Rea White: Varied race lengths would make Cup schedule more interesting

By Rea White - Associate Editor

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Article Rating: 3.0
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COMMENTARY

There has been a heated debate for years over whether various races on the NASCAR Sprint Cup schedule are too long. That conversation takes center stage when racing at Lowe’s Motor Speedway combines the quick-hit format of the all-star race with the ensuing week’s 600-mile showdown.
 
Drivers and fans alike embrace the all-out racing the all-star race provides. With its multiple short segments, competitors do not have time to wait to make a move, to ride out a few laps or to slowly recover from a huge setback.
 
Instead, they battle for position, they calculate and strategize their pit stop and then they go out and race.
 
It’s like watching the last 50 laps of each week’s race – without the lead-up laps spent figuring out the car and its handling.
 
Of course, one cannot make sweeping statements about shorter races based on this event. After all, no points are at stake in this event. No championship can be hurt, no shot at the Chase For The NASCAR Sprint Cup can be ended. This is simply racing the way drivers seldom get to do – with one event to make a mark.
 
However, it is interesting to see what happens when the points are missing and the money is raised. It’s intriguing to see the top drivers in the sport competing with a smaller field on a large track. And it’s often riveting to watch that final segment of the night.
 
Would it be equally intriguing to see these elements appearing in other races over the course of the season?
 
The format has been altered and enhanced in recent years in an effort to maximize the racing and the fan experience. The greatest change has been in the increased impact of the pit crews. Certainly a fast stop has always been crucial, but now the annual pit-crew competition is held in conjunction with the all-star race. The finishing order determines pit-stall selection.
 
It’s one that sets up the excitement for the main event. Could pit crews once more become a part of qualifying for some other events?
 
Then there’s the short, fast-paced main event. Would more races benefit by losing laps? There’s no doubt that some of the events on the schedule extend beyond the fans' – and sometimes the drivers' – interest level. Clearly, a race featuring 100 fewer laps or miles from time to time would spice up the schedule, would heighten the action and perhaps even enhance the television ratings.
 
Imagine drivers spending less time worrying about lapped traffic and tire management and more focusing on just getting to the front. Imagine that losing a ton of positions on pit road would almost certainly end one’s shot at a win.
 
Clearly, though, this wouldn’t be the case every week. Some races are meant to be longer – some are even more dramatic that way.
 
For example, one never hears talk about shortening the Coca-Cola 600. It’s NASCAR’s longest race, something that lends prestige to the event.
 
But what about some of the other races? What about a shorter short-track race somewhere? How about a 1.5-mile track that features a third fewer laps? Would it be wild and dramatic, or would it be too short to be worth the money to attend?
 
Some races on the circuit will draw more scrutiny for their length in the coming days. Certainly, comparisons to the all-star race are unfair based on the crucial element of points.
 
But wouldn’t it be fun to see if a few shorter races on the point schedule netted similar results? Wouldn’t that be something that everyone would enjoy?

Average Rating: 3.0

Comments

6 responses to "Rea White: Varied race lengths would make Cup schedule more interesting"
  1. 1
    Sheila Hawley said:
    May 14, 2008 at 2:26 PM

    I don't agree. I don't like Phoenix and New Hampshire because they are only 300 miles. That's a Nationwide race. I want to see a "real" race on Sunday.Although I believe Pocono should only be 400 miles instead of 500. Short tracks need to be 500. Each lap is so short. I want to see racing for my money. Sheila Hawley Endwell, NY

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  2. 2
    Anonymous said:
    May 14, 2008 at 3:30 PM

    For me, this is the worst idea I have ever heard! I hate the fact that people are actually talking about this. I don't see the problem. NASCAR has been racing for 60 years. Why now? I'll admit, some races are long, but I still love them. I love the long green flag runs, the 500 milers. I actually hate the fact that there are 10/15/20 minute breaks between segments. That's not very exciting AT ALL for anybody. Anyways, here's hoping that this NEVER EVER happens.

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  3. 3
    LINDA DEMORROW said:
    May 15, 2008 at 5:11 AM

    Well, then, let me be the first to say that the Coca-Cola 600 is 'WAY too long. When it's over, I always feel like I've been dragged through a keyhole. I dread this race every year but have to watch every minute because I might miss something. I love NASCAR, but sometimes am driven nuts by the length of events.

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  4. 4
    Tim Edick said:
    May 15, 2008 at 5:33 PM

    As a fan that loves short tracks and had season tickets for many years to Bristol and Martinsville, I say "hello". It's about time someone lobby's for shorter races on these two tracks. 400 laps would be more exciting, cut the caution laps, and give my butt a break.

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  5. 5
    Tim Edick said:
    May 15, 2008 at 5:36 PM

    Shorten Bristol and Martinsville. As a long time season ticket holder 500 laps is just to long and to many cautions. The last 100 laps at each track is 90 boring ones followed by the last 10 good ones. Let's make those ten good laps 391 to 400.

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  6. 6
    Andy Gray said:
    May 17, 2008 at 9:09 AM

    If you don't like it, don't watch it. How would making a race shorter make it anymore exciting? It wouldn't, the ending would be sooner...then what? Where did the extra excitement come in?

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