With the NASCAR season just beginning, concerns are already surfacing, particularly regarding the limited practice time before races. As the prestigious Daytona 500 approaches, drivers are voicing their worries about the current practice restrictions. NASCAR initially reduced practice sessions in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and while the policy has slightly evolved, teams now only get 25 minutes of track time before most races. However, Dale Earnhardt Jr. believes a more flexible approach is necessary.
This weekend is a milestone for Earnhardt Jr., as his Xfinity Series team, JR Motorsports, will enter its first-ever Cup Series race. Given this significant step, he has joined Brad Keselowski in advocating for changes to NASCAR’s practice rules. Before the pandemic, teams had two full hours to prepare on track. While NASCAR has slightly adjusted its approach by allowing a 50-minute session for the Daytona 500, superspeedways remain without practice. This disparity affects smaller teams the most, as extra track time comes with added expenses that larger organizations like Joe Gibbs Racing and Team Penske can more easily manage.
Brad Keselowski has long supported longer practice sessions and reiterated his stance on social media, calling them “100% necessary for the long-term health of Motorsport.” In response, Earnhardt Jr. suggested a more flexible system: “Here’s an idea. Open the track up for practice. If you don’t want to practice, you don’t practice. If you want to practice, you practice. Crazy idea I know, but would you believe they used this method for decades with no real complaints.”
NASCAR’s decision to limit practice has been primarily driven by cost-cutting measures. However, Keselowski pointed out in April 2024 that teams still spend heavily on advanced simulation models to compensate for the lack of real track time. These models analyze car performance using aerodynamic data and multi-body physics simulations, proving that the financial burden has merely shifted rather than been eliminated.
Keselowski’s argument for more practice was reinforced during Saturday’s Daytona 500 practice session when his RFK Racing No. 6 Ford developed a steering issue. The car started emitting smoke after only a few laps, forcing him to return to the garage. Fortunately, because of the extended session, the team identified the problem in time for repairs. RFK Racing acknowledged the importance of the practice session in a social media post, while Fox Sports’ Regan Smith echoed similar sentiments, calling it a “good break” for Keselowski.
Earnhardt Jr.’s proposal for optional practice sessions could offer a balanced solution, ensuring teams that need extra track time can use it while keeping costs manageable for others.
