By Peter M. De Lorenzo
Detroit. A couple of weeks ago, in a column entitled "NASCAR 2020", I envisioned what NASCAR might look like five years from now. In that column I talked about the cars, the tracks, safety and of course, the schedule. As I said in that aforementioned column, I would divide the schedule into three, ten-race modules total (including the All-Star event*). The first two ten-race modules would be punctuated by a one-week break after the fifth race. Of those 30 events, five of the races would be on natural-terrain road courses (Laguna Seca, Road America, Road Atlanta, Sonoma Raceway and Watkins Glen). Some tracks would lose double date visits, obviously, and other new tracks would be rotated in and out every other year to inject variety, color and interest into the schedule. (*A complete rethink of the all-star event would require the use of Global Rallycross cars representing the manufacturers involved on a specially-constructed course at the Charlotte Motor Speedway.)
Suffice to say, nothing I write in this racing column generates more mail - good and bad - than when I deconstruct the NASCAR schedule and rebuild it. It seems to drive everyone crazy, from NASCAR fans to non-fans alike. So, without further ado then, here's what my "NASCAR 2020" schedule would look like.
February
Sprint Unlimited, Budweiser Duel No. 1 and No. 2, Daytona 500
Daytona International Speedway
March
Las Vegas Motor Speedway
March
Phoenix International Raceway
March
Texas Motor Speedway
March
Laguna Seca
ONE-WEEK BREAK
April
Martinsville Speedway
April
Bristol Motor Speedway
April
Richmond International Raceway
May
Talladega Superspeedway
May
Road Atlanta
SECOND 10-RACE SCHEDULE SEGMENT
May
Sprint All-Star Race (using Global RallyCross cars on a specially-designed course, limited to 20 drivers total), Coca-Cola 600.
Charlotte Motor Speedway
June
Dover International Speedway
June
Pocono Raceway
June
Sonoma Raceway
July
Daytona International Speedway
ONE-WEEK BREAK
July
Kentucky Speedway
July
New Hampshire Motor Speedway
August
Indianapolis Motor Speedway
August
Watkins Glen International
August
Bristol Motor Speedway
THE TEN-RACE CHASE FOR THE SPRINT CUP CHAMPIONSHIP
September
Darlington Raceway
September
Richmond International Raceway
September
Road America
September
Michigan International Speedway
October
Martinsville Speedway
October
Kansas Speedway
October
Talladega Superspeedway
October
Charlotte Motor Speedway
November
Atlanta Motor Speedway
November
Texas Motor Speedway
First of all, even though this proposed 2020 schedule will be considered "radical" by the NASCAR faithful, Daytona, in February, is where NASCAR needs to be. That tradition should never change. But you can also see that races are moved and second visits to several tracks are dropped altogether. And we finish the year off in Texas, with Homestead-Miami Speedway dropping off the schedule altogether. (Yeah, like that would ever happen.)
I've said it hundreds of times before and I will probably say it a hundred times more, but the oversaturation of NASCAR is a real thing. Cutting the schedule back - something that the powers that be at NASCAR say is not only unachievable, but unthinkable - would be a much-needed first step. Let the hand-wringing - and the hating - begin...
And that's the High-Octane Truth for this week.
Editor-In-Chief's Note: We apologize for the earlier version of this schedule, which was incorrect. -PMD
Publisher's Note: As part of our continuing series celebrating the "Glory Days" of racing, we're proud to present another noteworthy image from the Ford Racing Archives. - PMD
(Courtesy of the Ford Racing Archives)
Charlotte, North Carolina, October 17, 1965. Ned Jarrett (No. 11 Bondy Long Ford) on his way to a 4th place finish in the National 400. Fred Lorenzen (No. 28 Holman-Moody Ford) would win that day, followed by Dick Hutcherson (No. 29 Holman-Moody Ford) and Curtis Turner (No. 47 Wood Brothers Ford).
Publisher's Note: Like these Ford racing photos? Check out www.fordimages.com. Be forewarned, however, because you won't be able to go there and not order something. - PMD