USA Today via Reuters
Apr 24, 2022; Talladega, Alabama, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver William Byron (24) leads the field through the tai-oval during the Geico 500 at Talladega Superspeedway. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
USA Today via Reuters
Apr 24, 2022; Talladega, Alabama, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver William Byron (24) leads the field through the tai-oval during the Geico 500 at Talladega Superspeedway. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem was in America. As it turned out, he was meeting with NASCAR chairman Jim France for some reason. Just prior to that, he attended the IndyCar test at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Over there, he met with Roger Penske to ‘discuss areas of mutual interest’.
So when is the February double header? @NASCAR @F1 @DAYTONA
— Liam Nolan (@Beastkingboy101) May 5, 2022
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You know you want to race Daytona @fia
— Torsk (@Torsktheiracer) May 5, 2022
F1 to daytona road course confirmed
— r.o.k 421 ⚡🏁 🏴 🚗 🏎 (@Mclhondamp4421) May 5, 2022
His meeting with the NASCAR Chairman has sparked Twitter into a frenzy. With the recent influx of American F1 races, fans were hoping to see some more tracks added to the calendar.
This included the likes of the Daytona International Speedway road course. Obviously, it would not sit right if the cars were racing on the oval, but the road course is fair game.
Just the FIA President visiting one of his constituents.
— Christopher Gerstle | 🇺🇸 🇩🇪 🇪🇺 | 🇺🇦 (@CGerstle) May 6, 2022
NASCAR is a full member of the FIA, so they might even be discussing Cup Series changes, or a trade of races. You get 3 GPs, europe gets 2 Cup races.
— TagForce (@_TagForce_) May 6, 2022
I would sell both of my kidneys to see F1 on the Daytona road course https://t.co/CBnPvnRMeJ
— Ben 🇨🇦 (@_ben_11) May 6, 2022
A more viable explanation could be the potential scheduling of NASCAR, Formula One, and even IndyCar. With NASCAR and IndyCar having marquee events, they would want to avoid a clash to maximize viewership. Admittedly, the primary reason that Sulayem was in the USA was for the inaugural Miami Grand Prix.
What is so important for Sulayem to meet the NASCAR chairman?
Over the next two weeks, America hosts NASCAR and F1 on the same weekend. Then, there will be the GMR Grand Prix at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course next week. All in all, it is going to be a very big couple of weeks for American motorsport. Not to mention that later on in the month is the 106th running of the iconic Indianapolis 500 race.
Confirmed. F1 to run the Daytona Roval. https://t.co/rRuamS8XXH
— Jamey Price (@jameypricephoto) May 6, 2022
Doubleheader at COTA confirmed https://t.co/xhOV3nJPEz
— Nikolai P. Culp (@NikolaiPCulp) May 5, 2022
CONFIRMED : FORMULA 1 TO RACE AT DAYTONA ON THE OVAL FOR SPEEDWEEKS https://t.co/fTfMSlfJq2
— D.J. (@Indycardj32) May 5, 2022
For now, NASCAR is in the midst of its Cup Series season. The paddock is on its way to the Darlington Raceway for the throwback weekend. Heading into this race, Chase Elliott is the current points leader, having won his first 2022 race at Dover last week. With that, all four Hendrick Motorsports drivers have got at least one win each.
The FIA president was Indianapolis yesterday with IndyCar and today is visiting Daytona: https://t.co/oxIRtkZN1h
— Always Race Day (@AlwaysRaceDay) May 5, 2022
Hear me out – F1 car does a lap on the @DAYTONA road course… https://t.co/9wGhVWAHze
— Michael Carey (@ItsMichaelCarey) May 5, 2022
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about time we got the formulers on the daytona oval https://t.co/sE2zCM2Tzr
— Kearston Bell (@Click6632) May 5, 2022
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Now, the competition is truly heating up, and the pressure is on to fill the remaining Playoff seats. The big question is, who will fill them, and will NASCAR get yet another new winner? The answer will only come once the current race weekend concludes.
