Monster Energy Series teams no longer required to start race on qualifying tires

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series teams will no longer be required to start the race with the tires on which they qualified, according to Wednesday’s official NASCAR Rule Book update.

Starting on the qualifying set will be optional beginning with the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 27 (6 p.m. ET, FOX, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

Teams will be allotted four sets of practice and qualifying tires moving forward, with the exception of superspeedway events, which will have three sets. For enhanced weekend and superspeedway events, teams will be allowed to carry over their qualifying set to the race. If teams do not put laps on their qualifying set, teams will then be required to carry over a scuff practice set for the race.

Wednesday’s rule book update also reflects that teams have been granted one less set of tires for practice and qualifying, and one more set for the race.

For example, teams were allotted five total sets for practice and qualifying tires at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in March. When teams return to Las Vegas in September for the first race of the NASCAR Playoffs, four sets will be permitted.