NASCAR’s introduction of the NextGen car has created a landscape where the sport’s best racing has done a complete 180-degree turn. The NASCAR Cup Series used to have the best racing on short tracks and road courses; however, intermediate tracks have taken the top spot while short tracks and road courses continue to struggle.
While the sport will never take away the short tracks, there is a case to be made for the road courses, specifically two of them. Both the Charlotte ROVAL and Indianapolis Road Course used to race on the oval layouts of their respective venues. NASCAR decided to move toward a road course layout in an effort for more road courses.
However, the time for more road courses in NASCAR has come to an end, specifically on the ROVAL layouts. Several drivers have the desire for Indianapolis Motor Speedway to return to the oval layout and that should be the case in 2024. Also, there could be a push for Charlotte Motor Speedway to make its playoff date an oval layout too.
Quite frankly, that is the best decision. The ROVAL has run its course and several individuals would prefer more 1.5-mile track racing since it is the best style right now. In fact, this is something Brad Keselowski brought up on social media. Keselowski said the sport needs more 1.5-mile tracks as road course racing is the worst to watch with the NextGen car.
Agreed.
We went from 1.5 mile tracks being the worst and road courses being the best races to watch with Gen6 car:
To now, 1.5 mile tracks being the best and road courses being the worst racing to watch with NextGen cup car.
Interesting to watch this play out. We need more 1.5 https://t.co/ggXRdo3lwt
— Brad Keselowski (@keselowski) September 11, 2023
Keselowski is certainly not alone on that topic. If NASCAR is truly considering the idea of moving Watkins Glen International to the playoffs, then maybe a change is coming to Charlotte’s playoff date. Maybe, the idea of the Cup Series going to famous venues only to run the road course and not the oval is growing old to people.
Still, the point remains that fans and drivers want to have good racing. The road courses are simply not providing that and at least two of those dates are easily expendable. The 2024 Cup Series schedule is coming out sooner rather than later and many expect to see changes to Indianapolis, Bristol, and the playoffs.
The last one that should be closely monitored is Charlotte because Circuit of the Americas, Sonoma, the Chicago Street Course, and Wakins Glen are not going anywhere. With a potential addition of Montreal, that brings the tally up to five races. If less road course racing is the goal, then getting rid of the Indianapolis Road Course and the Charlotte ROVAL should be the outcome.
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