The NASCAR weekend used to be filled with constant on track activity back in the day. For fans who’ve been around when the red and white paint on the walls of race tracks were replaced with big yellow signs of a cell phone carrier that doesn’t even exist anymore, they can remember the little jingle that SPEED Channel used to play when several two hour practice sessions for the Cup Series began on a Friday afternoon during the season.
Nowadays, we’re only left with just 20 minutes split between two groups, and then qualifying rolls off right after on a Saturday. In fact, just this May at the Kansas Speedway, the NASCAR weekend was technically only a two day show, as a five hour test session for the ARCA Menards Series was held on a perfect weather Friday in the midwest.
Where has the time gone? What happened?
COVID-19 had a lot to do with it. In order to save money for the teams, NASCAR in the 2020 season canceled all qualifying and practice sessions for each of the top three series, with the exception of qualifying at the Coca-Cola 600 that May. In 2021, NASCAR only allowed P&Q sessions for the six new tracks that were added on to the schedule. Now, it’s a 20 minute, two group show, that could all be easily done on the same day as the race.
Entering five years away from COVID, it’s time NASCAR returns to on track activity being a normal at, instead of a rarity. But do we really want long and almost meaningless practice sessions back? Do we just want noise on track for the folks camping in the infield?
It’s time we make some meaning out of something viewed as meaningless to the average viewer.
Speedweek(s) is something that is special to NASCAR, and something that shouldn’t be changed. But one thing that makes Speedweek(s) special, is the fact that you have pole qualifying that sets the starting line up for the Daytona 500, but the on Thursday night is the Duels at Daytona, which set the starting lineup from third to 40th and determines who stays and who goes home.
What if we take the magic that the Duels give to Daytona, and make it a regular thing for the regular season?
NASCAR tried this idea back in 2016 for the Dash 4 Cash races in the Xfinity Series, except they were called “Heat Races” and took away some of the laps that would be in a normal race. For those who remember the ToyotaCare 250, the actual race was only 140 laps, with the 70 remaining split in two for a 35 lap heat race between two groups.
What if instead of taking away from the race, we add instead?
The Duels at Daytona consist of two 60 lap races between two groups, with it totaling up to 120 laps and 300 miles, 60% of the 500 itself. What if NASCAR held qualifying races each Saturday that were each 30% of the actual race distance that would be run on Sunday? For example, this weekend at Homestead is 400 miles, 267 laps around a mile and a half track. If we take 60% of 267, that would come out as 160 laps total, meaning an 80 lap shootout to determine the starting lineup on Sunday for each group.
The best part is, we can still have qualifying. Not only can we still see the best of the best go for the pole, but there could be a strategy on what group you could be in, and who is in what group. These Duels/Sprint Races (whatever you want to call them) can not only determine where you start, but can also award points towards the regular season for the top 10 in the finishing order, much like the current Duels at Daytona.
Not only do I think this would boost TV ratings for Saturday’s, as it could be used as a lead-in for either the Xfinity Series or the Craftsman Truck Series, but this would help the fans out who want to be at the track. Can’t make Sunday? Well you can see Kyle Larson or Tyler Reddick race on Saturdays too if you want. Grab a ticket and watch him battle for the best spot for Sunday.
The biggest benefactor out of this would be the campers/fans at track. You could have an hour long practice session and qualifying on Friday, the Duels on Saturday, and the big race on Sunday. You now can get your money’s worth by dragging your fifth wheel or RV to the track and can watch cars on track.
At the end of the day, NASCAR need’s to strengthen its on track activity. Could qualifying races fix it? It’s certainly worth a shot.
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