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NASCAR: What’s wrong with NASCAR? Part 5 – Scheduling

By William Richard

LONG POND, PA - JUNE 03: Martin Truex Jr., driver of the #78 Bass Pro Shops/5-hour ENERGY Toyota, leads a pack of cars during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Pocono 400 at Pocono Raceway on June 3, 2018 in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
LONG POND, PA - JUNE 03: Martin Truex Jr., driver of the #78 Bass Pro Shops/5-hour ENERGY Toyota, leads a pack of cars during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Pocono 400 at Pocono Raceway on June 3, 2018 in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) /
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BAKERSFIELD, CA – MARCH 15: Kevin Harvick, driver of the #4 Fields Ford and Cole Rouse, driver of the #99 NAPA Filters Toyota (Photo by Jonathan Moore/Getty Images for NASCAR)
BAKERSFIELD, CA – MARCH 15: Kevin Harvick, driver of the #4 Fields Ford and Cole Rouse, driver of the #99 NAPA Filters Toyota (Photo by Jonathan Moore/Getty Images for NASCAR) /

Solutions: Part 1

Okay, let’s get to the good stuff — ideas that could fix the scheduling issue. Here are some of my ideas.

First, drop Indianapolis Motor Speedway and go to Lucas Oil Raceway Park. This 0.686-mile short track used to be a staple on the Xfinity Series and Truck Series schedules. With two lanes of racing, including a unique and fast high lane, fans witnessed incredible racing to kick off Brickyard 400 weekend.

I suggest this track reappear on both lower division schedules, and honestly, this is the only race track the Cup Series cars should also touch in Indianapolis. The Brickyard was a land of dreams 20 years ago, but now it’s a modern nightmare. Move on.

Next, let’s get more short tracks. In addition to Lucas Oil Raceway Park, let’s find other great short tracks across the country. When it comes to the Xfinity Series and Truck Series, short tracks should represent nearly 70% of the schedule. In the Cup Series, close to half of the races should be held on tracks less than one mile in length.

NASCAR needs to go back to its roots with places like Fairgrounds Speedway in Nashville, Tennessee and Kern County Speedway just two hours outside of Los Angeles, California. Another unique facility I believe NASCAR should visit is Evergreen Speedway in Monroe, Washington. This would not only add another short track facility, but it would attract an unrepresented market in the Pacific Northwest.

To build on the short track idea, NASCAR could also make the tough decision on whether or not NASCAR’s premier series should return to dirt. Eldora Speedway owner Tony Stewart stated that his Rossburg, Ohio dirt track is ready to host Xfinity Series and Cup Series races, an idea that has fans and former NASCAR most popular driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. foaming at the mouth.

Adding more short tracks and a dirt track or two would completely revamp the schedule, giving fans what they have been asking for for years. This step alone could be the difference in NASCAR making a return to prime time or fizzling away in coming years.

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