The NASCAR 2024 season starts at Daytona 500 on February 15th and ends in Phoenix on November 10th. Since NBC owns the Olympic rights, NASCAR fans will watch swimming, basketball, track and field, and other Olympic sports the US dominates as NASCAR will be on a forced Olympic break.
There are some changes to the schedule this season.
Iowa is replacing Fontana while NASCAR converts the track from a 2-mile speedway to a half-mile short track. Accounting for California’s regulatory approval process, construction should begin when Kyle Busch’s grandson is eligible to race. Hopefully, NASCAR will solve the short track package by the time the track is ready.
Atlanta gets the Fontana February date. I realize Atlanta is not Green Bay, but it is not unheard of for Atlanta temps to dip into the high 30s after sunset. Attendance might be light as many NASCAR fans are not Cheeseheads who relish cold weather. I wonder if this is NASCAR’s way of punishing SMI for ruining the Texas Motor Speedway.
The Brickyard 400 replaces the Indy Road course. Besides Roger Penske getting his facility fee, I can’t see any winners here. The IMS oval is not a good track for 3400-pound bricks.
The more things change, the more they stay the same.
Since the Chicago Aldermen want another payday, the Chicago Street race returns the first weekend in July. Hopefully, it will rain again because last year’s event was the most entertaining race of the season.
The All-Star race is back at North Wilkesboro as the experiment to grow NASCAR by resurrecting the past continues.
A couple of tracks remain off schedule.
Chicagoland sits Idle since NASCAR learned Joliet is not Chicago.
Kentucky Speedway is making more money storing trucks Ford can’t sell due to the high-interest rates and ridiculous sticker prices.
The regular season finale returns to Daytona. Other than Talladega, no track has a better history of long shots winning a race. Everybody has a shot of qualifying for the playoffs, even Trevor Bayne.
Lastly, Phoenix is the Championship finale again. For those advocating changes such as a rotation, refer to the list below on why only three tracks can host the finale.
It’s the NASCAR title, so a NASCAR-owned oval track must host the race. That rules out Atlanta, Bristol, Texas, New Hampshire, Charlotte, Nashville, Dover, Pocono, Indy, and Las Vegas.
The race must be in a climate conducive to prime-time racing in November. Due to cold temperatures, Richmond, Iowa, Michigan, Darlington, Martinsville, and Kansas are out. Talladega doesn’t have lights.
That leaves Daytona, Homestead, and Phoenix. Does anybody want a roulette wheel to decide the championship? If so, Daytona is your track.