Wisevoter
U.S.

NASCAR Will Update Qualifying Formula for 2027 Season

The racing organization plans to revise its grid-setting metrics during the upcoming off-season.

Updated on Oct. 2, 2026 in Motorsports

Expressive editorial sports illustration of a stock car speeding around a track, using vibrant red and white brush strokes to suggest motion.
NASCAR will implement a revised qualifying formula for the 2027 season, updating how starting grids are set when inclement weather cancels standard sessions. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Should NASCAR prioritize consistent season rules over quickly changing qualifying formats based on fan feedback?

NASCAR will introduce a new qualifying formula during the 2026 off-season to determine starting positions when weather forces the cancellation of sessions. The current system will remain in place for the final six races of the 2026 Cup Series season.

Why it matters

The current formula relies on a mix of recent results and owner points to set the field, a method aimed at preventing drivers from being penalized by poor early-season performances. Revising this metric is intended to refine how starting spots are assigned when traditional qualifying is impossible.

The current metric weights a driver's most recent race finish at 70 percent and owner points at 30 percent. This formula was applied to set the field for three of the first four races of the 2026 postseason after weather canceled qualifying.

The players

NASCAR

NASCAR is the sanctioning body that manages and regulates stock car racing across the United States.

Kyle McKinney

Kyle McKinney is the official leading the working group tasked with evaluating and updating the organization's qualifying formula.

The details

NASCAR has relied on this metric-based approach since 2020 to establish starting grids when inclement weather prevents standard qualifying sessions. A working group led by Kyle McKinney is currently evaluating potential adjustments to the formula before the 2027 season begins.

Timeline

  1. NASCAR began using metrics to set fields in 2020.

  2. The current metric will be used for the next six races of the 2026 season.

  3. Changes to the formula are expected to be implemented during the 2026 off-season.

Roadmap

The transition to a revamped formula reflects NASCAR's ongoing effort to balance competitive fairness with logistical flexibility in the face of weather disruptions. This move continues the trend of refining grid-setting procedures that began when the sport first adopted metric-based qualifications in 2020.

Fans and viewers should expect the existing formula to determine starting positions for the remainder of the 2026 schedule, ensuring consistency through the end of the current year. Any new grid-setting rules will take effect at the start of the 2027 season.

The takeaway

The upcoming formula shift highlights how sanctioning bodies adapt their operations to maintain competitive integrity throughout the season. Drivers and teams must prepare for updated eligibility metrics that will influence their starting positions in future race weekends.

What happens next

NASCAR is scheduled to announce final details regarding the new qualifying metric during the 2026 off-season.

Further reading

Learn more about the latest developments in the Motorsports division.

Live Poll

Should NASCAR prioritize consistent season rules over quickly changing qualifying formats based on fan feedback?