Interest builds around possible changes to NASCAR schedule

Who in the **** asked for 900 miles at Pocono in a single weekend?

There will be two NASCAR Cup Series races on consecutive days at the “Tricky Triangle,” the first a Saturday affair and the second occurring in the track’s standard Sunday slot.
 
ChexOrWrex said:
Who in the **** asked for 900 miles at Pocono in a single weekend?

There will be two NASCAR Cup Series races on consecutive days at the “Tricky Triangle,” the first a Saturday affair and the second occurring in the track’s standard Sunday slot.
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Confirmed that both races will be on the oval. This is big news here in NEPA. It was the top story on our 6 o'clock news...

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Race Across America is what NASCAR "needs".

5 races in two weeks (w/ a Cannonball Run feel to it)

Daytona Race
- Drivers hop into their manufacturer's showroom street car and drive to Tennessee
Bristol Motorspeedway Race
- drive manufacturer's showroom street car to Texas
Texas Motorspeedway Race
- drive manufacturer's showroom street car to Arizona
ISM Race
- drive manufacturer's showroom street car to California
Sonoma Race

:D
 
Dover on August 23 or Indy on July 4...both day races...ouch.

Was not expecting the big Bristol change. Kinda surprised there hasn't been an outrage over that. Glad I'm going this year to the August race...I couldn't go in September.

Glad that Martinsville and Atlanta got much better spring dates.

Only 3 1.5 mile tracks in the Playoffs...oh how times have changed.

As much as I respect @KodiakRusty89 I think a double-header at Pocono will reinvigorate the track. I would not pay $100 to see a 400 mile race there driving to/from...I've done it and won't do it again because that's a lot of $$$ and driving for a 2.5 hour race that's hit-or-miss. But I would pay $250 for two races, support division race, Friday activity, and camp at the track. That makes it a real vacation and a LOT of racing.
 
KodiakRusty89 said:
First local reaction to the Pocono move...

https://wnep.com/2019/03/26/nascar-plans-race-doubleheader-in-2020-at-pocono-raceway/
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"I don't know. I kind of like it the way it is. It's a tradition. I've been doing this since I was little. It's a family thing to go to all the races," said James Woodard, Albrightsville.

I fail to see how this could break up his family tradition. People just don't like change but this is a good move for NASCAR and hopfhopef it happens at other tracks.
 
One thing to keep in mind is that this schedule likely won’t be in place for long. NASCAR sounds like they are committed to cutting several races from the schedule so it will all change again.

I also think it is fair to say that Nascar doesn’t know how any of this will play out and is hoping for the best. The racing will be the same but just some dates have been moved around.
 
Ventisca said:
Race Across America is what NASCAR "needs".

5 races in two weeks (w/ a Cannonball Run feel to it)

Daytona Race
- Drivers hop into their manufacturer's showroom street car and drive to Tennessee
Bristol Motorspeedway Race
- drive manufacturer's showroom street car to Texas
Texas Motorspeedway Race
- drive manufacturer's showroom street car to Arizona
ISM Race
- drive manufacturer's showroom street car to California
Sonoma Race

:D
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You have my vote to take over from Jimmy France.
 
Simple Fan said:
"I don't know. I kind of like it the way it is. It's a tradition. I've been doing this since I was little. It's a family thing to go to all the races," said James Woodard, Albrightsville.

I fail to see how this could break up his family tradition. People just don't like change but this is a good move for NASCAR and hopfhopef it happens at other tracks.
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I like the idea too. As someone who lives in the Midwest with Kansas being the only track under 10 hours away, I have done some significant traveling to get to cup races in the past (including air travel). I would of loved the idea of a double header weekend after all the effort it took to get there.
 
Speedbowl14 said:
Dover on August 23 or Indy on July 4...both day races...ouch.

Was not expecting the big Bristol change. Kinda surprised there hasn't been an outrage over that. Glad I'm going this year to the August race...I couldn't go in September.

Glad that Martinsville and Atlanta got much better spring dates.

Only 3 1.5 mile tracks in the Playoffs...oh how times have changed.

