NASCAR and its legacy are built up on the short tracks and ovals. But to the disappointment of a majority of fans, the sport has been adding more road course races to the schedule. The move came at the cost of short tracks something which the racing community isn’t fond of.
The premier stock car racing organization put out its schedule for the 2023 season. The introduction of North Wilkesboro to the schedule has made the fans really happy. The controversial introduction of the Chicago street Race has also raised some eyebrows. But the thing that disappointed the most was the number of road courses on the schedule.
Denny Hamlin is one of the most outspoken drivers in the cup grid. The veteran’s words are widely respected in the community. The No:11 Joe Gibbs Racing driver in a recent session with SiriusXM NASCAR Radio has come forth expressing his distaste towards the number of road courses on the schedule.
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Find out what Denny Hamlin said
Denny Hamlin questioned the purpose of road courses and why the Roval’s are still on the schedule. Denny Hamlin pointed out that the 2022 season saw some excellent short-track racing in May. He added that it was a reaction to old NASCAR fans not coming to tracks.
“What are we going to the Roval still for? That’s not really a purpose-built road course. The racing on the oval was fantastic in May. I think that we did that as a reaction to the old car and people not coming out and things like that,” Denny Hamlin said.
Denny Hamlin went on to say that he thinks the number of road courses in the schedule is a bit too much. He pointed out that NASCAR was built about short tracks and ovals, with beating and banging racing, and that’s where the sport is good at.
“I just think we’re starting to get flooded with a little bit too much road course action, where we need to be good at what we’re good at, and that is this sport was built on short tracks, oval tracks, beating, and banging,” Denny Hamlin added.
Denny Hamlin added that NASCAR is getting out of the zone with these new road courses as they are not IMSA. He explained that he doesn’t believe having more than five road course races on the schedule helps the sport in any way.
“I just worry about us kind of getting out of our zone of what we are, which is NASCAR. We aren’t IMSA. So why do we want to be IMSA? I just think that we really kind of, there’s a place on the schedule for all of them. I think four to five road courses — are fantastic. Start getting in the seven, eight, yeah, it’s a challenge to me to kind of wrap my head around how does that make us better,” Denny Hamlin explained.
What is your thought on Denny Hamlin’s words?
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