NASCAR to keep race-only schedule for rest of 2020 season

Ever since NASCAR resumed running races in May following a two-month hiatus during the COVID-19 pandemic, it has run its race weekends without any practices and without qualifying except for the Coca-Cola 600.

Strict coronavirus protocols have also been in place while the opening races have taken place behind closed doors, before a limited number of spectators were allowed to attend races from early June.

On Tuesday, NASCAR announced it would keep to race-only weekend schedules the rest of the year.

"Following discussions with our race teams and the broader industry, NASCAR will continue to conduct its race weekends without practice and qualifying for the remainder of the 2020 season in all three national series," Scott Miller, NASCAR senior vice president of competition said in a statement.

"The current format has worked well in addressing several challenges during our return to racing. Most importantly, we have seen competitive racing week-to-week.

"NASCAR will adjust the starting lineup draw procedure for the playoff races, and will announce the new process at a later date."

Several drivers have voiced concern about having no practice for the rescheduled races next month at the Daytona International Speedway road course, a track on which NASCAR series have never competed.

The Daytona road course is replacing the sport's annual stop at Watkins Glen International this season.

The NASCAR Cup Series campaign continues this weekend at Kansas Speedway before seven further rounds ahead of the playoffs which begin back at Darlington - the circuit which hosted NASCAR's resumption after the COVID-19 pandemic - with the opener on 6 September.

The season comes to a climax at Phoenix Raceway on 8 November.