(CLEVELAND, OH) As the American Esports Association Sam Maxwell Customs Premier Series arrives in Sparta, Kentucky next week a different feel will be in the air as the qualifying format to set the starting line-up for the race will undergo a change.

The “Open Driver Qualifier” also referred to as the “Go or Go Home Qualifying Session” will remain single car qualifying.  This session will set the drivers who will make up the 36 car starting field for the Sam Maxwell Customs Bluegrass 150.

However, the second round of qualifying, where the 36 qualified drivers turn laps to determine their starting lineup will be a multi-car session with the track open for ten minutes.  All 36 drivers will be permitted to enter the track and turn as many laps as the time permits.

“This style of qualifying gives our new broadcast partner 3 Wide Racing TV something to show live during the qualifying period and it creates some excitement with several cars on the track at the same time, all trying to turn the fast lap” said AEA President Jim Foose.  “We did something similar at ASRS in 2014 and it was a unique format that we enjoyed, since the field will already be set in terms of who has qualified for the race, the change to a multi car qualifying session will not affect who misses the race” Foose continued. “I think it will be fun and it will give our viewers something to watch as well as keeping our drivers engaged during the entire program”.

The multi-car qualifying sessions will be used at future races on tracks over one mile in length including Pocono Raceway on January 29th and Auto Club Speedway on March 12th.

The “Open Qualifying” style has been used by ASRS in the past including nearly the full 2014 slate for the ASRS Sam Maxwell Customs Truck Series and the now Sim Marketing Solutions Cup Series, it was also featured on short tracks with the Super Late Model Tour in 2015 and has been used for road course races since 2013.

“It’s a little different, it’s more in line with what the real racing series are doing and it provides excitement during a normal downtime on the broadcast” stated Foose.