Race Weekend Central

2-Headed Monster: Should NASCAR Run All 36 Races When the Season Restarts?

The COVID-19 pandemic has created a very trying time for everyone. The aftermath of it will present major problems for a lot of people, including NASCAR, which was recently dealt another big blow due to the pandemic.

Virginia Governor Ralph Northam recently issued a stay-at-home order that will run through June 10. The order is the largest we’ve seen in any state and has put NASCAR in a tough boat for two of its short track races. The race at Richmond Raceway in Richmond, Virginia, had already been postponed, but the May 9 race at Martinsville Speedway was scheduled to be NASCAR’s return to action.

Gov. Northam’s stay-at-home order won’t only force NASCAR to postpone the Martinsville race. It also means the make-up races wouldn’t come until July 1 at the earliest. With so many races being postponed and expected to be postponed, it brings up an interesting question.

Once the season starts back up, does it make sense for NASCAR to run all 36 races this season? The stress placed on the teams, drivers and NASCAR will be unbelievable, and it may make more sense to cut some races from the schedule to ease the burden. Our writers Clayton Caldwell and Mark Kristl debate.

For the Best Interest of NASCAR, All 36 Should Be Held

Recently, Virginia’s governor ordered a stay-at-home clause that will run through June 10, which would put the Richmond and Martinsville races scheduled for April later in the season.

According to NASCAR, neither race will be eligible for doubleheader weekends because their second dates are playoff races, events which the sanctioning body would rather stand on their own. This means that both races will have to be scheduled in July or August, making it very difficult for them to run, especially since there are going to be several races that will need to be rescheduled.

I believe it is in NASCAR’s best interest to run as many races as possible this season. I know NASCAR and the teams will have a lot of work ahead of them once the season gets restarted, but most of the teams and NASCAR are fully capable of handling the workload.

Sure, it will be a tough turnaround for teams if we run several midweek races and doubleheader weekends, but the tracks, sponsors and NASCAR need a 36-race schedule.

A good portion of the money earned by NASCAR these days comes from the luxurious television deal struck with Fox and NBC. If they are not even able to make up even one race, that could mean a significant pay cut for everyone involved, including the race teams who also rely on the television money through both their charters and their season-ending points payout.

I think NASCAR should work with the teams as best as they can to make the field as full as possible. I know the rules say that teams with a charter must run all 36 races in order to keep it, but for the 2020 season, that rule should be voided. Let these smaller teams pick and choose the races they want to enter. Make the limit 30 races instead of 36. I believe this is the best way to keep the sport healthy and competitive down the stretch. There also could be several other things NASCAR could do to help the smaller teams make the majority of the races.

That rule would only affect a handful of teams. Other teams are competitive enough to make the playoffs with a win at Talladega or Daytona. However, for the best interest of the sport, a phrase a lot of folks need to remember in this trying time, NASCAR and the teams need to work together to run all 36 races.

Plus, think about the fans who bought tickets to the races that have been postponed. What if they are Jimmie Johnson fans who have been waiting all year to see their driver race one more time? They bought tickets to the Martinsville race because they wanted to see him before he says goodbye. Should those fans get shafted because some smaller race teams may not be able to make it to that event? I don’t think that would be in the best interest of the sport.

Plus, if we run 34 races, fans and media members alike will put an asterisk next to the 2020 season because we didn’t run the full slate. Is that fair to that driver and team? Keep in mind, this would be all because a handful of smaller teams couldn’t make it to the racetrack every race.

Also, what about the race sponsors that signed a contract to be a part of NASCAR’s 2020 race schedule? Sponsors like QuikTrip, Dixie Vodka, Food City, O’Reilly Auto Parts and Geico? What are they supposed to do? Is NASCAR supposed to look at those companies and tell them that they can’t run those races because a handful of teams may not be able to make it to the track? I just find that absurd.

I also think about the new tiered sponsorship in place for the sport. Remember Geico, Coca-Cola, Xfinity and Busch Beer signed on to be top-tier sponsors in NASCAR new model for the Cup Series. The way the model has been said to work is that some sponsors may have more exposure at some tracks than others. So what we are saying is that because a handful of teams cannot make it to the track, we should tell these sponsors that even though they paid a similar amount, some may have more premier races than others. To me that is not in the best interest of the sport.

