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USA Today via Reuters

USA Today via Reuters

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  Debate

Debate

NASCAR's scheduling blunders—Is the management turning our beloved sport into a complete joke?

Do you know the NASCAR schedule for 2025? Although it’s too far, however, not knowing it is frustrating, isn’t it? The much-anticipated schedule for the next season is still not released. But it is usually released in the middle of the year. It wasn’t until October 2023 that the schedule of the 2024 season was announced.

As one has to book race tickets and make travel and stay arrangements, the frustration of fans is understandable. It’s a tedious task that cannot be left to the last minute. And, just then, a NASCAR insider revealed the reason why NASCAR doesn’t like to release its schedule. However, fans are not convinced with it as they take potshots at the management and track officials.

Why is there a delay in releasing the race schedule?

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The NASCAR series moves from weekend to weekend to different tracks, and fans like to travel with them to watch their favorite racers in action. However, it can turn into a planning nightmare for them as the dates of the races aren’t released on time. NASCAR Insider Bob Pockrass had previously said, “Sometimes NASCAR has not announced schedule until September or later, Right now, the expectation is sometime in August. And I’d say probably closer to mid-August but possibly early August but wouldn’t be surprised if it was late August. In other words, it changes regularly.” This uncertainty is what leaves fans frustrated.

Another possible reason for the delay is changes in playoff tracks as well as the addition of new tracks and races. In the previous months, the Athletic has reported possible movement of playoff tracks. According to them, Atlanta Motor Speedway, Homestead-Miami Speedway, and Watkins Glen could move from the playoffs back to the regular season. Although the race schedule has not been announced yet, the start day and end date have been announced. ‘The Great American Race’ race will be held on 16th Feb 2025 in Daytona, and the Cup series final will be held on Nov 2, 2025 in Phoenix.

The NASCAR insider recently spoke about why NASCAR doesn’t release the schedule. According to him, if one track fails to adhere to the date they promise and makes last-minute changes, it can affect the dates of other tracks as well. He said, “For instance, last year Phoenix announced its championship weekend and then months later, said it would be a week later than originally announced.”

 

What’s your perspective on:

NASCAR's scheduling blunders—Is the management turning our beloved sport into a complete joke?

Have an interesting take?

 

The NASCAR officials should look to make the schedule more rigid, and race track owners must adhere to it. The ones that suffer because of such poor management are the fans.

Fans call out NASCAR management

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There is no official statement from NASCAR regarding the 2025 schedule. This is why fans are left anxious and frustrated as they want answers. One fan wrote, “If that’s the (poor) reason why the schedule gets held against the public, then what changed in the few years since they released it around the Coke 600 every year?”

If the schedule is not out yet, how are racetracks asking fans to renew their tickets? Racetracks keep pestering fans with the constant renewal message. One fan has decided to take the ‘tit for tat’ approach for the next season. “I don’t renew my tickets anymore. If NASCAR wants to wait until the last minute to release schedule, I wait until last minute to buy. They usually start dropping the prices too, because they want to sell out. Renewals are not in the best interest of the fan like they used to be.”

On the same line, another expressed frustration at not being able to plan the trip due to the schedule lapses. He wrote, “Yeah, it gets frustrating trying to plan trips to races. I understand why nascar waits, but I don’t like how the tracks pester me to renew without knowing the date.”

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Next, a fan mocked NASCAR for doing everything at the last minute as it happens in a race. The fan wrote, “Why would they put anything on paper? Why not just wait until morning-of and have the competition director make a split decision on where to race that day like they do with penalties and finishes.” Another fan used a racing reference. He’s not super impressed with the way they officiate the races. The fan wrote, “NASCAR operates like a clown show. Officiating of races proves that.”

The frustration of fans is justified. It is difficult to plan for race weekends and certainly not a last-minute task with tight schedules at work, or with kids. What are your thoughts on these? Let us know in the comments below.