NASCAR and the promising winds of change

NASCAR has been subject to many opinions in terms of the sport’s popularity and outreach, but the 2022 season kicked off in a promising fashion.

The 2022 NASCAR Cup Series season has officially gotten underway, and in a way that only fans, sponsors and partners alike could have hoped for.

After two years of COVID-19 pandemic-related restrictions that led to limited crowds, the sport returned with a sold-out crowd for the 64th running of the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway.

With attendance an ongoing issue throughout the sport’s recent years, a packed house proved to provide the electricity drivers needed to put on a show in the “Great American Race”.

Fresh off a brand-new environment from running the Busch Light Clash at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, which provided a breath of fresh air into the sport, this atmosphere did the same.

NASCAR has recently tried to grow both on and off the track, making moves to improve its entertainment factor as well as its on-track product. They have recently provided a wide range of entertainment acts, including performances by Pitbull and Ice Cube in Los Angeles, California and a performance by Luke Combs in Daytona Beach, Florida.

All in all, the sport has given fans of all backgrounds and markets even more reasons to attend, in addition to seeing the top drivers compete at the highest level of American stock car racing.

Outside of the popularity, the sport and drivers involved have shown a wind of change as well.

Heading into the season with a multitude of driver and team changes, the sport couldn’t have asked for a better start on paper. RFK Racing driver and co-owner Brad Keselowski made a statement when he and teammate Chris Buescher swept the Bluegreen Vacations Duels.

And in an ironic turn of events, the seat that Keselowski vacated for RFK Racing, the #2 Ford at Team Penske, took the checkered flag. Keselowski’s replacement, rookie Austin Cindric, showed the field exactly who he is when he grabbed his first career victory in the Cup Series, and on the grandest stage of them all.

While there may be bumps in the road as NASCAR looks to expand and build on a brand-new Gen 7 car, a new fanbase in a market not touched since the sport raced at Riverside International Raceway and a sold-out crowd for the crown jewel race is exactly what was needed to start the 2022 season.