As much as I respect @KodiakRusty89 I think a double-header at Pocono will reinvigorate the track. I would not pay $100 to see a 400 mile race there driving to/from...I've done it and won't do it again because that's a lot of $$$ and driving for a 2.5 hour race that's hit-or-miss. But I would pay $250 for two races, support division race, Friday activity, and camp at the track. That makes it a real vacation and a LOT of racing.
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See I don't need a Pocono vacation because I live 45 minutes from the track. And I'm not a drinker/partier so I have interest to camp and be around that nonsense all weekend in the late June heat, humidity and thunderstorms. Due to the tracks proximity to NYC and Philly, Pocono pulls a huge portion of its crowd from a 2-4 hour radius which means it's people who are coming in for the day. They're not staying in hotels or camping as it is.

Martinsville this past weekend and Kentucky are my NASCAR vacations.

I think this is the beginning of the end of NASCAR at Pocono. It will flop which will give the ammo to finally pull the plug on "Doc's Place"....
 
Do you guys really like the thought of a guy having his playoff chances wiped away after busting their ass all season to stay in the top 16 in points? All because they got caught up in somebodies stupid **** at Daytona? It's no different than when Dega was the cutoff race a couple years ago. We all (those of us with sense anyhow) hated it. I'll never understand how or why that's appealing.
 
Homestead is the track that got royally screwed by this. I get it that people feel the finale should be moved around. However, you take your only race date from hosting the championships to race #6 in March, with nothing on the line. The most radical change other than the doubleheader weekend, which I’m hoping they do something unique with on one of the races. I have no desire to see essentially the same race play out between the same drivers on the same weekend.

The other changes are OK.
 
AdoubleU24 said:
Do you guys really like the thought of a guy having his playoff chances wiped away after busting their ass all season to stay in the top 16 in points? All because they got caught up in somebodies stupid sh!t at Daytona? It's no different than when Dega was the cutoff race a couple years ago. We all (those of us with sense anyhow) hated it. I'll never understand how or why that's appealing.
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Dega should of stayed a cut race we (those who dont hate a really enjoyable race for stupid reasons) loved it.
 
Larsonfan1995 said:
My condolences
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I planned a vacation around the Kentucky race back in 14. We stayed in Louisville which is an hour and 10 min from the track, wasn't that bad. Had a good time with my wife, she loved Louisville her first time there. I had been there multiple times.
 
Conover said:
Homestead is the track that got royally screwed by this. I get it that people feel the finale should be moved around. However, you take your only race date from hosting the championships to race #6 in March, with nothing on the line. The most radical change other than the doubleheader weekend, which I’m hoping they do something unique with on one of the races. I have no desire to see essentially the same race play out between the same drivers on the same weekend.

The other changes are OK.
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I’m a little worried because it struggles to sell out 46k as the championship event. As I’ve said before, there’s also way too much going on in Florida that time of year as well to draw away from it.
 
AdoubleU24 said:
Do you guys really like the thought of a guy having his playoff chances wiped away after busting their ass all season to stay in the top 16 in points? All because they got caught up in somebodies stupid sh!t at Daytona? It's no different than when Dega was the cutoff race a couple years ago. We all (those of us with sense anyhow) hated it. I'll never understand how or why that's appealing.
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Hell, If he isn't in by that time, you are pulling for an underdog anyway. Might as well roll the dice
 
KodiakRusty89 said:
See I don't need a Pocono vacation because I live 45 minutes from the track. And I'm not a drinker/partier so I have interest to camp and be around that nonsense all weekend in the late June heat, humidity and thunderstorms. Due to the tracks proximity to NYC and Philly, Pocono pulls a huge portion of its crowd from a 2-4 hour radius which means it's people who are coming in for the day. They're not staying in hotels or camping as it is.

Martinsville this past weekend and Kentucky are my NASCAR vacations.

I think this is the beginning of the end of NASCAR at Pocono. It will flop which will give the ammo to finally pull the plug on "Doc's Place"....
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I feel for ya man. Seems like you really enjoy Pocono. I hope they don't lose their dates in the future but I think you're right about the day crowds. It'd be a hassle to drive back both days if you're a family of 4. and you know hotels are going to jack up prices for that weekend. I hope Pocono survives.
 
Snappy D said:
I planned a vacation around the Kentucky race back in 14. We stayed in Louisville which is an hour and 10 min from the track, wasn't that bad. Had a good time with my wife, she loved Louisville her first time there. I had been there multiple times.
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I stay in Cincinnati, play a couple rounds of golf, get to see a night race. It's a great travel weekend since its right after the 4th!! As a result it's literally one one of the best/cheapest weekends of the year to go on vacation.
 
