Interest builds around possible changes to NASCAR schedule

Charlie Spencer said:
Seriously? I'll bet it would take less than a day to get two pages here on "What (Stupid) Change Will NASCAR Implement Next?"
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I cant think of any of the top of my head..... but fire away I am interested to hear about even MORE changes
 
Snappy D said:
I cant think of any of the top of my head..... but fire away I am interested to hear about even MORE changes
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Sealed engines. Weekly spoiler adjustments based on model performance (spoiler BOP). Do they still have minimum driver weight? If not, bring that back. Lucky Dog for first car two laps down, three laps, etc. Pitting under green only (something I personally favor).

And that's without even getting ridiculous.
 
Charlie Spencer said:
Sealed engines. Weekly spoiler adjustments based on model performance (spoiler BOP). Do they still have minimum driver weight? If not, bring that back. Lucky Dog for first car two laps down, three laps, etc. Pitting under green only (something I personally favor).

And that's without even getting ridiculous.
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sealed engine numbers are increased for next year. ;)
 
But that's another possible change. Nothing I tossed out is likely (although I'm still hoping for green-only stops); they're just to demonstrate there's plenty of room for NASCAR to change.
 
Charlie Spencer said:
But that's another possible change. Nothing I tossed out is likely (although I'm still hoping for green-only stops); they're just to demonstrate there's plenty of room for NASCAR to change.
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no man, they already came up with that change added more sealed engines, hard to tell how many more with their press release (I guess I confused the censor)..and there is the long off season to come up with more.
 
gota get those haters stirred up

Marcus Smith: "Great racing" doesn't require schedule changes
“But the biggest thing that we have coming up that I am most excited about is the racing this year. I think that what we started with the All-Star Race in 2018 really sowed some great seeds for racing package for 2019.

“I can’t wait for that package to hit the track. Daytona is going to be fantastic, then Atlanta and Las Vegas I think are going to be really great. That will play into how we think about the years going forward.”

https://www.motorsport.com/nascar-cup/news/marcus-smith-possible-schedule-changes/4330431/
 
I can understand where Smith is coming from as the schedule is so full it is impossible to add dates and how many track owners are willing to add another configuration for another date?

If current tracks can produce good racing then everyone forgets about a different schedule. Will people like watching drivers flat footing around in packs with severely choked down engines? It is possible we’re about to find out.
 
StandOnIt said:
gota get those haters stirred up

Marcus Smith: "Great racing" doesn't require schedule changes
“But the biggest thing that we have coming up that I am most excited about is the racing this year. I think that what we started with the All-Star Race in 2018 really sowed some great seeds for racing package for 2019.

“I can’t wait for that package to hit the track. Daytona is going to be fantastic, then Atlanta and Las Vegas I think are going to be really great. That will play into how we think about the years going forward.”

https://www.motorsport.com/nascar-cup/news/marcus-smith-possible-schedule-changes/4330431/
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I disagree with your use of the term hater. There is a strong contingent of race fans that enjoy watching a speed contest put on by skillful drivers. They don’t want to trade in racing like that for low horse power, flat footing pack racing.

It doesn’t make those race fans haters it makes them people who know what they like and don’t want to see it changed.
 
FLRacingFan said:
Temper your expectations of massive Cup schedules changes? Probably a good idea.

Marcus Smith: "Great racing" doesn't require schedule changes
https://www.motorsport.com/nascar-cup/news/marcus-smith-possible-schedule-changes/4330431/
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Caution is probably warranted regardless, given the glacial pace at which schedule changes have occurred generally.

That said, I'm not sure Marcus Smith is in a position to be calling the shots aside from the dates SMI will retain. Schedule realignment will depend on how much momentum there is on the NASCAR / ISC side and pressure from the TV networks.

We already know that Smith is among the biggest proponents of the new package and believes it is the cure for what bores him. In his own words, that silliness at the All-Star Race last year was the first time he'd ever felt like paying close attention to a race at his own track.

I judge him thusly. He had a good idea with the Roval though, I'll give him due credit there.
 
Yeah Smith was obviously intoxicated by all of the fans on their feet screaming at the track, and the noise from the big players in suites on both sides of him. Nascar should have checked with the experts here first who know what REAL racing is. I do think some of them here were still picking crow feathers out of their teeth from that crazy Roval idea though.
 
gnomesayin said:
Lots of fans, pundits, and industry people were super excited about the low downforce experiments back in 2015 too. Which is now the boring scourge they're trying to fix and get away from. Lots of people like shiny new things.
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A lot of people like the flavor of the day until it is a different day and the next shiny happy thing comes along.
 
