Daytona 500 to be moved to November?

BobbyFord

BobbyFord

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This week, sources within NASCAR told me [CTR] there has been closed door discussions to move the date of the Daytona 500, to November. Apparently, NASCAR is intrigued by the idea of switching the dates of the season ending Homestead race with the season opening Daytona 500. The allure of ending the NASCAR season and crowning a new Nextel Cup champion at the sports biggest race is something the France family is strongly considering. NASCAR and the International Speedway Corporation own both tracks so a change of date would be easy to accomplish. For the past 25 years, NASCAR has led off the season in Daytona Beach, FL with the sports biggest race, the Daytona 500. In 2008, NASCAR will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Daytona 500 on February 17th for what may be the final time ever in the month of February. Sources said the late Bill France Jr. was very much against moving the Daytona 500 and felt that it would hurt the integrity of the sport. NASCAR does not intend to have a final decision regarding the date change until the end of the 2007 season.(CTR-Captain Thunder Racing)(7-5-2007)
 
Integrity?

I thought the integrity had already had already been lost when they took the Labor Day race from Darlington. If they keep up the recent changes it will be based on can we make more money if we change the dates.
 
I've said this in the past and I'll say it again. NASCAR is going to go in the direction they choose and for well over 50 years, they've made the right decisions. The sport has grown and grown and now not just the track owners and the France family, the drivers are also millionaires. We as fans have to make up our minds as to whether or not we will continue to watch the sport. And they, NASCAR and the rest, are going to make more money whether you like it or not. And what has anyone out there got against that? Obviously they haven't ticked you off enough to forego the sport, but it seems that the same people continue to gripe about this and that, and for the most part, it's about the money that the France family makes. If you don't like it, don't support it.

As for the move to November, I think that could be a good decision for the sport. First off, yes, it's the biggest race of the season, but as we all know, it can be a crap shoot and if the points are close, well I think you get the picture. Homestead is a good track now, but you won't see 43 cars in a group going around the track like you do at Daytona.
 
since I go to the race in Homestead...whether it is the opener or the last race of the season it's fine with me ;)
that said, I don't think they should mess with Daytona
 
I can't say I'm totally against it but, it sure would be nice if Nascar would try to keep some things traditional. Ratings have proven that their push to blow off the old die hard fans and attract the young kids with short attention spans is working. Ratings are down as a whole but up with the younger crowd. But hey, as long as the announcers become more of the focus, I would expect ratings to plummet even further.
 
Nope! The 500 is THE over a week-long build up to the whole season. I doubt seriously they are even considering changing it to the end of the years racing. There is too much to lose by not having it as the first race.
Betsy
 
But they could start and end with Daytona instead of Homestead. Just put Homestead or who ever can pay the freight for the 7/4 race.
 
where was homestead on the calendar back when atlanta ended the season?
 
was it even on it?

I could care-less were the 500 is. I have been watching less and less over the past few years.
 
Lap3Forever said:
was it even on it?

I could care-less were the 500 is. I have been watching less and less over the past few years.
Click to expand...

Don't say it...don't say it...hold it in...
woman_with_hand_over_mouth.jpg


Whew...that was close... :D
 
Betsy said:
Nope! The 500 is THE over a week-long build up to the whole season. I doubt seriously they are even considering changing it to the end of the years racing. There is too much to lose by not having it as the first race.
Betsy
Click to expand...

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

What she said.
 
Helton scoffs at Daytona 500 move

Whenever the Nextel Cup Series visits Daytona, home to NASCAR and International Speedway Corp., rumors seem to proliferate.

According to one published report, NASCAR has been discussing a schedule change that would move its most prestigious race, the season-opening Daytona 500, to November.

NASCAR president Mike Helton scoffed at the notion. "That one was a surprise to me," Helton said of the report. "But I've been surprised before.
 
I would be pretty unhappy with a decision like that. I can't stand plate racing in the first place. It is bad enough in my opinion that a plate race even counts in the points standings at all. I can't imagine the championship being decided by who can avoid "the big one". :mad:

That being said, they don't give a $hit about what I think anyway. They have proven that us long time fans don't matter to them in many ways already.
 
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