One of the hottest topics surrounding NASCAR over the last few years has been regarding the Sprint Cup Series schedule. The schedule, that spans across 36 weekends along with five non-points races, has not changed much over the last few years. Could NASCAR be looking at possible changes for 2018 and beyond?
Adam Stern, a motorsports journalist with the Sports Business Journal, sent out this photo on Monday with a quote from Jon Miller, President of Programming for NBC Sports.
.@NASCAR and industry stakeholders are studying the possibility of adding midweek races to future schedules – https://t.co/iDy9BdNUwq pic.twitter.com/4nNnIbXaw3
— Adam Stern (@A_S12) December 12, 2016
Could NASCAR be eying the possibility of midweek races? It’s a talk that has been growing among the masses of NASCAR nation on social media and something that is very interesting to say the least.
Having midweek races would certainly not help attendance because majority of people work throughout the week. With that in mind, it doesn’t shut the door entirely. NASCAR could host these proposed midweek races at smaller facilities all over the country and would increase the number of television viewers. Television numbers for NASCAR have been down over the last few years and could use a spark with the addition of short track and other events.
Another concern is that teams would have a short turnaround time between race to race. This is, in part, a major concern. One way to help with the turnaround time would be like in July, when NASCAR races at Daytona International Speedway, have the premier series race on their road course during the week on Wednesday. Having one or two more additional road course events is something, in my honest opinion, NASCAR needs to have on their schedule.
With all of this in mind, it could also hurt the event leading up to the weekend. Having an event on the road course could also take away from folks attending the Coke Zero 400 or vise-versa.
The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, the AA of NASCAR, has hosted a midweek race at Eldora Speedway over the last four years. The half-mile dirt oval puts on one of the best shows all year long on the NASCAR stage and is one of the most anticipated events all year long. So much so that NASCAR nation take to social media asking NASCAR to add a dirt track race somewhere in the XFINITY and Sprint Cup Series schedule. Perhaps that midweek races could open the opportunity for a Sprint Cup Series race on dirt.
NASCAR stepping into prime-time midweek events would join other sports leagues to do so. If NASCAR decides to have midweek races, it should come in the summer portion of the schedule as it could prevent some from attending because of school or other activities the following day if not.
What do you think about the possibility of midweek races? Tweet me your responses on Twitter @NASCAR_BRETT.
About Me: Brett has been following the sport of NASCAR since the beginning of the 2006 NASCAR Sprint Cup season. Since Brett was 13, he has had a passion of chasing a job in sports that not many get the opportunity of doing. He has been in the NASCAR media since the middle of the 2010 season. Since then, he has been a part of many racing podcast shows to improve his talents. He has written for racingonfuel.com and theracingwheel.com. Currently, Brett writes for motorsportsnat.com and TracksideChatter.com. You can find him on twitter @NASCAR_Brett.
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