I understand @StandOnIt's preference and why he is in favor of the new rules. I don't agree, but I respect his reasons as someone who watched closely before and after. Marcus Smith is a showman and would likely be in favor of figure 8 races and stage cautions with 5 laps to go. There is a need for promoters, but I don't take his "great racing" comments seriously.
 
gnomesayin said:
I understand @StandOnIt's preference and why he is in favor of the new rules. I don't agree, but I respect his reasons as someone who watched closely before and after. Marcus Smith is a showman and would likely be in favor of figure 8 races and stage cautions with 5 laps to go. There is a need for promoters, but I don't take his "great racing" comments seriously.
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I like the racing from last year and I don’t need to justify it.
 
gnomesayin said:
Caution is probably warranted regardless, given the glacial pace at which schedule changes have occurred generally.

That said, I'm not sure Marcus Smith is in a position to be calling the shots aside from the dates SMI will retain. Schedule realignment will depend on how much momentum there is on the NASCAR / ISC side and pressure from the TV networks.

We already know that Smith is among the biggest proponents of the new package and believes it is the cure for what bores him. In his own words, that silliness at the All-Star Race last year was the first time he'd ever felt like paying close attention to a race at his own track.

I judge him thusly. He had a good idea with the Roval though, I'll give him due credit there.
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I personally don't think there will be more than one, maybe two 'big' changes at the Cup level - if any. I agree about that. And the money at the Cup level is still too big for many major moves to take place. I do think Xfinity and Truck will continue to be changed. If those events do well, they'll get a shot at Cup eventually. Unfortunately, a place like Iowa still has a lot of work to do to justify a Cup race.
 
I would be very surprised if any tracks lost a Cup date , especially the ISC tracks. SMI won't lose any races either.
The France family didn't build this empire by being stupid. They control the majority of the tracks and control 75% of the 8 billion dollar TV contract. Plus ISC/France owns AmeriCrown concessions which supplies all ISC tracks. The France family controls about 7 slices of the money pie. Anyone with common sense would not give that control and money up.
Why would they movda race to an independent track and Nascar/France only make 10% of the money.
Would all you common sense people give up the money?
Plus if you think SMI doesn't have anything to say about schedule changes, let Nascar try it. Then we will see two billionaire families going out in a steel.cage match. Smith will bring out the big guns of the monopoly Nascar/ France has is scheduling races. Just think back to the early 2000s boom of track building. That's right all ISC.
I am still shocked that Kentucky Speedway lost in court.
 
I think Smith's recent public statements, are about it's all over but the haggling looking between the lines. It's about who is going to pay for the upgrades to the track, the fair board or SMI? and how big is the cut of the pie and the length of the contract for SMI. Nascar didn't fool around with Iowa, the track wasn't making a decent buck, they just went in and bought the thing. SMI doesn't have that luxury with Nashville. I wouldn't hold my breath about cup going there anytime soon, but The trucks for sure and probably the Xfinity cars will show up there. Now that Nascar owns both ARCA and K&N I can see them going there a lot
 
StandOnIt said:
I think Smith's recent public statements, are about it's all over but the haggling looking between the lines. It's about who is going to pay for the upgrades to the track, the fair board or SMI? and how big is the cut of the pie and the length of the contract for SMI. Nascar didn't fool around with Iowa, the track wasn't making a decent buck, they just went in and bought the thing. SMI doesn't have that luxury with Nashville. I wouldn't hold my breath about cup going there anytime soon, but The trucks for sure and probably the Xfinity cars will show up there. Now that Nascar owns both ARCA and K&N I can see them going there a lot
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Reading between the lines it sounds like taxpayers hard earned dollars will be asked for.
 
They are making big money as it is, But France might be going to gamble some of it going to different tracks, I don't think they would be hurting to do so if that is where they are heading when they say "meaningful changes"
 
FLRacingFan said:
Surprising they're actually evaluating this. That would be A LOT on the chopping block.

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IMO 36 races might have made sense 10-20 years ago but 26-28 seems in line with demand now. Move as many races away from competition with the NFL and kill off tracks that either aren’t conducive to good racing or have poor attendance.
 
