NFL’s potential 18-game regular season expansion could prove troublesome for NASCAR fans

The Daytona 500 would end up clashing with the Super Bowl on President's Day in February.

NFL’s potential 18-game regular season expansion could prove troublesome for NASCAR fans

Roger Goodell's strategies have resulted in the NFL viewership skyrocketing this season. (IMAGE: AP)

Roger Goodell dropped a bomb on players and fans recently when he hinted at the prospect of an 18-game NFL season.

This is surprising considering that it has just been 3 years since the league switched to the existing 17-game schedule. In the bigger picture, this would mean that the Super Bowl will be moved up to the third weekend of February.

YouTube video

For fans, this expansion would come in the form of good news because this would mean that the Super Bowl will fall on President’s Day weekend.

FS Video

Fans will naturally take a day off from work the next day, which would work perfectly in the favor of the viewers and the NFL. But if Roger Goodell is serious about his intent to add another game to the season, then it would be disastrous for NASCAR and the Daytona 500, as pointed out by BeyondTheFlag.

Football is the most-watched game in all of America. There is a reason why other leagues do not schedule their games during the NFL season or on Thursdays, Sundays, and Mondays during the football season. Fans will opt to watch football, and they will record lower viewership rates. The Daytona 500 has been held on the President’s Day weekend on most occasions in its 66-year existence.

A President’s Day Super Bowl would force NASCAR to re-design its entire calendar year

NASCAR will have to make a big change if the NFL goes ahead with this proposed change. The 36-race schedule kicks off with the Great American Race on President’s Day weekend. 

Roger Goodell
Roger Goodell (via Imago)

An alternative move would be to switch up the timings of the race, but again, it would not be the absolute solution as fans are more likely to stick to watching the Super Bowl and gear up for that experience alone. Not to mention, the race will not leave a lot of empty seats in the stands.

Again, in terms of broadcasting the race, NASCAR will run into another issue, which is the primary network on which it is telecast. FOX Sports will naturally opt to give more attention to covering the Super Bowl. This would mean the Daytona 500 would have to be broadcast on FOX Sports 1. 

It is an unfortunate situation for NASCAR because, in terms of popularity and finances, it is far behind the NFL. If the league decides this is how it wants to do things and moves forward with an 18-game season, then there is not much that can stop them.

All NASCAR can do is appeal to them, but the league would just ask them to start their season a week later. Roger Goodell has not been one to back off, especially not when he wants to get something done his way.

In case you missed it: