Fans Scoff at NASCAR’s International Intentions to Demand a Comeback for Iconic but Forgotten Racetracks

The 2025 NASCAR Cup Series could have a change in scenery. For long, NASCAR has flirted with the idea of taking one of its races beyond national borders. And it looks like this will become a reality with the announcement of the 2025 Cup Series calendar inching closer. Mexico City and Montreal in Canada are seen as potential destinations to aid this ambitious approach.

But what’s the need behind the idea of going international? While NASCAR has its traditional fan base, it has yet to resonate with the new audience base, forcing it to miss out on a big chunk. Something Formula 1 has managed to do in this modern era of auto racing. While NASCAR may be late to the party, they are trying to adapt to the modern trends and dynamics of promoting their sport. That is why they are in search of new race fans who have not been introduced to the concept of stock car racing.

Although NASCAR has yet to make an official announcement revealing the venue for the international, there’s already a buzz about it online on social media platforms. NASCAR page Couch Racer took to X and put out a poll asking fans which would be their preferred destination for an international race. Although the poll saw some 2000 replies in favor of Montreal, fans in the comments section had a rather contrasting opinion on this development.

The old-school NASCAR fans are used to seeing the race cars turn left on the traditional oval tracks. But this new international race is expected to be yet another road course venue, which hasn’t been a huge hit among the racing community. Moreover, this idea of international racing wasn’t appreciated, especially with NASCAR turning a blind eye to breathing a new life into some of the iconic racetracks.

Fans not sold on the prospect of an international NASCAR race over iconic domestic venues

NASCAR has invested its resources in building a new race car and adding new tracks to its schedule. However, nothing has improved the actual racing product, the short-track ovals being the worst hit with this wave of innovation. Therefore, taking a jibe at NASCAR’s plans to go international, this fan wrote, “Maybe they could spend all that money on car development. We had such a fun product and have done everything possible to change it…cars, tracks, SMT data… why? Has any of it made the racing better? There’s a survey topic for ya. #MakeShortTracksGreatAgain.”

Currently, there are five road races on the schedule. For the arrival of yet another road course venue, one of the oval tracks is expected to lose a date. Sharing his two cents on the topic, this fan stated that NASCAR is better off with a return at Rockingham or the Nashville Fairgrounds: “Rockingham or Nashville fairgrounds. I’m tired of road courses.”

Now we all know how NASCAR has backtracked on its promise to convert the Auto Club Speedway into a short-track oval. But the only thing that has happened in terms of the makeover is the destruction of the entire speedway. Highlighting NASCAR’s failed project and jumping into another ambitious plan, this race fan added, “international?? how about the proposed “short-track” at Fontana. Thats in a different country.”

A few even highlighted how the Chicago Street Race has been nothing short of a failure in attempts to attract new fans to the sport. At the same time, suggest trying to get Rockingham back on the schedule over an international race. “How about eliminating Chicago and going to the Rock instead! Plus the last time I checked the N in NASCAR stood for National. So no need to leave the USA!.”

NASCAR has crown jewel events like the Daytona 500 and the Brickyard 400 on its schedule that do garner international attention. So this race fan didn’t get the logic of moving the entire event across domestic borders. Hence, he answered the poll with a question in return, stating, “New question: Do we need an international race?”

What are your thoughts about this ambitious project undertaken by NASCAR? And will an international NASCAR race have a positive impact on the sport overall?