StandOnIt said:
They are making big money as it is, But France might be going to gamble some of it going to different tracks, I don't think they would be hurting to do so if that is where they are heading when they say "meaningful changes"
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Someone in Nascar is trying to line up supply with demand and I applaud the wisdom. I’m guessing a lot of that “profit” you like to reference comes from broadcast money. IDK what NASCAR’s next broadcast deal will look like but with plummeting ratings and a terrible demographic it would be smart to plan on receiving less. If they get more that is great!
 
FLRacingFan said:
Surprising they're actually evaluating this. That would be A LOT on the chopping block.

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Wow. This is a surprisingly frank response from Phelps, and I don't know what possible motivation he would have to float it unless the chances of contraction are very strong. Why would you telegraph that, including the "meaningful 2020 changes" and then have nothing much change?

From the broad commercial standpoint, I've long thought that they need to be racing more during the summer, including mid-week, and end the season earlier. Kind of what Keselowski said, but 50 races is probably a tad much. :D
 
gnomesayin said:
Wow. This is a surprisingly frank response from Phelps, and I don't know what possible motivation he would have to float it unless the chances of contraction are very strong. Why would you telegraph that, including the "meaningful 2020 changes" and then have nothing much change?

From the broad commercial standpoint, I've long thought that they need to be racing more during the summer, including mid-week, and end the season earlier. Kind of what Keselowski said, but 50 races is probably a tad much. :D
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I felt guilty posting on this thread without checking with you first but I’m glad things were ok:D JMO but I think if Nascar could strive to get finished up by Labor Day it would be of real benefit to everyone concerned. My guess is that several races will be shortened in the next few years and some midweek stuff will be thrown in. You could still have 28 races and get the season ended before it gets killed by football.
 
IanMcVittie said:
I felt guilty posting on this thread without checking with you first but I’m glad things were ok:D JMO but I think if Nascar could strive to get finished up by Labor Day it would be of real benefit to everyone concerned. My guess is that several races will be shortened in the next few years and some midweek stuff will be thrown in. You could still have 28 races and get the season ended before it gets killed by football.
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man, this is super fan stuff right here.
 
gnomesayin said:
Wow. This is a surprisingly frank response from Phelps, and I don't know what possible motivation he would have to float it unless the chances of contraction are very strong. Why would you telegraph that, including the "meaningful 2020 changes" and then have nothing much change?

From the broad commercial standpoint, I've long thought that they need to be racing more during the summer, including mid-week, and end the season earlier. Kind of what Keselowski said, but 50 races is probably a tad much. :D
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mid week short track night races would do it for me. Kez is on the right track.
 
I've long been an advocate of shrinking the schedule (and been crucified for it) and I'm glad to see NASCAR is at least thinking about it. At the VERY least, I would lop two weeks off both ends of the schedule., effectively making February and November off months. I'm willing to consider the mid-week race idea, but somebody is going to have to explain to me how it's going to work for the average NASCAR fan that comes from much farther away to attend races, and would the TV number on a weeknight for NASCAR not be a disaster? While it's technically feasible, I think attendance AND viewership would take further hits that the sport can't really afford. I would be more of a fan of a double header of sorts, like maybe running Richmond or Bristol on a Friday night and running Martinsville on Sunday.
 
If we count the Charlotte ROVAL™ as a separate track, we have 24 Cup tracks - so only four would get second dates AT MOST. I could imagine 32 races, but I'd trust Stern's word if he says there are rumblings of 28. I'm just surprised.

I definitely think a summer midweek stretch would be a good concept to try out. The less you compete against football the better.
 
StandOnIt said:
man, this is super fan stuff right here.
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With all the “profit” Nascar makes on races why do you think they would cut races that are profitable? Do you think some of the races are unprofitable and Nascar will make even more dough by cutting them? I defer to your judgement
 
Maybe Jim France thinks if he rejuvenates the sport, he will make more money than he would lose by making changes. I don't know that he is all about the money anyway. I would venture to say that over the life of the Grand Am Series, he probably dumped a LOT more money into it than he could ever hope to get out of, but it was a labor of love for him and an attempt top provide a cost effective stable platform for American sports car racing. Sadly, a LOT of the good ideas got flushed with the ALMS merger and the creation of the new IMSA, but that's another story.
 
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