As NASCAR continues to limit pre-race practice sessions, Ryan Blaney supports more practice as a key to competitive racing, urging for changes ahead of key events like the opener at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Blaney’s stance, shared by other notable figures in the sport, highlights a growing desire to restore more track time for drivers and crews alike.
Reduced Practice Sessions in Modern NASCAR
Before the 2020 season, NASCAR teams enjoyed lengthy practice periods, sometimes lasting between two to three hours, before every race weekend. The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent policy changes shortened these sessions dramatically, with teams now often restricted to only 15-20 minutes of track time. This was done to prevent major teams from increasing their advantage over others, but it also impacted the preparation process for everyone involved, including drivers, crews, and fans who valued the longer format.
Drivers and Teams Push for Change
In response to widespread feedback from across the sport, NASCAR has made a few adjustments, such as expanding practice sessions specifically for the 2025 Daytona 500. Still, the overall schedule remains far more compressed than in previous years. Blaney and other veterans, including Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Brad Keselowski, have publicly voiced their preference for more substantial practice opportunities, believing it leads to better race results and a more entertaining weekend for fans.
Blaney Outlines Preferred Practice Format
Blaney described his ideal scenario for practice sessions, emphasizing both preparation and team development.
“If I’m gonna pick, I like the extended practice, the 50 minutes. You get a couple of sets of tires. You’re able to go to the garage and try a few different things. They do that Champ Weekend, and then if they have a new track, that’s what they have,”
said Blaney, Driver.
He further emphasized how this format provides an advantage, stating,
“That’s what I like, personally. I think it just gives people a better chance to understand where their cars are and play with some more stuff than they normally could with a 20-minute practice. That would be my vote. I don’t know where it’s gonna go, but that is my favorite form of practice.”
– Ryan Blaney, Driver
The Evolution of Race Preparation
Reflecting on his early experiences, Blaney noted the difference in atmosphere and preparation before COVID-19 changed the landscape. The past routine involved a full hour of running on Fridays, followed by qualifying and two more practice opportunities on Saturday, which offered teams ample time to adjust and perfect their cars before racing on Sunday. Today’s much shorter sessions, as Blaney sees it, provide only a fraction of those benefits.
He summed up his preference, explaining,
“A little happy medium ground is the 50-minute, two sets of tires, can go in the garage, that would be my vote.”
– Ryan Blaney, Driver
Benefits Across the NASCAR Community
Blaney has consistently pointed out how extra practice time allows both established stars and newer competitors to learn, adapt, and improve. More track time lets crews adjust car setups with precision, yielding stronger performances when it matters most. Well-known drivers like Keselowski and veterans such as Jimmie Johnson, who occasionally return as part-timers, would also benefit, as longer sessions help everyone adapt to changing technology and track conditions.
Impact and Industry Outlook
The ongoing push for expanded practice sessions reflects a desire within NASCAR to balance fairness and entertainment. As calls from drivers, team owners, and fans grow louder, NASCAR leadership faces decisions that could reshape the format of race weekends. The compromise may be longer sessions at select major events, but with advocates like Ryan Blaney making a strong case, further adjustments could be on the horizon, with wider benefits to competition, preparation, and fan experience.
