The beginning of one other NASCAR season is right here. All groups are hoping to win races and compete for a championship.
Because the mid 80’s, the Daytona 500 and the lead up occasions kicked off the beginning of the Cup season. It was in 1980 when NASCAR and Busch beer got here up with the thought of the Busch Conflict – a non-points race that includes the pole sitters from the earlier season. It was a teaser for the upcoming Daytona 500 and mixed with the ARCA race on the identical day.
Through the years, the Busch Conflict format had been adjusted, extra laps have been added to it, and even the title modified. It was not a brief (20 laps) race that includes the earlier season’s pole sitters. As every change got here to the race, fan curiosity turned much less and fewer over that point. NASCAR was seeking to reboot the race.
In 2021, NASCAR determined to carry the Conflict on Daytona’s street course. That call was pushed by groups in search of methods to have the race with out getting loads of vehicles torn up in a pack racing occasion. Whereas some appreciated the change, many didn’t embrace the change as a result of they didn’t need their first foray of the season to be a street course exhibition race.
Previous to the 2022 season, NASCAR got here up with the thought to carry the Conflict on the L.A. Coliseum, dwelling of the USC Trojans soccer group. That race had loads of fanfare and buzz as a result of it was one thing new and it was additionally the debut of the Subsequent Gen automotive. Like most issues, the occasion didn’t have the identical flare in 2023 and the 2024 version was hampered by climate.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. recommended on a current podcast the Conflict ought to return to Daytona and be what it was at first – a 20-lap race for the pole sitters from the earlier season. I agree with that. However NASCAR and the group house owners have made it clear they don’t need two weekends of actions for the Daytona 500. The aim is to avoid wasting the groups cash. But, NASCAR required all full-time groups drive throughout nation to Los Angeles for a race they weren’t assured to be in. The place was the associated fee saving with that plan? If the aim of taking the Conflict away from Daytona is to stop a bunch of wrecked race vehicles, how a couple of race the place they will experiment with the principles and hold the vehicles from being in such tight packs? If profitable, it might be used for future superspeedway races.
The standard Speedweeks format was qualifying, the Conflict, and the ARCA race on the weekend previous to the Daytona 500. The Duels nonetheless happen on Thursday earlier than the five hundred after which the Daytona 500 every week later. That constructed up loads of buzz that lasted a complete week.
Now, the Conflict is held on the opposite facet of the nation in an space that doesn’t care lots for NASCAR. If it did, they’d not be within the strategy of demolishing Auto Membership Speedway in close by Fontana. Pole qualifying takes place on a Wednesday night time and the Duels are held the subsequent night time. With qualifying being a mid-week occurring, there isn’t a buzz for it and the five hundred. Groups need to lower your expenses. Why not take the cash they’re spending to carry a race in a soccer stadium and have an additional weekend of actions at Daytona?
NASCAR appears to be its personal worst enemy relating to over saturating their product or not being aggressive sufficient in different areas. The Daytona 500 and the occasions round that race must be a solution to get followers excited for the beginning of one other season. That isn’t occurring as of late. NASCAR wants to repair this or simply get rid of the Conflict and the Duels and make it like each different race on the schedule. As a result of proper now, that’s what it’s turning into – simply one other race.
