Is NASCAR’s worst nightmare for 2023 coming true? In all fairness, the 2020 Cup Series champion Chase Elliott warned everyone about that. But how did Elliott know any of it in advance?

Well, clearly Chase Elliott is no soothsayer. However, he sure has some bright ideas to enhance the Cup Series experience for viewers. In September 2022, the Hendrick Motorsports driver suggested that NASCAR should wind up the Cup Series season earlier in order to avoid any competition with the NFL series.

And now, with the unfortunate injury suffered by Buffalo Bills‘ Damar Hamlin, there is a possibility that NASCAR’s first 2023 Cup Series race might clash with NLF’s conference championship weekend. Hamlin, who suffered a cardiac arrest during the Bills’ Monday night game against Cincinnati Bengals, is currently on a ventilator. And hence, the primary focus for everyone in the NFL is the health and recovery of the 24-year-old player.

Owing to the distressing event, the NFL decided to suspend the Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals match. However, they announced that the rest of the matches will pan out as per the schedule. Currently, the governing body is exploring the option of adding a post-regular season week 19 for the teams to resume their game. But if implemented, this decision might push the playoffs back by a week.

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However, the authorities haven’t made a concrete decision yet. The addition of week 19 might mean NFL’s conference championship games might be pushed to Sunday, February 5. The same day when NASCAR’s 2023 exhibition race, Busch Light Clash, is scheduled! And that’s not it. The NASCAR 65th annual Daytona 500 planned for February 19 might also clash with the NFL Super Bowl Sunday due to a domino effect.

Chase Elliott on how the NFL schedule affects NASCAR

The truth is that NASCAR would never want to compete with the NFL for a prime television spot. Because everyone knows who is going to win that race! As Chase Elliott correctly mentioned in his interview last year, NASCAR should be smarter about the NFL-NASCAR battle.

During a pre-race interview at Bristol, Elliott said, “36, 45, 50. I don’t think it matters how many races we have. But I don’t see any reason in competing against NFL football when that starts. In my opinion, that’s not a battle we’re ever going to win. I think we should be smart about that.”

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Although the probability of the clash is still speculation, NFL and NASCAR have to prepare themselves with alternative strategies. Because even a one-week delay on the side of the NFL can wreck NASCAR’s carefully curated 2023 plans.