USA Today via Reuters
Apr 3, 2022; Richmond, Virginia, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Ryan Blaney (12) and driver William Byron (24) cross the start line during the Toyota Owners 400 at Richmond International Raceway. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-USA TODAY Sports
USA Today via Reuters
Apr 3, 2022; Richmond, Virginia, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Ryan Blaney (12) and driver William Byron (24) cross the start line during the Toyota Owners 400 at Richmond International Raceway. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-USA TODAY Sports
Recently reports emerged that NASCAR plans to implement the stadium concept on a more global scale. The stock car series evidently has grand plans in place, so that they can evolve. However, it appears that the fans are not as receptive to that idea. In fact, many of them slammed the suggestion and insisted that it should stay within US borders.
.@NASCAR execs are having "a lot of aggressive discussion" about where to take the stadium concept to globally, per NASCAR International exec Chad Seigler.
🔳 Seigler was speaking as part of announcing a five-year entitlement renewal with @PintysFoods for NASCAR's Canada series. pic.twitter.com/Esm2QtUmy1
— Adam Stern (@A_S12) April 20, 2022
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In all, the general opinion is that the sport should focus on maintaining its foothold in America first. However, COO Steve O’Donnell insisted that NASCAR is in a great position to go international. According to him, there was interest from China with regard to “one-off” events. Unfortunately, the sport was not looking for those kind of races, and were thinking about ‘the bigger picture’.
So much for NATIONAL being the first word in the nascar acronym. Ridiculous.
— DelusionalDriverReference (@DriverReference) April 20, 2022
So, NASCAR really didn't mean it when they said we have to save the teams from themselves? Let's travel 3000 miles for an exhibition race, build a dirt specific car, & now they want to send them out of the country? Sounds like they're speaking out of both sides of their mouth…
— Family Man (@TeamJGRfan) April 20, 2022
National means just that. Not international. And the gimmick races Mexico City, Japan etc ceased, why? Too burdensome and gimmicky. Not everywhere deserves racing like every city don’t deserve stick and ball. Simple economics.
— DelusionalDriverReference (@DriverReference) April 20, 2022
Nascar thinking they are bigger than they are. I love Nascar but they do not have the global appeal F1 does. Nascar should focus on their bread and butter, the South, Southeast, East Coast, and Northeast. There are.plenty of tracks to race there.
— SD Crue (@sdcrue98) April 20, 2022
This includes the introduction of the LA Coliseum race, which many saw as a gimmick. Additionally, they said that NASCAR lacks the global appeal that the likes of Formula One enjoys. Owing to that, the stock car series is better off focusing on where it operates best. They all know that the United States has no dearth of race tracks or speedways.
Nascar goes WWE
— Christopher David Pritchard (@CpritchardDTM3) April 20, 2022
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It's an okay concept but every year maybe with legends it would be great or midget racers. The big cars just wasn't too good, imagine without big name drivers…zzzzzz
— David up on the roof (@DavidtheDavor) April 20, 2022
Which countries is NASCAR eyeing for the future?
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The Vice President revealed in 2013, that there were designs to head to Brazil, Japan, and Russia. However, they would only be able to host races for a lower-level series. Several years later, it looks like NASCAR is planning to revive the talks once again. Unfortunately, the fans are still not convinced and even criticized some of the sport’s other decisions.
After all, there was the recent news of the North Wilkesboro Speedway revival. Obviously, NASCAR is not going to visit that track just yet, and it is only catering to grassroots racing. However, it could also mean that the speedway may be open to hosting main series races in the future. On the other hand, if the sport wants to break away from ovals, America has plenty of proper racing circuits.
