NASCAR eliminates rookie practice for 2 series

NASCAR has eliminated the rookie practice portion of its weekend schedule for Nationwide and Craftsman Truck Series teams. For the last two years, the Nationwide and truck rookies would get an extra practice (typically a half-hour session). They would get a set of tires specifically for that test session.

Now, practice sessions have been increased by about 30 minutes for the entire field. But rookies get an extra set of tires for the race weekend. That extra set can only be used in practice.

“It would be great if we had more practice than the veteran guys, but that extra set of tires allows us to run all the laps," said Roush Fenway Racing truck rookie Colin Braun. “They have so much practice where if you only have one set tires, you can’t maximize all the laps anyway."

Rookies said they could impacted more at a short track such as Bristol and Martinsville, where it will be difficult to get a good mock qualifying lap in.

“I get less open track time," TRG Motorsports truck rookie Andy Lally said. “The other thing is the seasoned veterans can now take their time and do some more changes. It’s a little bit of a disadvantage compared to the past what rookies may be able to gain over the vets. But if it makes sense for the series, because there just aren’t that many rookies, what you end up doing is giving too much to too small of a group of people." Scene Daily