NASCAR: Four More Tracks That Need To Add Lights
Watkins Glen International
Road course racing under the lights? It could not get much better than that. It is common in auto racing, such as in the 24 Hours of Daytona, and of Le Mans. The attendance at Watkins Glen has been trending upwards, unlike most other tracks in the sport, because of the rise of popularity in road racing in NASCAR. The track was named the most popular track in NASCAR in 2015, so adding lights would only add to the excitement of racing around the twists and turns of WGI.
Road racing has grown significantly in popularity in just the last five years, because of the intensity that has risen at the two races on the circuit, especially at Watkins Glen, where finishes have been among the best in NASCAR over the last five years. Drivers have become more accustomed to road racing and more skilled in the trade, which has improved the product on the track. Adding lights would only boost fan excitement to the weekend in the Finger Lakes.
Why it would work: Attendance at WGI has been superb in recent years, and has sold out since 2014, and has shown no signs of decreasing. Making the race under the lights would greatly improve fan excitement and would certainly challenge the drivers. It would not be easy coming through the esses in the dark, no matter the level of lighting. Weather would not play much of a factor, because of the scheduling of the race being in the heart of summer, when Central New York temperatures are warm and muggy (trust me, I live with it).
Why it wouldn’t work: Cost/Feasibility. The track setup of a road course adds a unique twist to adding lights, and Watkins Glen is no different. The elevation changes and twists of the course would provide difficulty in providing sufficient lighting for the entire facility. The track is a lengthy 2.45 miles, so the undertaking would be costly.
With attendance and profits booming at the facility, now may be the right time for officials to add lights to Watkins Glen and test NASCAR road racing under the lights. Much testing would have to go into the feasibility of adding lights to the track filled with elevation changes. Being the most popular track in NASCAR is an enviable position for WGI, so the addition of lights could only benefit the track and the excitement surrounding road racing if it were done right.
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