NASCAR Changes up Qualifying Procedures for Sunday’s Nationwide Race at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve

When you sit down Saturday to watch qualifying for Sunday’s Nationwide race from Circuit Gilles Villeneuve don’t be surprised if things look a little different. That’s right, instead of the traditional method of qualifying NASCAR has chosen to change things up a bit. Below are the rules:

• Cars attempting to quality will be divided into 8 groups. The first 6 groups will include 6 cars; the remaining groups will have 5 cars each.

• Group assignments will be based on first practice times.

• Each qualifying group will be on-track for approximately 7 minutes.

• A car’s best lap time during the group session will be the lap time of record.

• A group’s time begins when the first car receives the green flag at the start/finish line.

• Time will stop only in the event of a red flag. Time will begin again when the first car retakes the green flag.

• A car must qualify in its assigned group unless otherwise designated by the Series Director.

• Once a car enters pit road or service area it may not re-enter the qualifying group.

• A five-minute clock may be applied to a car that does not enter the qualifying group at the designated time.