Kris Johnson: Nighttime is the right time for Sprint Cup racing

By Kris Johnson - Associate Editor

Sunday, May 11, 2008

Article Rating: 3.0
Rate this Article

Latest Headlines

COMMENTARY

Did you enjoy last night’s Sprint Cup race at Darlington? The sheer fact it was held on Saturday night under the lights had to help enhance your viewing of the Dodge Challenger 500 – whether you were in attendance or watching on television – and regardless of the driver you were pulling for to win.

Like the previous night race at Richmond International Raceway and the upcoming Saturday evening running of the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race at Charlotte, racing is more enjoyable from a spectator standpoint in primetime.

Eight points races will be staged on Saturday nights this season. Given my druthers, every race track would be equipped with lights and all races would be run under them. Not only is the spectacle of speed and competition greater, but think of the cost savings involved in these belt-tightening times. Granted, teams would have to endure red-eye flights home, but shaving a night off the onerous hotel bill each weekend has to count for a lot where the travel budget is concerned.

For fans, they’d have an entire day to rest and recuperate before heading home, perhaps saving a valuable vacation day in the process.

Scheduled Saturday events already have a built-in rain date, too, which was the case last year at Richmond in the spring when the race was postponed until Sunday due to inclement weather. It’s worth noting there was a palpable sense of lagging enthusiasm the next day compared to the frenzied state of the grandstands the night before in Richmond.

To be fair, though, there could be a few downsides here.

Most importantly, NASCAR’s elite series would be in direct and continual competition with short tracks across the country that stage their events on Saturday evenings. One of these is Carolina Speedway, a 4/10th-mile clay oval located on the outskirts of Gastonia, N.C. I pass it weekly and have noticed that the track is now holding Friday evening events. Perhaps that could be the wave of the future at short tracks throughout the U.S.

Cold weather, particularly at season’s beginning and end, could also work against Saturday night Cup racing. The memory of snow at Bristol still lingers from a couple years back, as well as some recent chilly daytime conditions in Atlanta.

Television schedules would have to be realigned. Broadcast partners such as Fox and ABC would probably be loathe to give NASCAR a regular Saturday night primetime slot. For Fox, its regular Saturday night tandem of “Cops” and “America’s Most Wanted” are well-entrenched franchises.

The bottom line: Even though nighttime is the right time for racing, don’t expect to see a full slate of evening events any time soon.
        

Average Rating: 3.0

Comments

2 responses to "Kris Johnson: Nighttime is the right time for Sprint Cup racing"
  1. 1
    linda head said:
    May 11, 2008 at 9:08 PM

    I have to agree with Kris.Love thoes night races,and any thing that might save fans a little money.

    Report as Abuse
  2. 2
    Anonymous said:
    May 12, 2008 at 4:58 AM

    KRIS makes alot of good points.But it's killing the local tracks,which I feel is the feeder for Fans.

    Report as Abuse

Leave a Comment

Login

Search

Advanced Search

Latest Videos

Rain Tires in the Cup Series?

Rain Tires in the Cup Series?

After NASCAR used rain tires for the first time in its history for the Nationwide Series race in Montreal, Jim Duff and Lee Montgomery discuss whether they should be used in the Sprint Cup Series.

 

Most Rated Stories

Poll Position

Which organization has the best chance of having three drivers in the Chase For The NASCAR Sprint Cup this season?

view the results