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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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ROSSBURG, OH – JULY 18: Norm Benning, driver of the #6 Zomongo/H&H Transport Chevrolet. (Photo by Matt Sullivan/Getty Images)
ROSSBURG, OH – JULY 18: Norm Benning, driver of the #6 Zomongo/H&H Transport Chevrolet. (Photo by Matt Sullivan/Getty Images) /

Conclusion

To sum up the journey we just went on, NASCAR has a lot of work to do in coming years. The good news is that there are multiple solutions to the scheduling problem.

Once the track contracts expire in 2021, NASCAR has a real shot at turning the sport around on its heels. Instead of traveling to Michigan International Speedway and Pocono Raceway twice a year, we could see Cup Series cars at places like Iowa Speedway and Eldora Speedway.

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Short tracks have to make a return, and road course racing can also be used to create drama without using gimmicks. Less intermediate tracks will be key moving forward.

Trust me. I know scheduling is harder than we all know, but changes have to come. I think NASCAR needs to scale down and re-invest in the sport at the bottom level to regain their past successes.

If you put money into local venues, they can be up to code to host national events, thus drawing back the grassroots crowd the sport has lost over the last decade. Quit worrying about selling 80,000 tickets. Go to more short tracks, sell out 30,000 tickets and put on one heck of a show.

NASCAR knows the solution. It’s now up to them to take the right steps to get there. Keep your eyes peeled for the year 2021, because that will let us know if the guys at the top truly care about the product or just want a quick dollar.

Next: NASCAR Stage Racing: Pros and Cons

Thanks for reading folks! I hope you enjoyed! Let us know what ideas you have for the NASCAR Cup Series schedule, and what you expect to happen in 2021. Make sure you follow along next week as I discuss fans and why they are part of the issue.

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