NASCAR is facing an uproar from its passionate fanbase as dissatisfaction reaches a boiling point over the glaring inequities in practice rules across its three national racing series. Since 2020, drivers have been left frustrated by the significant reduction in practice sessions, a change that began with executives slashing three 50-minute sessions to a mere two 20-minute ones, only to be further exacerbated by the pandemic that eliminated practice altogether. Now, nearly five years since the pandemic’s peak, the future of practice in NASCAR appears as bleak as ever.
In a disappointing announcement regarding the 2026 schedule, NASCAR revealed that the Cup Series will not see an increase in practice time, remaining stagnant at the same limited duration as in 2025. In a tweet that ignited further frustration among fans, respected journalist Bob Pockrass stated, “Not for Cup. Cup will have same practice time in 2026 as it did in 2025. In Xfinity and trucks, they won’t be split into groups for practice and will get 50 minutes (but still same restrictions as far as limited changes, can’t go to the garage, etc).” This decision highlights a troubling disparity between the Cup Series and its Xfinity and Truck counterparts, which will enjoy longer practice sessions without being split into groups.
The ramifications of this uneven practice structure have already been felt on the track. In 2025, select Cup Series races, such as those at COTA and Sonoma, saw competitors clocking in slower speeds than their counterparts in the lower tiers. The backlash from prominent drivers like Denny Hamlin and Ryan Blaney was swift, emphasizing the frustration with the lack of equitable treatment across the series.
As if the practice issue wasn’t contentious enough, NASCAR is also making changes to the Cup Series engine output, raising it to 750 horsepower for tracks less than 1.5 miles long, accompanied by modifications to aerodynamics. While these changes are positioned as safety measures, including the introduction of A-post flaps following dangerous lift-off incidents, they do little to alleviate the growing concerns over practice time.
Opinions on practice vary widely within the sport, with some drivers like Spire Motorsports’ Michael McDowell suggesting that reduced practice benefits smaller teams by leveling the playing field. He controversially stated, “I wish we didn’t have practice at all. I know there’s guys that would like to have practice, and I understand why they would, but selfishly, I think any time that they give us more time to practice, the bigger teams do a better job of maximizing their car potential and setup.” However, this perspective is far from universal, with a significant portion of fans vehemently opposing the notion of limited practice.
Fans are clamoring for change, particularly as they watch rising stars like Shane van Gisbergen struggle to adapt to oval racing without adequate practice time. One fan lamented, “So the ones that did well will continue to do well. Never expect SVG to get good on ovals when he can’t take the time to practice and learn from that. More disappointments.” Another echoed similar sentiments regarding Connor Zilisch, a promising talent whose development is stunted by the lack of track time: “Disappointing. As a Zilisch fan I was hoping for more track time for him to learn the NextGen.”
The veteran drivers are not immune to these frustrations either. Kyle Busch, a two-time Cup Series champion with an impressive 63 race wins, has faced a winless drought for two years, further complicated by the limited practice. A fan articulated the sentiment, asking, “NASCAR wants KFB to retire soon don’t they?”
Adding fuel to the fire, a fan cheekily remarked on NASCAR’s recent legal troubles, suggesting that the organization is deflecting blame onto the teams for its decisions, saying, “Me when I lie (nascar not wanting more practice). It’s the teams.”
As the dust settles on this contentious topic, it’s clear that NASCAR’s handling of practice regulations is stirring discontent among fans and drivers alike. The question now looms: will NASCAR executives heed the calls for change, or will they continue to ignore the mounting pressure from their loyal supporters?
