In a bid to avoid major accident during an event, NASCAR modified their qualifying format. The need for a change came into light after the last week's incident at Las Vegas, narrowly avoiding an accident. Moreover, the drivers also expressed safety concerns which further expedited change in the knockout qualifying format.

The upcoming race at Bristol Motor Speedway, slated to begin on March 14, will see the effect of new rules. Drivers will not be allowed to run cool-down laps to cool the car's engine. Teams will be allowed to use cooling systems attached to the engines through flaps on the hood. The hood must remain closed as no adjustment will be allowed, and two crewman are allowed over the wall.

The idea to use cooling engine by running slowly around the track was sharply criticised as this leads to higher chances of an accident. In the last run at Las Vegas Motors Speedway, Reed Sorensen nearly made a fatal contact with Brian Vickers who was running slower.

Vickers, in an interview with Fox Sports 1, referred it to be as the "most dangerous thing" he ever did in a race car and raised voices to the authority to make necessary changes.

He said, "We've got to (ride around the bottom), it's the only way to keep the engine cool."

"But that has got to be the most dangerous thing I've ever done in racing. The 36 (car) went by me at 170 mph faster than I was going. Had he slipped or hit me, I'd be done. It would be so bad."

NASCAR further confirmed they wanted to present the new format before making any further adjustments. However, with Bristol banging on the door, authorities disclosed the new rules during a conference held on Tuesday.

Robin Pemberton, NASCAR's vice president for competition, said, "The qualifying is new to all of us and as we have said over the past several weeks, we are looking at it from all aspects."

"Following discussions, both internally and with others in the garage area, we moved quickly to make a few revisions that will be effective starting with our two national series events at Bristol Motor Speedway this weekend."

We believe this will only enhance and improve what has demonstrated to be an exciting form of qualifying for our fans, competitors and others involved with the sport. Moving forward we will continue to look at it and address anything else that we may need to as the season unfolds."