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USA Today via Reuters

USA Today via Reuters

In recent years, NASCAR’s undying efforts to popularize the sport have not gone unnoticed. Take the 2023 Chicago Street race for example, which received a mixed bag of responses. On the one hand, it was NBC’s most-watched NASCAR race since 2017, on the other, wet weather conditions and narrow 90-degree turns made it a wreck fest, and it was finally shortened by 25 laps. Later on in the season, the community’s frustration with the organization boiled over due to uneventful racing on short tracks.

The criticism of NASCAR’s short-track package is not limited to fans. Numerous former and current drivers and other experts have expressed their concerns. The latest among them is prominent journalist Jordan Bianchi, who gave his verdict on the unsettling concern.

Jordan Bianchi puts forth a big ask in front of NASCAR

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Despite making efforts to grow the sport, NASCAR’s methods have, in many instances, witnessed intense scrutiny. Jordan Bianchi joined fellow journalist Jeff Gluck in the latest rendition of “The Teardown” to put forth his views.

While discussing the recent media rights deal secured by NASCAR, Gluck read a fan’s question and asked Bianchi, “I like to hear from you guys and see if there’s anything they’re [NASCAR] doing that’s detrimental to their growth right now. Are there any choices they have made in recent years that are hurting them now or could be a long-term problem?”

Bianchi started by expressing that nothing upfront seems problematic and said, “There’s nothing that jumps out to me, the decisions they’ve made recently. I like schedule changes, I like the car, I mean they addressed the safety component. They’re trying to bring in the cost and everything. I mean to me it comes back to the racing at the end of the day. Like you’ve got to make sure you have a good product on the racetrack.”

And then, Bianchi addressed the concerns surrounding the short track package and said, “The intermediate races have been fantastic but what do we talk about a lot? The short track package. My answer to the question would be you’ve got to figure out the short track package because when you’ve got a marquee race like Bristol for example … you’ve got to make sure those races [Bristol and Martinsville], if you’re going to promote those races as ‘events’ and as ‘can’t-miss,’ you’ve got to make sure you have a product on the racetrack that delivers accordingly.”

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Bianchi is of the view that it’s time NASCAR starts living up to the expectations as far as short track racing is concerned. But what are the shortcomings of short track races that have become NASCAR’s prime concern?

The hidden setbacks with the short track racing 

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The short track testing that took place in July this year at the Richmond Raceway didn’t go well as the drivers found it extremely difficult to pass, owing to marginal gaps, reduced horsepower, and wider tires. Acknowledging NASCAR’s effort to make the difference, Bianchi said, “We know NASCAR is trying to work on this but it’s just like when it comes to this stuff I feel like can we just figure out a damn solution?”

“You got a lot of smart people in the sport, just right in a freaking room and figure it out,” the veteran reporter added in exasperation. 

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Despite their efforts to give NASCAR a new and better identity, the results have been concerning the community. Do you think a revamp of the short-track package is needed?

Read More: Denny Hamlin Uncharacteristically Extends Partnership Proposal to NASCAR As Short-Track Troubles Continue To Outwit Sport Veterans