In the end, I believe most teams have the capability and desire to run all 36 races no matter when or how they are run. It would be in the best interest of NASCAR to run all the races this season. There’s no doubt NASCAR and the Race Team Alliance (RTA) will have to work together to come up with a solution for the five or six teams that may not be able to make it to the track with the races being so frequent. However, I wouldn’t let those handful of teams dictate the schedule.  – Clayton Caldwell

NASCAR Needs to Cut its Losses

COVID-19 has forced the world into uncharted times. Nonessential businesses have been closed in numerous states, including North Carolina. Team employees cannot work in their respective race shops. NASCAR remains insistent on running all 36 races of the Cup Series schedule. But whenever the series can resume, the timetable will be too tight. NASCAR should not attempt to run all 36 races.

NASCAR has postponed races for all its sanctioned series. Teams are left in limbo. When will the races be run? There are a few rumors and proposals, but nothing concrete has been established. Without an end in sight for this pandemic, NASCAR cannot reschedule any dates yet – it does not want to have to alter any rescheduled races.

Reportedly, NASCAR wanted to have a revised schedule for this season as early as two weeks ago. However, that never came to fruition.

Under the best-case scenario, NASCAR racing will resume beginning on May 9 at Martinsville Speedway. With the stay-at-home order from Gov. Northam, that is in jeopardy. NASCAR is contemplating running the race without fans.

But what does the postponement of seven races mean for the schedule? To begin with, NASCAR wants to run all its races, but not change the playoffs.

Unless NASCAR is willing to either alter the playoff schedule or temporarily abolish the playoff format, this puts the sport into a tight situation. This further becomes complicated if rain forces the postponement of more races.

Logistically, if NASCAR opts to go with doubleheaders, midweek races and other ways to ensure all races are completed this year, it becomes more difficult for the race tracks, teams and fans.

If you have ever attended a race, you followed peoples’ orders on where to park your car. You went through security, bought some items and you used the restroom. All of those require people and resources. Two races in one week becomes a strain on those racetracks.

The added time and costs for the cleaning crews, the security, the vendors, etc., coupled with the additional items needed becomes a challenge for a racetrack. Where, for example, would a racetrack store the extra garbage bags?

Two races in one week becomes a strain on personnel at the racetrack. TV crews, photographers, etc., all would have to stay someplace much longer, spend extra money on food and bring more clothes, or spend money somewhere on laundry. Would they be compensated enough to make up for those added costs?

Midweek races also could annoy local residents. A Wednesday night race at a track would impact local traffic; fans would be going to the track whereas residents would be heading home from work.

All teams, especially lower-tier and open teams, are affected by a midweek race or weekend doubleheader. A midweek race means teams must secure lodging, food, etc., for its members for a longer period. If fans are allowed to attend those races, teams could be left scrounging for lodging.

Additionally, if a driver damages a race car, the team must either send it back to its race shop or repair it at the track. The well-funded teams should be able to deal with that, but underfunded teams could struggle to handle it.

The teams also have a smaller amount of time to transport everything to the race track. Consider this: The last three Cup Series races of this season are in three different time zones. Add in either a midweek race or a doubleheader and teams have even less time to transport equipment and personnel to race tracks. As a result, the racing itself may suffer – more drivers could struggle with the handling on their race car due to less preparation by their team.

Although NASCAR has not yet decided on the Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway, if the race takes place, fans probably will not be allowed. Whenever fans are allowed to attend races, a midweek race or a doubleheader may not garner the same fans at both races.

Unless ticket prices are lowered, will fans spend money to attend two Cup Series races at a track in the same week? Like the teams, attending two races means more money spent on gas, food, etc., for fans. Will fans be willing to spend more when they could stay at home and watch the races on TV?

Furthermore, the coronavirus has financially impacted countless people. Fans often plan their vacations around going to a race weekend. If those fans moved their vacations to continue receiving a paycheck during this pandemic, they may not be able to attend races.

Midweek races, especially during the summertime, may not attain the same ratings as a race at the same track that weekend. Many people are not currently receiving a paycheck. When people can return to work, they may decide to work overtime to recoup some money. Working overtime may outweigh coming home early to watch a race.

If there are two races at the same racetrack in one week, would you tune in to watch both? Depending on when the rescheduled races take place, some fans may spend that time outside enjoying the summer weather. Large gatherings are banned right now. Would people want to watch a race during the week or spend time with their family and friends?

It is a crazy world in which we are currently living. If NASCAR cancels those races, Fox Sports will lose around $35 million in ad revenue. I understand why NASCAR wants to run all its races. But the strain and possibility those races could further harm the sport once racing resumes are too big of obstacles to overcome.

