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Postponements could provide opportunities to experiment with NASCAR’s schedule

While there is certainly much to lament as far as the loss of races is concerned due to the COVID-19 pandemic, NASCAR could potentially be able to use the aftermath of the restrictions on social gatherings that have resulted in postponements and cancellations as a testing ground for long talked about ideas. Obviously, not playing a part in the further spread of the illness is the immediate priority for all sports leagues, including NASCAR. But when this crisis ends and life returns to some degree of normalcy, the NASCAR events lost will potentially be rescheduled. So far, NASCAR has been…

NASCAR’s short track package calmed some fears in Phoenix

It is easy to criticize NASCAR for the things we don’t like. And last year after the race held at Phoenix Raceway in November there was plenty of criticism going around, including from this writer. The aerodynamic changes that had been made to the cars coming into the 2019 season had seemingly improved the racing on the 1.5 to 2-mile race tracks, which was badly needed. However, that same package appeared to have hurt racing on the short tracks and road courses, where the competition had been quite good prior to the new stipulations. When NASCAR released its 2020 schedule…

Is it more important to have a great car or a great driver?

Whether it be media members or fans, we all have a tendency to give certain drivers too much credit or too little credit when they win races. At the same time, there is a tendency by some to lavish all credit on the car and the team when a particular driver succeeds while offering little acknowledgement to the person behind the steering wheel. “Driver X wins so many races because he has the best car” is a phrase often used when it is believed that a person considered to be a less talented driver scores victories. Conversely, “Driver X is…

NASCAR did what NASCAR had to do

It’s almost certain that no one was happy about the fact that the 62nd running of the Daytona 500 only saw a few laps completed before rain brought everything to a halt on Sunday and ultimately pushed the remainder of the race into Monday afternoon. Rain outs at race tracks never work in anyone’s favor. A significant number of fans will have to go home only having seen 20 laps contested in the ‘Great American Race’. Crew members will now have an already tight turnaround for the next race set for Las Vegas Motor Speedway(first practice on Friday) in less…

Turn 2 Blog: What does the future hold for NASCAR in 2020?

*Turn 2 Blog is a regular feature on InsideCircleTrack.com. Here, site operators Michael Moats and Richard Allen take turns offering their thoughts on the NASCAR and pavement short track racing topics of the day. Richard: The Busch Clash held this past Sunday at Daytona International Speedway is now over and the only thing I think we can say we learned from that race is the so-called “greatest drivers in the world” in the NASCAR Cup Series are more than capable of destroying lots of equipment. But now that the exhibition race is over, it’s time to focus on the event…

If anyone is going to challenge JGR’s supremacy it will be …

Previously on this site we posted a piece titled “Why wouldn’t Joe Gibbs Racing dominate again in 2020?” and in that article several points were made as to why the organization that won more than half of the NASCAR Cup Series races and the season championship in 2019 will again rule the roost in the upcoming season. In this piece we will offer up a few reasons as to why those charged with opposing the JGR juggernaut might have at least some reason for optimism. Keep in mind that NASCAR has mandated that no new parts can be developed in…

Why wouldn’t Joe Gibbs Racing dominate again in 2020?

There were 36 NASCAR Cup Series races held in 2019. Joe Gibbs Racing won more than half of those races. That organization also placed three of its four drivers in the Championship 4 final race held at Homestead-Miami Speedway with Kyle Busch eventually earning the title for the company owned by the former Super Bowl winning football coach. The dominance of JGR in 2019 goes beyond winning races and the championship. That organization’s Toyotas led over 4,000 laps during the course of the season with only one of their drivers(Erik Jones) having an average finishing position outside the top-10. And…

Three Drivers Who Will Move Forward in 2020

There are winners and losers in every form of competition. But NASCAR and all other forms of racing can be particularly harsh in the regard. Consider that in this weekend’s Super Bowl there will, of course, be a winner, but at the same time, there will only be one loser. In racing’s Super Bowl(Daytona 500), however, there will only be one driver and team that take the checkered flag in first place leaving 39 others with the realization that, on that day at least, they were losers. After all, in the words of the great philosopher Ricky Bobby, “If you…

Should Cup Series Drivers Compete in Any Other Forms of Racing?

During the past week we have seen video clips of NASCAR racers Kyle Larson and Christopher Bell taking wild rides as they raced Midget Sprint Cars in New Zealand. And as is often the case whenever high-profile drivers are involved in incidents away from NASCAR, the opinions regarding whether they should have even been participating arise. Larson emerged from his accident a bit battered and bruised with a black eye being the obvious sign that something had gone wrong. Despite that, he continued to race and to win “Down Under”. For his part, Bell left New Zealand and headed back…

Thank You, Racing!

To say that we are living in some turbulent times is not exactly breaking news to anyone. Political tension, international tension, racial tension, religious tension, and generational tension are all a part of the daily narrative we are bombarded with on television news broadcasts, social media, internet websites, and even newspapers. With all of that, 2019 has certainly been a year filled with uncertainty, anxiety and even anger. On a personal note, add to all of those issues mentioned above that I began the year by burying my father, who passed away last New Year’s Eve. Of course, all of…