Five Ways for NASCAR to Improve The Clash

Change the Segment Lengths

Throughout the long history of The Clash (in its many names), it has undergone many format changes. The length of the show has varied from 50 miles to the present-day length close to 200 miles. It has also shifted between anywhere from one to three segments. But with NASCAR now changing all races to a stage format, should this race do away with all that?

Since all points-paying races in all three national series will now be broken into segments or stages, it effectively eliminates the excitement and difference seen in non-point events. This would seem to put the current format at odds with the direction of the sport. How do series officials rectify this? Give the fans what many have been clamoring for.

There have been arguments in recent years about whether or not NASCAR races are too long for today’s fans and audiences. New fans that stock car racing may try and attract have even shorter attention spans than their predecessors. So what’s the solution? Perhaps it’s time to return The Clash to its original length, a twenty-lap (50-mile) shootout.

The advantages of the change are clear nearly immediately. Drivers would be forced to race hard from the start in order to win the race. It would also give the race a short run time, easily fitting it ahead of Daytona 500 qualifying and perhaps leaving room for ARCA to race on the same day as well. The one drawback – less TV time and fan engagement likely for such a short show.