NASCAR: No sense in speculating about 2020 schedule

By Asher Fair | Apr 7, 2020

Kevin Harvick, Stewart-Haas Racing, NASCAR (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images) /

Until NASCAR confirms any changes to the 2020 schedule, there is no sense in speculating what those changes might be, given the current situation.

The 2020 NASCAR season was brought to an unexpected halt by the coronavirus pandemic after just four Cup Series races, four Xfinity Series races and two Truck Series races had been contested. Seven of the remaining 32 Cup Series races, six of the remaining 29 Xfinity Series races and five of the remaining 21 Truck Series races were then postponed.

Changes to the schedule are coming, although we don’t know what will be changed and when given the fluidity of the situation. NASCAR recently revealed “best-case” scenario schedule to select sources regarding when the 2020 season will be able to start back up.

But even the sources which confirmed this “best-case” scenario have made clear that because we are in a rapidly changing environment, this is one of literally thousands of possibilities.

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Nobody knows the answer. NASCAR doesn’t even know the answer.

But unfortunately, this uncertainty surrounding the global health crisis has led to completely unfounded rumors being spread on social media, and they are rumors that we could all do without.

There are already so-called “sources” saying the season will be canceled and there will be no sports in 2020 — even though 25 Cup Series races, 23 Xfinity Series races and 16 Truck Series races that have still not had their scheduled dates changed whatsoever, despite the initial fallout.

Just stop.

Here’s what you have to remember, aside of the obvious fact that nothing is official until NASCAR confirms it.

We are just three months into a 12-month year. In what world does it make any sense whatsoever to cancel events that are scheduled for November when things are uncertain as it is?

I’m not saying NASCAR should take it week by week, because that would obviously become a headache for everybody if they keep needing to call races off the week they’re scheduled to take place.

There is a balance, and NASCAR has done a good job finding it so far, postponing all races through early May and trying to figure things out in the meantime. That included participation in a phone call with President Donald Trump.

But uncertainty works both ways. It could get bad enough to where that is required, but then again, it might not. We simply don’t know.

There are, of course, a few exceptions where this makes sense, but on a postponement level. The Summer Olympics obviously need to be contested in the summer, and especially with them being an international event, there is justifiable doubt about getting everything set up in a safe environment by July before running in an equally safe environment.

But even they were simply rescheduled until next summer, when there were no Olympic Games scheduled. They weren’t canceled.

There are a few exceptions when it comes to races, too. Postponing races that are scheduled to take place months from now seems to make little sense on one level, because why not wait it out?

But on another level, it does make sense, as certain events, such as street races, take weeks of additional preparation, especially Formula 1 street races given the fact that Formula 1 is an international series.

The Indianapolis 500 fits this description as well, with this race being the most attended single-day sporting event in the world and including a two-week period of on-track activity before the actual event. Even if that race weren’t initially scheduled for May, it likely would’ve been bumped back, just as it has been.

But NASCAR isn’t like this. They don’t need several weeks to prepare for any race on the schedule. They have already made clear that everything is on the table, including running races without fans in the stands, running additional doubleheaders and even running mid-week races. The latter two possibilities are explicitly included in the “best-case” scenario schedule.

The Cup Series season finale is scheduled to take place a week earlier this year than it has in recent years. Phoenix Raceway is scheduled to host the race on Sunday, November 8.

That is 215 days away.

That is seven months and one day or 30 weeks and five days, however you want to frame it, from now.

To put that in perspective, 215 days ago was Thursday, September 5, 2019, two and a half months before even the 2019 season ended. The entire 2019 playoffs and the entire 2019-2020 offseason have taken place since then. The 2019 NFL season began on that date.

So why should NASCAR call off the whole season right now?

There is another layer to this, and that is employment. Sports are considered “non-essential”, which is fine, in itself. They are a form of competition-based entertainment, which is “non-essential”, especially when you consider those on the front lines at a time like this.

But look at how many people are employed in the sports world. Look at how many people make a living working in the industry. Sports are a huge part of the economy. This is more than just a game.

And it’s not just the athletes who make a living from sports, either. The actual athletes make up only a tiny percentage of those employed within the industry. Most notably, they typically won’t be the ones hurting the most if they lose their paychecks, either.

But yes, by all means, “just call off the season already!” — seven months before it is scheduled to end. That makes a lot of sense.

I’m not saying we are guaranteed to see racing this year. Health and well-being takes priority, and this is new territory for everybody, hence NASCAR’s approach. The pandemic could end within the next month. It could end in August. It could continue through 2020. As I have said more times than I’d like to count, we do not know, and I am certainly no doctor

But what’s the best-case scenario for the fans screaming to “just call it off” in early April and pushing the “I’m hearing there won’t be racing this year” rumors? Getting to say “I told you so!” 215 days down the road? Is that really more important than getting to see racing in 2020? Is it really more important than the thousands who could lose their paychecks if we don’t see any more action in 2020?

And even more importantly, understand what cancelling everything would mean: it would mean a horrific situation from a health standpoint prevents anything from happening in 2020.

Yes, it could happen that way. If the environment is not deemed safe enough, there won’t be races in 2020. In one way or another, they will be canceled. But why surrender to that possibility in early April, especially when NASCAR has shown willingness to be flexible if they get the chance?

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The 2020 NASCAR schedule will change from what it is now. That is inevitable. There will be some combination of additional postponements, cancellations, races without fans and/or rescheduled events. But until NASCAR confirms said changes, don’t get caught up in the useless speculation. And above all, stay safe and stay healthy.

For more information about COVID-19, visit the CDC’s website or the website for your state’s Department of Health.