NASCAR: Five Disappointments With 2016 Schedule
By Mike Hutton
Kevin Liles-USA TODAY Sports
Atlanta’s Date Now Moves Into February
NASCAR got lucky last year with the Atlanta immediately following Daytona in that weather wasn’t a major issue during the race weekend. Lucky when you’re playing Russian Roulette only lasts so long. Observe the photo above showing a gentleman with layers of clothing, his portable heater and his beverage of choice watching the race. Also note the grandstands which are only about 60% full.
It all looks pretty miserable to me. Sooner or later, it’s going to snow on this weekend.
Why not give Atlanta 3 more weeks to season, do the “western swing” of races as races No. 2, 3 and 4 on the schedule and have Atlanta as race No. 5 right before the Easter Weekend off? Essentially, hit it on the way home from three weeks out west.
I suppose it would be a tight fit to drive from Auto Club Speedway (race No. 4 in this scenario) back to Charlotte and then back to Atlanta within a five-day period, but with tandem hauler drivers and personnel back at the shop being able to have everything ready ahead of time for the quick-turnaround, it would be possible.