“They Didn’t Learn”- Racing Community Livid as NASCAR Schedule Update Jeopardizes Drivers at Daytona

The 2024 NASCAR season is inching closer with every passing second. The season will start unofficially with the Busch Light Clash at the Los Angeles Coliseum on February 4. However, following its recent announcement of the build-up to the official season-opening Daytona 500, NASCAR has landed itself in a rough spot. The Daytona 500 is the biggest race of the year and fans had expected no mistakes in its preparations, but NASCAR might have disappointed them.

Prominent journalist Bob Pockrass revealed through X that the updated schedule has stayed the same as the 2023 schedule. Cup Series drivers have yet to be provided a practice session prior to a single-car qualifying session. After that, the Cup Series duels will be conducted on Thursday, and two practice sessions will follow. NASCAR fans have gathered to express their discontent with the schedule and slammed the governing body for poor decision-making.

No practice sessions for Cup Series drivers before the biggest qualifying race of the year

Most drivers consider the 200 laps of the 2.5-mile-long Daytona International Speedway to be the pinnacle of American racing. Considering its reputation, NASCAR could have planned the speed week much better than it has, according to many. Through the event’s five days, the speedway will witness four main events, including Cup Series, Xfinity, ARCA Menards, and Truck Series races.

However, Cup Series drivers will be unable to get acquainted with the track and their crews in new machinery for a second successive season. The announcement revealed that drivers will have a jam-packed schedule in the lead up to the race. On Tuesday(Feb 13), the event will kick off with a random draw for the Xfinity and Cup Series qualifying line-up.

The next day, a single-car qualifying session and the Daytona 500 Media Day have been scheduled. The single-car qualifying criteria will be a matter of two rounds with one lap for each driver. On Feb. 15,  Thursday, Cup Series drivers will compete in two qualifying races lasting 60 laps. The ARCA Menards and Truck Series practice sessions will also be held on the same day.

The only two days for Cup Series practice are on Friday and Saturday. This has enraged the fans who have yet to understand why NASCAR does not allow drivers to test their cars before the qualifying session on Wednesday. Highlighting the reputation of the Daytona 500 as the major reason behind their disappointment, fans felt there has been no improvement since last year’s schedule. What did fans say?

Fans chastise NASCAR for its ignorance towards Daytona practice sessions: “Should be illegal”

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The NASCAR community seemed to be fuming after the schedule was released. Empathizing with the racers, most fans didn’t mince words when letting their frustration known. “I feel like it should be illegal to not have practice prior to qualifying for your biggest race of the year,” commented a fan pointing out what a lack of practice could imply for the drivers in the qualifying session.

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Several drivers have changed teams and would have hoped for some on-track action along with their opponents to gel in with their teams. However, the latest schedule eliminates any such possibility. Another fan lamented the lack of retrospection from NASCAR, “They didn’t learn from last year did they?”

A certain fan highlighted how the sport has lost the value of speedweeks through the years. “Speedweeks doesn’t exist anymore. All of the soul and appeal of this sport is being su**ed away, if it’s not gone already,” commented the fan.

A major reason behind it could be cost-cutting. NASCAR might have aimed to reduce the expenditure of qualifying races with a move that has already faced a lot of criticism in the past. Another fan claimed that the schedule didn’t make sense as they wrote, “No practice before the series biggest race makes no sense.” Another fan requested NASCAR to allow drivers to have a practice session, “Just 1 hour of practice for each series, I beg, every other series on earth can do it, but NASCAR can’t.”

Surprisingly, NASCAR has yet to make any changes to the Daytona Speedweek. For whatever reason, it has been implemented, it definitely didn’t go down well with the fans. What are your thoughts? Let us know in the comments below.

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