NASCAR: 3 possible rule changes for the 2023 season

Possible changes for NASCAR: No. 2 – Weekend restructure

To piggyback off the first idea, fewer caution flags would theoretically mean faster races. While most IndyCar and Formula 1 races tend to run in less than two hours, NASCAR has always been at the opposite end of the spectrum. Most of their races are around four hours or longer.

With multiple 500-mile events and a 600-mile race at Charlotte Motor Speedway, it can be easy for fans to lose interest, especially if the on-track action is lacking.

Shortening the race distances is a touchy subject, but the Truck Series and Xfinity Series races seem to have it figured out. The shorter races are well-received, and sponsors still get the same bang for their buck.

Also, using fewer tires and fuel would save teams money in the long run. Ultimately though, this is a decision that heavily involves television, which may never consider such a proposition.

The solution to that may be to rethink the way the series starts the weekend. The past couple of years have featured limited or no practice sessions. Qualifying would follow an abbreviated practice session, which would typically not be televised. If the network could air practice on Friday like it used to, NASCAR may be more receptive to the idea of shorter race distances.