While oval speedways did dominate NASCAR’s early past, the stock car racing promotion’s move to America’s historic and significant road courses was much deliberated upon and contested. Throwing in road course races to its schedule wasn’t something that the promotion did very often at the onset. But as years passed and perspectives changed, more races were added to the calendar and along with it, more visits to road courses.
75 years since its inception, NASCAR now hosts races in 4 different types of tracks: short tracks, intermediate ovals, superspeedways, and road courses. While many have been enjoying the diversification that has been executed over time, a few drivers do share some reservations about it. And the latest voice to be heard is from the defending champion, Joey Logano.
Joey Logano shares his views on road course racing?
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Speaking on Sirius XM’s NASCAR Radio, Team Penske star Joey Logano voiced his concerns over the increasing number of road courses in the 36-race schedule. Logano expressed his belief that too many road courses could diminish the excitement of races, particularly when caution flags aren’t being out a lot.
Citing the events that unfolded at Watkins Glen as an example, he said, “I don’t know, the one thing that I thought is if there’s not enough cautions in the races, kind of like it was in Watkins Glen, no one’s wanna go to them anymore. We’ll go back to running more oval races like we should.”
He suggested that the balance should shift more towards oval tracks than it currently does and advocated for having just 3 road course tracks. Surprisingly, Joey singled out Watkins Glen International and the Chicago Street Course for removal. However, thinking back on his words quickly, he reiterated his thoughts.
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The champion’s soft spot for the Chicago Street Course
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Going over his stance on removing Chicago from the calendar, Joey quickly recognized the positive impact of the street course on the sport’s image and popularity. He said, “I think Chicago is a win for the sport. Not that I really like the street course racing aspect of it, but I think what it did for our sport was tremendous. So that part was a win. Taking, like my personal preferences out of it. That’s for the sport.”
Nevertheless, Joey is firm on his opinion of removing road courses from the calendar and said that above his personal preferences, if some tracks to go, it ought to be Chicago and Watkins Glen.
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Defending champion @joeylogano thinks the Cup Series has too many road courses on the schedule.
🔀 So what's the sweet spot? And where should the races be held?
🎧 Listen to more 𝘽𝙚𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙙 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙒𝙝𝙚𝙚𝙡 NOW → https://t.co/oek7E77mXk pic.twitter.com/BoYO3KXNLC
— SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Ch. 90) (@SiriusXMNASCAR) August 24, 2023
Opinions against road course racing aren’t something new. Particularly with NASCAR removing stage break cautions at the beginning of this season, a lot of drivers and crews have come out to express the bluntness of things on the track. Two notable opinions that were voiced out just a few weeks back were from 23XI Racing star Bubba Wallace and former champion, Chase Elliott. Speaking to The Athletic’s Jordan Bianchi, the duo had expressed their concerns with the road courses.
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As more drivers and stakeholders gather behind the issue, the collective noise that they make will have to be heard at Daytona Beach. Let us know in the comments what you think of their opinions and the current distribution between the NASCAR courses.
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