Track Talk NASCAR Adopts Knockout Qualifying For 2014 Season So long, single-car qualifying. In 2014, NASCAR is ramping up the pre-race excitement level with a new knockout Coors Light Pole Award qualifying format for its three national series — a move designed to make qualifying more compelling and more like actual on-track competition. “We believe the timing is right for a new qualifying format across our three national series,” said Robin Pemberton,
v i c e president for competition and racing development. “This style of group qualifying has all the makings of being highly competitive and more engaging to our fans in the stands and those watching on television and online.” The new qualifying format will not apply to the first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series points race of the season – the Feb. 23 Daytona 500 – which features single-car runs and two qualifying races to set the lineup for The Great American
Race. Heat races to determine the lineup for the July 23 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Mudsummer Classic race at Eldora Speedway will still be used as well. At racetracks less than 1.25 Overhauling the Coors Light Pole Award qualifymiles, the Coors ing format, NASCAR says, underlines the sport's Light Pole Award ongoing commitment to innovation. new qualifying procedure will be as follows: draw and may exit pit road at The first qualifying session any time while the green flag will be 30 minutes long is displayed. Each driver may and include all cars complete as few or as many entered in the race. The laps as he or she chooses dur12 cars that post the ing the allotted time period fastest single lap time in for each segment. Pit road this session will advance speeds will be enforced durto the second and final ing each session. round. The remaining Drivers will be allotted just a cars will be sorted based single set of tires during qualifyon their times posted in ing, which means fans will see a the first round of qualify- lot of different strategies. ing in descending order. “For the drivers and teams, There will be a 10- we believe this new qualifyminute break between ing will fuel even greater the two qualifying competition leading into the rounds. events,” said Pemberton. The second and final “Additionally, it provides our qualifying round will last tracks, broadcasters and other 10 minutes, with the key partners with a greater fastest single lap time opportunity to develop more posted by each car setting entertaining content for our the top 12 spots on the race weekends." grid. NASCAR previewed the At racetracks longer concept of group qualifying than 1.25 miles, there will with its national series teams be three Coors Light Pole late last fall and expects the new Award qualifying rounds. format will be a well-received Before the start of improvement by its fans, comqualifying, cars or trucks petitors, tracks, sponsors and will be lined up on pit media partners. road based on a random
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