Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

The fans have spoken and NASCAR listened

Race broadcasts showing empty seats in the grandstands, further declines in TV viewership and the fans’ anger with the sport’s direction finally reached the point were NASCAR believed it could no longer ignore what was staring it in the face.

NASCAR hopes these changes will resonate with fans, make them feel more connected and bring them back to the grandstands and their couches to watch an improved form of racing.

The headline on the press release from the sanctioning body used the term “Back to Basics.” Thank goodness.

The changes will include:

  • Bump-drafting rules are no more at Daytona and Talladega.
  • Teams will use a bigger restrictor plate at Daytona starting with next month’s Daytona 500.
  • The rear wing of the car will be replaced with a spoiler.

Testing of the spoiler is scheduled for March. Following that, NASCAR will make a decision on when the spoilers will start appearing on the cars.

“Over the past 10 years we’ve dramatically increased safety and that mission continues. However, it’s time for us to allow drivers to drive. We don’t want the rules and regulations to get in the way of great racing and fantastic finishes,” Brian France said on Thursday. “NASCAR is a contact sport — our history is based on banging fenders.”

I would argue that even if the fans’ anger wasn’t an issue, these changes were necessary in order to attempt to improve the level of competition and make Sprint Cup racing a more appealing product.

Turning a deaf ear to the fans’ concerns would only produce fewer people in the stands and lower television ratings. NASCAR didn’t need to risk becoming racing’s version of Martha Coakley, the tone-deaf Democratic Senate candidate who lost in Massachusetts.

This week's StockcarToon looks at the changes that are coming to NASCAR.

This week's StockcarToon

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