No, I do not have the answers to how to make up for the money lost by Fox Sports, the racetracks, NASCAR, etc., but I also do not see an outcome where NASCAR has 36 Cup Series races this season and all of them are successful. – Mark Kristl

About the author

Clayton has been writing NASCAR for the last seven years and has followed the sport for as long as he can remember. He's a Jersey boy with dreams of hoping one day to take his style south and adding a different kind of perspective to auto racing.

Sign up for the Frontstretch Newsletter

A daily email update (Monday through Friday) providing racing news, commentary, features, and information from Frontstretch.com
We hate spam. Your email address will not be sold or shared with anyone else.

15 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
sb

This could be the perfect opportunity for Nascar to try out some of the ideas they have for shortening the race season, and see how realistic it is to have double headers or mid week races. The chances are that most fans aren’t going to have the extra income to attend races they might want to. Gas, hotels, ticket prices, meals…it all adds up. Why not use this truncated season to try out new ideas? The chances that this season would be ‘regular’ are shot. Also, doing away with the ‘playoff’ (!) would make much more sense. Allowing smaller teams to pick and choose would help keep them on the track. time to get creative.

Bill B

Predictions….
If any races are run they will be without spectators.
There will be less than 36 races run, probably less than 30.
They will have to radically change the playoffs or scrap them altogether.
There will be fewer than 35 teams showing up each week. Smaller upstart teams may fold just like a lot of smaller businesses in the larger world will vanish.
And, sadly, Jimmie will announce that, given the way this year has unfolded, next year will be his final season.

DoninAjax

I guess you read the USA Today article from yesterday. I guess J-Jo hasn’t been shown enough love so far. I’m not surprised he found an excuse to do it again.

Bill B

No I did not read anything in USA, I really was just taking a guess. I just started thinking, “what would piss me off the most”, and it came to me.

DoninAjax

What would piss me off the most would be keeping the chase IF (a big IF) they run any events at all.

Bill B

Yeah, you’re right. That would be worse.

john

I don’t care how or where or when they race, I want to see all the races. We go all winter without racing and then Feb. comes and all is good. Lets race !

Brian

NASCAR needs to be smart about this season and for a variety of reasons should not attempt to run all 36 events. The fans are already screwed so all of the talk about how this affects the fans who might have come to the races need to wake up and realize that ship has sailed. Years ago even. Fans will come to the races but will not likely travel as far. Many of the mid week races other than turn around time for the truckers and crews at the shop will not place a big burden on the teams as those races should be held within reasonable driving distance of Charlotte. Issue will be more on the tracks and personnel for holding the races. Easy-ish solution there would be reduce the seating sections and thus need fewer people to “work” the race.

NASCAR needs to scrap the playoffs this year and do season long championship like it used to be. Right now the teams basically did not have time for “playoff strategies” to play into the races this season so there is not much advantage or disadvantage there. Season likely will end up being closer to 28-30 races as at this point logistics on its own likely prevent running a 36 race schedule. The stages point can remain, the “playoff point” can be just added into the total. As for Fox and NBC ad revenue, that may already be affected just from businesses and companies shuttering or greatly reducing marketing budgets. Yes it sucks for all involved but everybody on the planet has had lives ripped apart in some fashion so it is what it is.

TP

Why would NASCAR consider running a non-fan attendance race in a state that has enacted a stay-at-home order? What municipality in their right mind would allow hundreds of people from out of state for a weekend? There will be some level of interaction with local residents.

Bruce Smith

The racing won’t return until Jun or July probably. It will be next to impossible to run 36 races.

Ricardo

Now THIS I would bet on!!

steve

I realize people need to fill space in their columns, but these articles are pointless. Nobody knows how long this will last, so until we do, there is no point in speculating on when we will get started, how many races they will run, or what playoff format they will use. The writers in the other sports are doing it too, but it really is a pointless exercise until we have a better idea as to when things will be getting back to normal.

Bill B

Agree but an even more pointless exercise is writing about, talking about and watching iuRacing. Trying to act like it is any kind of substitute for real racing even in the slightest degree is insulting. If my choice is between talking about this or the other, I’d prefer this. At least it is real.

wildcatsfan2016

Bill boy do I agree with you about the iracing and the related articles. I haven’t watched any of them. After reading one article about how cool it was, well, I won’t bother reading any more about it.

I see NBC has now gotten into the act and will do its own iracing challenge.

Aww poor Jimmy. He can’t just retire without having a fuss made over him at every track.

phil h

hell, run into December. It’s warm in Florida and out west! Drop The Rag!!

Share via