Jamie McMurray believes NASCAR needs to change its current qualifying system, with the veteran driver specifically calling for a return to the ping-pong draw.

Speaking on The Dale Jr. Download, McMurray explained that while the metric provides a fair solution when races are affected by rain, he believes the current system creates too much attention around qualifying order and can repeatedly put drivers at a disadvantage.

“I vote for a change,” McMurray said. “I want it to go to the pingpong draw again.”

Jamie McMurray wants more variety in qualifying

McMurray acknowledged that the metric has a purpose, particularly when rain disrupts a race weekend. His concern centers on its potential impact on the following week’s qualifying session, especially when a driver’s previous result was influenced by circumstances beyond their control.

“I think the metric is fair if it rains. I think that’s completely fair that it doesn’t have to just be based on owner points the way it was. I think that’s fine, but I would like to see a shakeup in the qualifying.”

Jamie McMurray also gave another option that could change the order without completely abandoning performance-based qualifying. He suggested reversing the practice order, allowing the fastest drivers in practice to go later in the qualifying session.

“I’m fine with the ping pong draw, but I’m also fine with reversing practice order. If you’re fastest in practice, you go last like in the 20-minute or whatever they’re giving each weekend because that’s going to change soon,” McMurray said, explaining how that system could work.

The issue, according to McMurray, becomes clearer when a driver has a poor race result because of an incident. He used William Byron as an example, arguing that a crash during one weekend could then affect the driver’s qualifying position the following week.

“If William Byron crashes out this week, I don’t think it’s I mean I don’t think it’s fair that he gets hosed the following week in qualifying.”

McMurray’s preference for the ping-pong draw also comes from the potential entertainment value. A random qualifying position could place a fast car deeper in the field, creating an opportunity for that driver to fight through traffic during the NASCAR races.

“So here part of the reason I like the ping pong draw is because I think it will shake things up,” McMurray explained.

He added, “And I think it will, and so I’m viewing this more from an entertainment perspective than I am a competitors.”

That could create a different type of race storyline, particularly when a strong car starts outside the preferred positions.

“And so I would like to see a good car start mid-pack or towards the rear because they got a bad draw, because to me that provides entertainment of watching them work their way to the front versus if they are consistently the fastest car and they get the best draw and then they start on the front row,” McMurray said.

“I think from an entertainment perspective, it could be better.”

Jamie McMurray’s biggest concern is the amount of attention the metric receives every weekend. He believes qualifying should generate discussion around the drivers and their performances rather than repeatedly focusing on the calculation that determines their position in the order.

“I don’t think that it should be a talking point every weekend,” McMurray said. “And right now it is.”

“I don’t think we should be worried about talking about the metric every single weekend when they interview someone and qualifying. If they go out early, they are like, ‘Well, we know we’re in trouble because of the metric.’”