After months of deliberation, NASCAR on October 4 released its schedule for the 2024 season. With the Cup Series entering the penultimate round, the schedule was highly anticipated by the fans. However, with its release, it is evident that the new schedule has caused some unease among the NASCAR insiders as well as the drivers.
The announcement of the NASCAR schedule has always been a celebrated affair among the racing community, especially in recent times. In the past few years, the promotion has reflected its ambitions through various forms of experimentation. The 2024 season is no different. However, as a few events have failed to find their place on the calendar, insiders have raised their brows.
Could it be a deliberate move to make the schedule more conducive to Next Gen cars? Or is there a different reason, as emphasized by veteran journalist Bob Pockrass?
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NASCAR Insider takes a bitter dig at NASCAR’s new schedule
In an interview at the CAA World Conference of Sports, prior to the publication of the schedule, NASCAR’s President Steve Phelps had expressed that the 2024 schedule would be “the most aggressive schedule,” and the sport would witness an amalgamation of traditional and new venues in the new schedule.
Owing to this, NASCAR revealed the comeback of one of the most beloved short tracks that drivers had yearned for: the Iowa Speedway. Moreover, the Indianapolis Oval will also make a comeback after three years. While the 2024 schedule witnessed the inclusion of new tracks in its schedule, it also ousted one of the highlights of recent seasons—the dirt race in Bristol.
After three years of experimentation on dirt tracks, the Bristol race is set to revert back to its asphalt track. However, what bugs the mind of NASCAR insiders, is the reason behind the sudden change in the configuration of the track. Is it related to the financial constraints of the authorities or to make racing more competitive in nature?
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In a recent appearance on the Door Bumper Clear podcast, veteran journalist Bob Pockrass shared insights on this subject. When asked by NASCAR spotter Brett Griffin, “Do we look dumb for not continuing to race on dirt? Do we let Marcus Smith and SMI go out there and have this experiment of one of our best racetracks, and then completely abandoning the dirt idea and not actually taking it to a real dirt track, what does that say about the whole dirt track thing?”
To this Pockrass exclaimed, “I mean the question is do you look dumb when you have windshields at a dirt track? Do you look dumb when you don’t have a dirt track like the late model type of suspension in your vehicle when you race it—like dirt fans are used to seeing them race?”
Bob Pockrass tries to unearth the reasons behind the Bristol decision
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The new schedule of NASCAR with the exclusion of dirt racing from the schedule had irked the drivers. However, many welcomed the move and considered the Bristol dirt race as an exaggerated event. Although, it does not imply that dirt races won’t make a comeback in the Cup Series in the near future.
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Continuing on the same lines, Pockrass stated, “I think that’s to me is the biggest. I think if you are going to go to a dirt track, build a dirt car. And that might be way too expensive and way too big of a … It wouldn’t be too big of a challenge, I mean these teams could do it.
“I know some people kind of enjoy watching the struggle of those cars under dirt but I would love to be able to see them just slide and do.”
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As the season ends in four weeks, next year’s schedule is bound to be debated further. Keep visiting this page for more news about the 2024 schedule.
Read More: NASCAR Veteran Sends Thunderous Warning to Rick Hendrick & Joe Gibbs With Unnerving Playoff Stats