Reactions: NASCAR Schedule

NASCAR announced plans to realign the Winston Cup schedule in 2004. Under the proposed plan, NASCAR is considering moving races to different tracks in new markets in an effort to reach new fans. Realignment could mean historic tracks such as Darlington, North Carolina Speedway in Rockingham, Atlanta Motor Speedway or Lowe's Motor Speedway in Charlotte could lose one of their two races.

CNNSI.com asked what you would do to solve NASCAR's scheduling issues. Here are some of the most interesting responses.

It's a crime to consider running one race a year at the tracks where this sport started. In the age of cookie-cutter tracks, the historic tracks represent what this sport was and is all about. True NASCAR fans are sick of the look-alike tracks that are void of racing's rich history and glorious past. I don't envy NASCAR's problem of trying to reach out to new markets and, more importantly, new sponsor money, but let's not forget our roots in the process.
--R. Scott Foster, Franklin, Pa.

NASCAR should keep the schedule the same. Stop messing around so much with rules, schedules, etc. Just let these boys do their best and run hard without throwing a wrench into the mix every time.
-- Ryan Peterson, Grand Rapids, Mich.

Take one race away from New Hampshire. The race surface is terrible, and the track has too many bad memories. Move that date to Texas Motor Speedway as a night race in late September or early October. Take the Homestead date and move it to Las Vegas at night, making it the final event of the year. Take one race away from The Rock and Darlington and move them to Nashville and St. Louis. St. Louis, Kansas City and Chicago don't have the fan base to warrant another race date, and they have limited seating capacity. This ain't rocket science stuff. It's about selling tickets and the growth of NASCAR, not just International Speedway Corp. (The Frances' monopoly).
-- Steve Brunston, Arlington, Texas

Hold 36 night races at Bristol!
-- Patrick, Charlotte, N.C.

The West Coast has an untapped NASCAR market and could benefit by adding more West Coast races. I have been eagerly awaiting NASCAR to award a second race date to Fontana. One thing that NASCAR might want to consider is rotating certain races every other year. For instance, they could move the second Atlanta date to a West Coast track one year, then return it the following year. They could repeat this cycle with other track that have two dates. This would allow NASCAR to tap new markets while keeping those historical tracks in the loop.
-- Steve Wise, Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.

Don't forget that New Hampshire and Dover each have two races. Kudos to those historic tracks that helped make NASCAR what it is today. However, times change and new tracks translate into more opportunities to attract both new and longtime fans. It's been a while coming. Tracks don't need two races.
-- Rod Lander, Las Vegas

Each track should be allowed one Winston Cup race per year. This would allow more tracks to be involved without increasing the number of races. Frankly, a 30-race schedule is plenty.
-- Robert Kilgo, Darlington, S.C.

Enough already. This is all about money, not the advancement of racing. Just leave the schedule as it is.
--Joan Solski, Plains, Pa.

NASCAR should banish its road courses to make room for additional races at the newest tracks. Road courses value techniques best left to open-wheel leagues. Most importantly, the costs of preparing for a tiny handful of road races can only add to the advantages already held by well-funded, multi-car teams.
--Josh Howard, Charlotte, N.C.

It's time for a radical change. Have the race tracks bid for dates. No location can have more than two races per year. Also, change the schedule so that there is one race at a super speedway per month, one race at a medium-distance track per month and one at a short track/road course per month. That would also give the teams some time at home to be better prepared.
-- Jim Moody Wasilla, Ala.

NASCAR has twice as many races as Formula One, but only around five more tracks than F1. Lose a couple dates at tracks that are raced twice and put in a few more road courses and other ovals in the schedule. I am new to the sport, but in a country the size of the U.S., there must be more race tracks. If not, come to Europe. There are a lot of NASCAR fans over here as well.
-- Michael Hijzelendoorn, Zoetermeer, The Netherlands

Start and end the season in Daytona. Run the season in between the two biggest events in NASCAR at its most famous track.
-- Thomas George, Feasterville, Pa.

 

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