NASCAR: Four More Tracks That Need To Add Lights

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Jul 26, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; NASCAR Sprint Car driver Danica Patrick drives into turn one during the Crown Royal 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 26, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; NASCAR Sprint Car driver Danica Patrick drives into turn one during the Crown Royal 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /

Indianapolis Motor Speedway

Talk about a track that could use a spark. The Brickyard 400 has been declining in nearly every regard over the past decade. While stepping foot in the hallowed grounds of Indianapolis is always special, the Brickyard has not been kind to NASCAR lately. Attendance has been significantly declining in the event over the past several years, and the 2015 event may have been the bottom of the barrel for the prestigious race.

Much of the blame for Indy’s NASCAR struggle has been the poor on track product, evident since at least the infamous 2008 tire debacle. Last year’s event was stricken with little to no racing action because of the inability to pass. As evident with the spoiler in the photo above, this race was one of the four NASCAR utilized to test its 2016 rules package, and this particular high downforce package failed to impress for sure. While it was a successful test in leading to the crafting of the 2016 package that has improved on track product, the 2015 race was quite forgettable.

Why it would work: Like Dover, Indianapolis needs a spark, at least on the stock car side. While the Indianapolis 500 is the premier event on the premises, the Brickyard 400 isn’t far behind, and track officials certainly realize the poor attendance that has plagued the race for years, which pales in comparison to the 1990s, when the track sold beyond capacity. Weather would be beneficial for a night race, with the Brickyard 400 being run in the dog days of summer, so most ingredients point to success in this case. A move to add lights may be what the doctor ordered to improve the prestige and the attractiveness of attending the Brickyard 400.

Why it wouldn’t work: Cost. There have been hints of the track exploring options such as adding lights, but most of them include the high costs of such an endeavor. Installing lights around the 2.5 mile quad oval would cost tens of millions of dollars, similar to Talladega, so the track officials would have to be on board to spend to improve attendance at the Brickyard.

The prestige of the Brickyard 400 will never leave, but it certainly has taken a hit in recent years, and that has been reflected in the low fan turnout, an unsightly trend plaguing the entire sport. Adding lights may add intrigue to the race once more, and hopefully the on track product will improve in 2016 and beyond, with the new rules package that the 2015 Brickyard 400 helped to shape. The spectacle of racing at Indianapolis will never lose its muster, and hopefully NASCAR and IMS officials can collaborate to restore the excitement surrounding stock car racing at the birthplace of auto racing.

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The ingredients are there at each of these facilities to utilize night racing, which could once again spark interest in NASCAR and improve attendance across the sport, so tracks will no longer be having to remove seats, but once again adding them. The element of racing under the lights is instinctive to drivers, fans, and crews, so hopefully more tracks will explore the option of adding lights to improve excitement, attendance, and racing.