KodiakRusty89 said:
I stay in Cincinnati, play a couple rounds of golf, get to see a night race. It's a great travel weekend since its right after the 4th!! As a result it's literally one one of the best/cheapest weekends of the year to go on vacation.
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How far is it from Cincy to the track? Staying in Cincy we might do next time and catch a Reds game.
 
Snappy D said:
How far is it from Cincy to the track? Staying in Cincy we might do next time and catch a Reds game.
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Just about an hour. Super easy drive down! The race is usually right around All-Star weekend so its hit or miss. This year the'll be in Colorado as the MLB ASG is a week early.
 
DewChaser988 said:
I was wrong, other than Daytona and Indy, this is actually a damn good schedule
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Right? Every change aside from the Daytona and Indy swap is actually pretty nice! The only other modification to the schedule that I am left questioning is having Phoenix host the final race. Homestead is actually a very good location for the season finale. After all, it is a standalone event, and it is pretty neat to have the race season start in Florida, go all around the country, then go back to Florida for the finale. On the other hand, Phoenix has a prior race date, and this idea of circulating through race tracks for the season finale isn't the greatest, imo. Not gonna jump the gun and write it off, but I seriously question it.
 
Conover said:
Homestead is the track that got royally screwed by this. I get it that people feel the finale should be moved around. However, you take your only race date from hosting the championships to race #6 in March, with nothing on the line. The most radical change other than the doubleheader weekend, which I’m hoping they do something unique with on one of the races. I have no desire to see essentially the same race play out between the same drivers on the same weekend.
The other changes are OK.
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^^^THIS^^^

Even if one lives a short distance from the track and tickets are reasonably priced, who wants to pay to see what amounts to the same race two days in a row ?
 
Although I've complained about the Chicagoland date remaining a summer Sunday afternoon and Pocono getting a doubleheader, I look forward to seeing how the schedule changes play out in the long run.

here's hoping . . . .
 
KodiakRusty89 said:
I just drove nearly 1,000 miles this weekend from Northeast PA to Martinsville, VA. I've been to over 100 cup races. I have great passion for this sport but the end is coming. I do believe this will be a death nail for Pocono which saddens me....
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Why? Why is the end coming? Because you cant drive 2-4 hours for 5 races?
 
KodiakRusty89 said:
Absolutely! At track attendance means very little at this point. The attending fan is second class......
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What? Second class? Have you seen the money the tracks are investing? Changing the seating from single seats to bars where you can stand and move around?
 
Spotter22 said:
Why? Why is the end coming? Because you cant drive 2-4 hours for 5 races?
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We'll see if both races are 400 miles. I definitely won't be attending if they're shortened. If their both normal distance then I might go to the Sunday event. I also have no interest in attending Xfinity and truck races. I haven't in years. A 150 mile Truck race followed by a 250 mile Cup race on Sunday is of no interest to me. The last ARCA race I saw there was 15 years ago. Casey Mears dominated when it was learning the track. If it's a combo event I'm not interested in that.

I'll wait until the final plans are in place to truly pass final judgment. I've been going EVERY year since 1988....
 
Not sure I like the that Daytona 2nd is now the cutoff race, I have a feeling its going to be a **** show of race, I hope I am wrong, and then there is the double header at Poc-Oh-No, now I am not against double headers, I am just not sure its the right track for it.
 
Spotter22 said:
What? Second class? Have you seen the money the tracks are investing? Changing the seating from single seats to bars where you can stand and move around?
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There were enough empty seats at Martinsville on Sunday I could have laid down or had a picnic in my own row if I wanted. I just don't think those things are getting people to attend or the attending fan really cares about that stuff. The "skytop patio" area on top of the Old Dominion luxury box in turn 1/2 looked empty. I know people hang out at the patio area at Kentucky going into turn 1. I sit in my seat and watch a race. Might sneak down to go to the bathroom during cautions.

I just know the crowds are getting smaller. I do give the tracks credit for being creative in filling the void that some of the torn down stands have left. I'm surprised Pocono actually hasn't done something similar. It would very easy to tier the grandstand with decks.
 
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