will remain in place for the balance of the 2026 season at events not already designated as superspeedway or extended-practice weekends. Homestead-Miami Speedway, which is scheduled to feature an extended practice session ahead of the 2026 season finale, will not be affected by the change.
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All entered cars will participate in the same 50-minute session, replacing the divided-group format used at most Cup Series events. The session will not include a mandated break.
Impound procedures will remain in effect, meaning teams will face restrictions on adjustments following qualifying. NASCAR also will add an additional set of practice tires to each applicable weekend allotment to accommodate the increased track time.
The adjustment was discussed with teams during last week’s technical meeting and follows continued industry feedback regarding the amount and structure of Cup Series practice. NASCAR officials indicated that the garage initiative had received support from a substantial majority of teams.
Practice sessions at superspeedways will continue under their existing event-specific formats.
The Cup Series has primarily used shorter, group-based practice sessions in recent seasons, with the field divided into separate groups ahead of qualifying. Under the new format, every team will have access to the full 50-minute window, giving drivers and crew chiefs more time to evaluate handling, tire wear and potential adjustments before qualifying and the race.
The rule-book update will take effect immediately for the New Hampshire weekend and continue through the remaining eligible events on the schedule.