From Steve McCormick,
Your Guide to NASCAR Racing.
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NASCAR has been racing under the lights since Bristol Motor Speedway lit up its half-mile oval in 1978. Since then NASCAR has added a few more night races to the schedule but hasn't rushed headlong into racing after dark.
Should NASCAR add more night races or do we already have too many? The answer is not as obvious as it may seem.
Current Status
There are 11 night races on the 2007 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup schedule. This includes nine points races plus the Budweiser Shootout and the NASCAR NEXTEL All-Star Challenge.
This number has crept up some in recent years since Darlington, Phoenix, California and the Budweiser Shootout all moved to nighttime events.
History
The first NASCAR night race was held at what is now called Bristol Motor Speedway on August 26th, 1978. 30,000 people were in attendance as Cale Yarborough won the 1978 Volunteer 500.
Richmond added lights for the 1991 season and Lowes Motor Speedway followed suit in 1992. Other tracks with current night race capabilities include Phoenix, Darlington, Daytona, California, Atlanta and Texas.
Pros
Primetime racing improves television ratings
There are simply more people in front of their televisions in the evenings than during a Sunday afternoon.
Rain date is more fan and television friendly
If a race is rained out more fans can stay for a Sunday race than a Monday race. Also, a lot more people are able to watch the race on television.
Easier travel arrangements for fans
A Saturday night race gives fans all day Sunday to get home. Fewer vacation days are needed which enables more fans to attend.
Less traffic
After a night race a higher percentage of fans will spend the night. This spreads out the traffic and makes the flow much smoother.
NASCAR is more vivid, intense and exciting under the lights
This item is somewhat subjective but it seems to be accepted as a universal truth. Night racing is just a brighter, richer, more compelling experience than attending the same event during the day. NASCAR at night is just more of everything that fans love.
Cons
Directly conflicts with local Saturday night short-track racing
This is a big issue as having a NASCAR race on Saturday night really affects attendance at the local short tracks. Some short tracks have countered this by installing large screens and showing the NASCAR race during their regular live racing. This is a great solution, but is expensive for the tracks.
Expensive for tracks to install lights
In 1991, Lowes Motor Speedway spent $1.7 million to light up the 1.5 mile speedway. More recently California Speedway estimated the costs to light the two-mile oval there in excess of $6 million.
Some months and/or locations would bring cold weather after dark
The NASCAR NEXTEL Cup season runs from Valentines Day to Thanksgiving. Nights anywhere in North America in February or November get cold and would be uncomfortable for fans.
After a brief shower there is no sun to help dry the track
Don't underestimate the power of a little sunshine to help dry the track quickly. A night race shower could force a race to be postponed that a daylight event could have finished.
Where it Stands
At the current time the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup schedule seems to be pretty stable. NASCAR has not made any significant changes in a few years and there aren't any solid rumors of schedule changes on the horizon.
Currently Atlanta and Texas are both equipped to run NEXTEL Cup races under the lights but run both of their races in the daytime. Those would be minor schedule adjustments.
I am not aware of any additional tracks adding lights at the moment. Martinsville, Dover and Michigan would all be good candidates for lighting systems, but at the current time there is no incentive for them to spend the money.
Your Guide to NASCAR Racing.
FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now!
NASCAR has been racing under the lights since Bristol Motor Speedway lit up its half-mile oval in 1978. Since then NASCAR has added a few more night races to the schedule but hasn't rushed headlong into racing after dark.
Should NASCAR add more night races or do we already have too many? The answer is not as obvious as it may seem.
Current Status
There are 11 night races on the 2007 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup schedule. This includes nine points races plus the Budweiser Shootout and the NASCAR NEXTEL All-Star Challenge.
This number has crept up some in recent years since Darlington, Phoenix, California and the Budweiser Shootout all moved to nighttime events.
History
The first NASCAR night race was held at what is now called Bristol Motor Speedway on August 26th, 1978. 30,000 people were in attendance as Cale Yarborough won the 1978 Volunteer 500.
Richmond added lights for the 1991 season and Lowes Motor Speedway followed suit in 1992. Other tracks with current night race capabilities include Phoenix, Darlington, Daytona, California, Atlanta and Texas.
Pros
Primetime racing improves television ratings
There are simply more people in front of their televisions in the evenings than during a Sunday afternoon.
Rain date is more fan and television friendly
If a race is rained out more fans can stay for a Sunday race than a Monday race. Also, a lot more people are able to watch the race on television.
Easier travel arrangements for fans
A Saturday night race gives fans all day Sunday to get home. Fewer vacation days are needed which enables more fans to attend.
Less traffic
After a night race a higher percentage of fans will spend the night. This spreads out the traffic and makes the flow much smoother.
NASCAR is more vivid, intense and exciting under the lights
This item is somewhat subjective but it seems to be accepted as a universal truth. Night racing is just a brighter, richer, more compelling experience than attending the same event during the day. NASCAR at night is just more of everything that fans love.
Cons
Directly conflicts with local Saturday night short-track racing
This is a big issue as having a NASCAR race on Saturday night really affects attendance at the local short tracks. Some short tracks have countered this by installing large screens and showing the NASCAR race during their regular live racing. This is a great solution, but is expensive for the tracks.
Expensive for tracks to install lights
In 1991, Lowes Motor Speedway spent $1.7 million to light up the 1.5 mile speedway. More recently California Speedway estimated the costs to light the two-mile oval there in excess of $6 million.
Some months and/or locations would bring cold weather after dark
The NASCAR NEXTEL Cup season runs from Valentines Day to Thanksgiving. Nights anywhere in North America in February or November get cold and would be uncomfortable for fans.
After a brief shower there is no sun to help dry the track
Don't underestimate the power of a little sunshine to help dry the track quickly. A night race shower could force a race to be postponed that a daylight event could have finished.
Where it Stands
At the current time the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup schedule seems to be pretty stable. NASCAR has not made any significant changes in a few years and there aren't any solid rumors of schedule changes on the horizon.
Currently Atlanta and Texas are both equipped to run NEXTEL Cup races under the lights but run both of their races in the daytime. Those would be minor schedule adjustments.
I am not aware of any additional tracks adding lights at the moment. Martinsville, Dover and Michigan would all be good candidates for lighting systems, but at the current time there is no incentive for them to spend the money.
