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NASCAR Buy or Sell: Fourth Stage at Coca-Cola 600 Right Move?

By Trevor Grasso

Apr 9, 2017; Fort Worth, TX, USA; A NASCAR official watches the race during the O'Reilly Auto Parts 500 at Texas Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 9, 2017; Fort Worth, TX, USA; A NASCAR official watches the race during the O'Reilly Auto Parts 500 at Texas Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 24, 2017; Daytona Beach, FL, USA; NASCAR officials wave the green checkered flag showing the end of a scoring segment during the NextEra Energy Resources 250 at Daytona International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 24, 2017; Daytona Beach, FL, USA; NASCAR officials wave the green checkered flag showing the end of a scoring segment during the NextEra Energy Resources 250 at Daytona International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports /

Last week, NASCAR announced they were adding a fourth stage to the season’s longest race. Was it the right move?

Through 11 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series races, stage racing has been on display. In the offseason, it was announced that each race in 2017 would be split into three stages. Bonus points are awarded to the top 10 at the end of the first two stages and then normal race points are awarded at the end of the race.

The debate has gone on all season as to whether or not stage racing was the right direction for NASCAR. For those fans who hate stage racing, we’ve got some bad news. NASCAR has added a fourth stage to the Coca-Cola 600. Was this a good idea?

Adding a fourth stage to the Coca-Cola 600 was the right move: SELL

Have you ever typed something where you type with your index finger slow and firm, as if you were proving a point to someone on the other end like they could see you typing? That was me typing SELL. I completely disagree with NASCAR and how this change went down.

Some people love stage racing. Others hate it. I am in between. This article is not meant to debate stage racing in general. Stage racing was implemented during the offseason and the stages were laid out for every race. Great. That is how rule changes and the offseason are supposed to work.

What I fail to understand is how NASCAR just decides to change their rules and formatting mid-season. The Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte was set for three stages just like every other race. Every team was aware of that and had to prepare for that. But citing reasons like adding more moments, feeling more natural and fuel windows, NASCAR changed that format.

What moments are there to add? The All-Star Race at Charlotte last weekend was pretty basic. Kyle Larson led all of stage 1 and 2, Jimmie Johnson led just about all of stage 3 and Kyle Busch won the race leading all of stage 4. Will there be much more action with a fourth stage on Sunday night on the same track?

It may be safe to say most fans feel the more natural thing to do would have been to eliminate all stages of the Coca-Cola 600. Instead, NASCAR must have felt natural meant adding an additional planned yellow flag that always seems to drag on forever before getting back to racing. That’s just what the longest race of the year needs. Another extended break of commercials for all to enjoy.

This last one really gets me. NASCAR was worried about fuel windows on top of stage breaks getting messy. Who cares? That’s what fans really want to see. Different pit strategies in a race where everything doesn’t always align perfectly for drivers. Why are we looking to avoid challenges for drivers at the top of their sport?

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In no other sport is it acceptable to make changes like this mid-season. If you feel there is a need for improvement during the season, you make note of it and decide what to do in the offseason. Instead, NASCAR expects everyone to buy in on their ability to change whatever they want, whenever they feel like it.

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