NASCAR is considering changing the way the cars qualify for their starting position starting in 2014, Kerry Tharp said on Thursday.
NASCAR is wanting to allow multiple cars on the track (group qualifying) – much like they have been doing at road courses like Sonoma and Watkins Glen this season.
In group qualifying each car is released from pit road in intervals. The group then has a certain amount of time to complete their qualifying laps; the best lap speed is used to determine the starting order for the race.
NASCAR is considering using that qualifying procedure everywhere except Daytona at Talladega, where the field would likely be set with an “open qualifying drafting session” of 45-60 minutes that would determine the starting order.
“Nothing is set in stone yet,” Tharp said. “We haven’t determined how all that would be administered. “We’re still working through that but with the goal of providing a more enhanced qualifying experience for the fans that come there and watch it and the fans that watch it on television and, quite frankly, for the competitors.”
NASCAR will be holding a Dec. 9 test at Charlotte to continue work on its intermediate track package.
