How Does NASCAR Qualifying Work?
A beginner's guide to understanding who gets into the race, and who goes home.

If you haven't been around NASCAR Nextel Cup racing for long, or if you've only been a casual fan you might find it a bit confusing when it comes to determining what cars make it into the race each week.  On a typical weekend there are about 50 cars attempting to make it into a the 43-car starting lineup. For some races, like Indianapolis, the entry list may be as large as 55 or more cars, all shooting for those precious 43 spots.  So exactly how are they chosen?

NASCAR officials use a qualifying draw to determine the order of the qualifying runs. The qualifying draw usually takes place the morning of qualifying day. Each team sends a representative to draw a number from a spinning ball, starting with the team whose owner is highest in the owner point standings. When every team has drawn, the qualifying order is set.  This determines who makes the first attempt at qualifying, down to the final car to run.  At most races the qualifying attempt consists one warm up lap and two qualifying laps with the car's qualifying speed being the better of those two laps.

Once qualifying is over, the field is set by merging the highest ranked 35 teams in the owner points standings with the fastest seven cars not in those 35 positions, in the order of their qualifying speeds. Those top 35 teams, based on owner's points earned in previous races are guaranteed a position in the race even if they're slower than other cars not in the top 35.  Those cars that are not in the top 35 are typically called "go or go home" cars meaning, if  they don't go fast enough to be among the 43 fastest cars, they don't get to race that weekend.

The 43rd position is reserved for a former season champion, provided he is not already qualified and satisfies the rulebook's criteria. If unused by a former champion, it goes to the next fastest car in qualifying. This means that the 43rd fastest car can be bumped out of the race if there is a former series champion driver who hasn't made it into the race.  

The lone exception is the Daytona 500, which uses qualifying and two 125-mile races to determine the field.

What happens if Qualifying is Rained Out ?

If it is the first 5 races of the season, the previous season car owner points are used:
#1) - Top 35 teams in owner points at the conclusion of the previous season
#2) - Drivers who won races the previous or current season who aren't included in #1 above.
#3) - Past Nextel Cup Champions not included in #1 or #2
#4) - Teams in the current season top 35 owner points not covered by any of the above
#5) - Number of current season qualifying attempts, with  ties broken by current owner points and not covered by any of the above.

After the 5th race of the season, the current season car owner points are used:
#1) - Top 35 teams in owner points for the current season
#2) - Last year's Nextel Cup champion or previous year's race winner if not already in the field
#3) - Car owners whose team has won in the previous or current season not already in the field
#4) - Drivers who have won in the previous or current season not already in the field
#5) - Past Nextel Cup champions not included in any of the above
#6) - Number of qualifying attempts in the current season with owners points as the tie breaker
#7) - Qualifying order position (based on the random drawing on qualifying day)

Last update Tuesday, January 23, 2007