2023 Cup Series Season Track Report: Chicago Dominates; Short Tracks & Road Courses Fail; Chaotic Speedways Don?t Disappoint

As the checkered flag waved at the end of the 2023 season, the rollercoaster ride of emotions and drama slowly came to a halt. This year’s championship trophy found a new home as Ryan Blaney emerged as the victor, and Team Penske etched their name into the annals of history with their first-ever back-to-back championship. The season, however, was not without its fair share of controversies. Noah Gragson’s suspension, unprecedented penalties on teams, particularly Hendrick Motorsports and Stewart-Haas Racing, and Denny Hamlin and Chase Elliott’s suspensions are a few striking ones. In the midst of it all, two veterans, Kevin Harvick and Aric Almirola, bid farewell to their careers in the Cup series, marking the end of an era.

Crashes, heated on-track battles, and even some heart-stopping moments kept adrenaline levels high throughout the year, including the infamous somersault of the #41 Ford in Daytona that will remain etched in memory. Ten months, 38 races, and a staggering 9,225 laps of heart-pounding action later, the 2023 season has come to a thrilling conclusion. As we reflect on the season, let’s take a closer look at the various types of tracks raced on and how they stacked up against one another; which were the fan favorites, and which ones NASCAR should think about kicking out.

The verdict is in, and the clear winners are two polar opposites

First up is the street race in Chicago, Illinois, which left fans on the edge of their seats with heart-pounding action. It garnered a whopping 84.5% viewer approval, and it’s no wonder why. The debutant in the Cup car cockpit, Shane van Gisbergen, turned the track into his personal playground, claiming his maiden win on his very first career start. Talk about making an entrance!

Next up, the superspeedways had us all on the edge of our seats, with an average of 76.94% positive ratings. Unpredictable, chaotic, and always exhilarating, these tracks delivered from the green flag to the triumphant checkered flag. Daytona stole the show, especially during the regular season finale, a race spectators won’t forget for a long time. Sadly, we’ll be bidding farewell to the track as the regular season finale’s venue in 2024, with Darlington taking its place.

Then there are the tracks that just couldn’t quite hit the mark. At the bottom of the barrel, with only a 57.34% approval rating, is a road course?a fish out of water in a sport synonymous with ovals. Stock cars were born to race in circles, not to navigate the tight twists and turns of a road course. The 2023 season featured a total of five road tracks, and it left many die-hard fans feeling like a beloved tradition is slowly being ripped apart. The removal of the iconic Brickyard 400 from the hallowed grounds of the Indy Oval and onto a road course was nothing short of a gut punch.

Just above the road courses on the least-loved list are the short tracks, clocking in with a 59.71% approval rate. The introduction of the Next Gen car on these shorter circuits didn’t quite hit the mark, leaving most fans less than thrilled. However, not all short-track races left the crowd grumbling. A shining example of potential is the Martinsville Speedway, where the spring race drew a disappointing 37% approval, but the penultimate fall race in Virginia garnered a much more positive 79.1% vote, proving that with a little TLC, short-track racing can still win hearts.

And finally, we find ourselves in the sweet spot with the intermediate tracks, boasting a respectable 75.25% approval rating. With a whopping 17 outings throughout the season, they’ve delivered consistent and thrilling action. The season finale at Phoenix was the cherry on top of the intermediates in this diverse track-type analysis.

Wins, snoozers, and calendar chaos unpacking the most loved and hated tracks

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Moving on to a deep dive into the season’s top hits and the duds that put us to sleep. At the top of the charts, the Kansas Spring race stole the show with a staggering 93.3% approval rating. Following closely was the iconic Coke 600 on an intermediate track, quenching the thirst of racing aficionados with a 91.2% approval pole.

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Meanwhile, the Daytona Superspeedway sizzled with a 91.1% rating, a true standout moment of the year. Fontana’s intermediate track race kept the heat alive with an 89.9% rating and Atlanta Summer rounded out the top five with an 87% approval rating, where the action was so scorching it made Georgia peaches look like popsicles.

Shifting the focus to the races that had fans snoring. Vegas Spring at an intermediate track pulled in a lukewarm 48.7% rating, leaving some feeling like they hit a cold streak at the casino. Phoenix Spring, another intermediate track didn’t rise from the ashes with its 44.8% rating.

Sonoma’s road course seemed more like a winding road to boredom with its 43.2% votes. Adding to the woes of road courses, Watkins Glen‘s road course race tumbled into the low ratings with a 39.6% score. The Martinsville Spring short track race was a snooze-fest with a mere 37% rating, slower than molasses in January.

With the 2024 season looming ahead and some insane jumbling in the calendar changes, much is left to be desired, and a long way to go before we find out how the next season will fare. Until then, drop your favorite tracks and despised ones down below.

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