NASCAR has dropped a new qualifying rule for the upcoming 2026 Daytona 500 and it’s sparking a ton of debate across the garage and among fans. The rule bans drivers from using their hands to manipulate airflow during single‐car qualifying runs, including pressing against the window net to reduce drag. Officials say they want lap times to be about the car’s setup and the driver’s skill, not these little ‘tricks’ in the cockpit.
The rule change came after a handful of drivers had gotten a bit too creative in squeezing out the last bit of aerodynamic gain.
One of the most talked about examples is from the 2024 NASCAR season at Atlanta Motor Speedway when Joey Logano was penalized for wearing an altered “webbed” glove during qualifying.
The glove had some extra material in the web between the thumb and fingers, presumably an attempt to give it a bit more surface area. Logano then placed his hand up by the window net trying to get a bit more of an airflow block into the cockpit which would help reduce drag.
Unfortunately for Logano, NASCAR officials disqualified him from his qualifying spot, fined him $10,000 and made him start from the very back of the field after deciding the glove was modified in a way that violated safety and competition rules.
Now some drivers say the ban is necessary to keep things fair. But for others the effect of hand positioning was a minimal issue that’s been blown out of proportion, and this rule just adds unnecessary complexity to it all.
Fans are divided on this. Some see this as a way for NASCAR to reinforce fairness and to make it all about the driver and the car. Critics think it’s just another example of the governing body overthinking things and making a mountain out of a molehill. They argue that this is just another tiny detail that wont really make a difference in qualifying and it’s already adding more stress to the teams.
NASCAR Tightens Daytona 500 Rules
NASCAR has made more changes the qualifying process for non-chartered cars in the Daytona 500. Under the new rules, the two fastest open cars in time trials are automatically locked into the race. So that means and cannot race in the Duel qualifying events, simplifying the process. Open teams not among the top two fastest still have a chance to qualify through the Duels, with one spot available from each race. The open exemption provisional also remains, guaranteeing a spot for a driver like Jimmie Johnson for promotional reasons, though accepting it means forfeiting points and prize money.
Qualifying at Daytona is never easy. Those single‑car timed runs are a huge deal and determine positions for the Duel races. And for the ‘Open’ teams who don’t have a charter, the two fastest cars during qualifying now automatically lock into the race, making every fraction of a second crucial.
Fans are divided on this one too. Some are critical, feeling it removes incentive for open teams to compete in the Duels. One fan commented: “Dumb rule that didn’t need to be put into place! So now the top 2 fastest open cars literally have no reason to race on Thursday. And no it doesn’t matter where you start at Daytona!”
Others see it as a fair tweak that clarifies the process. Another fan wrote: “This feels like a positive tweak. One open spot for one open car per Duel. Seems fair to me.”
No matter where people stand about the new rules, all the arguments and discussion will be put to the test this weekend. The Great American Race is finally here.
