O'Donnell Criticized NASCAR Cost-Cutting Decisions
NASCAR CEO Steve O'Donnell slammed past moves that limited practice time to reduce costs during the pandemic.
Updated on Sept. 22, 2026 in Motorsports
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NASCAR CEO Steve O'Donnell has criticized historical decisions to slash practice times for team budget savings. The organization has since reversed course by expanding Cup Series practice sessions to 50 minutes.
Why it matters
The CEO identified previous cost-cutting measures as detrimental to long-term competition quality and driver development. Officials are now prioritizing track time over the short-term financial savings implemented during the pandemic era.
Cup Series teams now utilize a single 50-minute combined practice session per weekend. This marks a return to more track time compared to the 20-to-25-minute group sessions that were standard practice for years following 2020.
The players
Steve O'Donnell
He is the current CEO of NASCAR and the first individual to hold the position who is not a member of the France family.
The details
Steve O'Donnell, the first CEO from outside the France family, noted that earlier mandates prioritized budget reduction over the necessity for on-track engineering and driver adjustment. Teams had previously relied heavily on simulation tools to compensate for limited track access, but officials now aim to improve short-track racing dynamics through more testing.
Timeline
2020: Practice sessions were significantly shortened for budget reasons.
July 2026: NASCAR expanded practice to 50-minute sessions.
2028: O'Donnell publicly cited a lack of long-term vision in previous leadership decisions.
Season Trajectory
Expanding track time signals a shift toward prioritizing competition quality and driver development over the lean operational models adopted during the 2020 pandemic. This change impacts how teams balance their engineering resources and simulation data against real-world performance metrics.
Teams now have more opportunity to refine vehicle setups, which could reduce the reliance on simulation data during a race weekend. Increased track time may lead to more competitive qualifying sessions and adjusted aerodynamic packages on short tracks.
The takeaway
NASCAR is shifting its focus from temporary financial austerity to long-term performance and skill development. Fans can expect continued scrutiny of engine horsepower and aerodynamic packages as the sport evolves its competition rules.
Further reading
For more on the current state of professional racing, visit our Motorsports section.
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