2008 NASCAR running thread

How is this any different than a four-hour rain delay in baseball? If they can get it in, they'll get it in. It's only 8 p.m. in the West.

 

It's California Speedway. The racing has been boring there since it opened. It's like racing on I-10. Feel free to put in some banking.

Though there is talk it will switch late summer/fall dates with Atlanta.

 

Yup. Penske's dream could be built over with homes within five years.

 

It's Fontana. Trust me, they don't care.

 

NASCAR shouldn't abandon the SoCal market. No way. But these two dates are the most idiotic possible. The Labor Day weekend sticks in all the traditionalists' craw, and hi-tailing it to Cali one week after Daytona is equally dumb.

Of course, there aren't too many places NASCAR can go after Daytona, but how about Homestead? Make a little Florida swing to start the season, and use another track as the season finale. Homestead isn't exactly an iconic place to crown the champion, though none of the sponsors have ever complained about being feted in Miami.

 

NASCAR won't leave Fontucky. But it needs to move the dates. Or put in some banking to add some appeal to the racing.

 

That wasn't my initial idea...but yeah, why not? If star-studded L.A. loves its awards ceremonies, then give them the year-end NASCAR shebang. And stop putting a race up against the Oscars.

Per the Oscars, I used to think that it wasn't a big deal -- it's not like the guys on top of the campers scalped their Oscar tickets in favor of Fontana -- but I've changed my thinking. Why go somewhere where you are guaranteed to never, ever be the biggest story in town? That goes against every fiber of the NASCAR p.r. machine.