NASCAR: Five Disappointments With 2016 Schedule
By Mike Hutton
Amber Searls-USA TODAY Sports
NASCAR has released the 2016 schedule for the Sprint Cup and Xfinity series, and there are no real surprises — some minor tweaks for sure, but that’s always the case. Many individual tracks had already announced their 2016 dates, so getting the official version from the sanctioning body was anti-climactic in a sense.
All of the “traditional” dates and positioning of some of the marquee races remain the same. Some tracks switch dates with others to accommodate other events at their facility. That all makes sense. It is akin to brand identity, and we all know that NASCAR fans are some of, if not the most brand loyal fans in any sport.
It is also a missed opportunity to grow and adopt to a changing fan base and embrace the changing dynamics of how fans consume the sport. Five examples follow of where the 2016 schedule was a bit of a disappointment.