The start time debate

         Over the years NASCAR has shifted from its traditional 1:00pm EST start times to 2:30-5:30 EST start times. This was a move to try and move NASCAR closer to the prime time slot. This move has some benefits but also needs some ironing out. Tracks with no lights getting later start times, while also tracks with lights not using them at all unless weather permits needs to be looked at. Also I believe the flexibility in moving a start time up should be looked at more as well. Let’s get into it.

           The later start times gives people time to do stuff throughout the day and then once race time rolls around, there isn’t much to do but watch the race. It’s also more desirable to tv networks to have later start times because that is when most of the nation is up, as compared to an earlier start time. Now the argument to this is some fans feel that the later start time takes away their day because they can’t do anything after the race because it finishes later, as compared to finishing earlier and still having daylight left. 

      A complaint from some fans is that later start times gives fans less time to get back home after the race before work in the morning. I will say myself that I went to WWTRaceway earlier this year for the Cup race, and the race started at around 2:45pm CST (3:45EST), and it ended at around 5:30 CST (6:30 EST). I didn’t mind the later start time but feel it could’ve maybe been scheduled an hour earlier, especially if the race wasn’t going to be under the lights. Other than that I enjoyed it but the travel back from the track did take up the rest of my day. So from a fan at the track standpoint I get it.

       Now I also went to Nashville Superspeedway back in June, and that race started at 2:50pm CST , but rain came in at 4:23pm. The track was dried and the race was still able to finish (after an endless amount of OT attempts) around 7:30. Maybe an earlier start time would’ve helped NASCAR beat the rain, but I also question why this race was even being ran during the day. The track has lights yet the race was being ran in the heat of the Tennessee sun. This could’ve been a night race to combat the heat. I believe if the track is lit it should at these bless the fans with some sort of night racing (Kansas, Las Vegas I’m looking at y’all) that way it makes the event have a new feel.

      Another argument that’s very strong in the start time debates was on full display this past Sunday at Michigan as well as Chicago earlier in the year. This would be the later start times at tracks that aren’t lit as this makes it increasingly more likely that a race could run into a situation where it can’t finish before darkness, as compared to a earlier start time. Both of these races saw stunning weather hours leading up to the race but both races were met by rain right at the green flag and the start was delayed for both. Michigan would only get 50 laps in altogether on Sunday and the race resumed on Monday, and the Chicago race was shortened to a timed race. Starting races at these kinds of tracks at 3:30-4:30 can have NASCAR racing against daylight in cases of weather delays, red flags, anything that could delay the race. New Hampshire was another impacted race that had to be moved up due to rain, but the rain still disrupted the race as there was a 2 hour red flag. This race would finish before darkness on wet weather tires. I still believe that this is another track that should have a 1pm EST start simply because the track doesn’t have lights.

         Now a positive that I do like is a prime time Sunday night NASCAR race but only at well lit tracks. As a motorsports fan, it’s the perfect night cap to a day full of racing and the perfect way to end the weekend. I do think that this time slot should be reserved for races that have a holiday the next day (coke 600, southern 500). This is because not only are a lot of people off the next day, but if there is rain, NASCAR could wait it out that night, or race on the holiday the next day. However when weather isn’t a factor it definitely feels good to get a good ole day to night transition race. 

        I get both sides of the debate but if I’m being honest I feel that a 2-3 EST start would be the most effective option with tracks with no lights starting at 1pm EST. Also the Sunday night races outside of the marquee races should maybe run on a Saturday night. I miss those.