NASCAR Buy or Sell: Road Courses on the Schedule

It is that time of the year when NASCAR heads to a road course. Some fans love these races, while others hate them.

Every time a Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race takes place on a road course, the debate of whether they belong on the schedule or not begins. Sonoma Raceway and Watkins Glen International are currently the only two road courses on the schedule, hosting one race each. Is this acceptable at the highest level of competition in the sport?

Road course racing is good for NASCAR: BUY

This may not be the crowd pleasing stance, but having these races twice during the season is a welcomed change-up in my mind. The idea of adding unique styles and strategies on courses that are far from traditional is great for the sport.

More from NASCAR

Many fans deal with people who do not enjoy NASCAR because they believe it is too boring. I can’t tell you how many times someone has asked me if they ever turn right. Road courses give us a few rights in a season full of lefts. This is a whole new dynamic for drivers, adding an exciting element for the viewers to see the pros adapt.

One of my favorite terms in NASCAR is “road course ringer.” Some people argue that road courses aren’t real NASCAR tracks and the top drivers in the series shouldn’t have to race under those conditions. The thing about that is there are drivers over the years who have had success at these tracks consistently. Do the guys who come in as “ringers” really make any difference in these races? No. Guys like Marcos Ambrose (who was a part of one of my favorite race finishes shown below) and Juan Pablo Montoya were Cup regulars who really only found consistency on road courses, while legends like Tony Stewart and Jeff Gordon won anywhere and everywhere including road courses.

Every racetrack on the schedule has its own unique characteristics. Distance, banking and shaping are just a few of the major differences at each track. Road courses definitely pose drastic changes, but that is what makes them unique in their own way compared to others. Short tracks cause a lot of bumping and grinding in a confined space. Plate racing tracks give us long straightaways with drivers using packs to draft with. Road courses provide twists and turns throughout as well as straightaways where we see some drag racing.

NASCAR can and will continue to take the show to road courses in the future. These races are entertaining in their own right and deserve to be apart of the top series. However, NASCAR also realizes they need to limit these races as they are unconventional. Don’t expect to see any playoff races at Sonoma or Watkins Glen, but you can always look forward to having them on the circuit.

Next: Kyle Larson in the Winner Spotlight

How do you feel about road courses? Let us know in the comments and on Twitter @Beyond_The_Flag! If you think you have a hot topic for next week’s edition of Buy or Sell, let me know on Twitter @T_Grasso11 with the topic and include #BuyorSellBTF and your tweet may be featured!

Home/NASCAR