Originally Posted on February 23, 2006 on Foxsports.com
Mid-way through the year, Nascar sends out feelers for its new schedule. It's as if prepping fans, owners, track presidents and the media will prevent the universal hissing for the new schedule.
In all fairness, Nascar does not make major changes that often. However, in recent memory, it has killed the Southern 500 by removing the Labor Day race from Darlington, given Texas another date, canceled all races at Rockingham and steadfastly refused to consider new dates at some other tracks (ie Kentucky).
With the prospect of two new tracks with Cup dates in the next decade (Seattle and New York City), the already crowded schedule could become unmanageable. ISC says Seattle has been tabled - for now, and New York is quite a while in the making.
The schedule is too long. There are 36 points events each year and two non-points events. There are only three off weeks - and two of them happen in the first 8 races of the year. The final 16 races - nearly half the schedule, occurs without any break given to the teams.
This is my attempt to resolve the schedule. Admittedly, I haven't hacked enough races out of the schedule (I've only lost 1 race). I've used the 2006 schedule as an example, so that you can see how my proposal differs from this year's calendar. The first half of the season does not change very much at all. Some of the changes are to accommodate cross-country travel - does it make sense to put two long travel races together with a week inbetween? Why not travel out and stay out there?
I've also noted what kind of track is involved. S= short track (less than 1 mile); I = intermediate (more than 1 mile); R= restrictor plate; and Rd= Road.
My proposal includes alternating races at tracks - for example, Track #1 gets the race in odd number years and Track #2 gets the race in even years.
Let me know what you think. I originally wanted to do more alternate year tracks, but couldn't decide who needed to share!
2006 Schedule Date My proposed Schedule
Bud Shootout 2/12/06
1. Daytona (R ) 2/19/06 Bud Shootout
2. California (I) 2/26/06 1. Daytona (R )
Week Off 3/5/06 2. California (I)
3. Las Vegas (I) 3/12/06 3. Las Vegas (I)
4. Atlanta (I) 3/19/06 4. Atlanta (I)
5. Bristol (S) 3/26/06 5. Bristol (S)
6. Martinsville (S) 4/2/06 6. Texas (I)
7. Texas (I) 4/9/06 7. Phoenix
Week off 4/16/06 Week off
8. Phoenix (S) 4/22/06 8. Martinsville (S)
9. Talladega (R ) 4/30/06 9. Talladega (R )
10. Richmond (S) 5/6/06 10. Richmond (S)
11. Darlington (I) 5/13/06 11. Darlington (I)
All-Star Race (Lowe's) 5/20/06 All- Star Race (Lowe's)
12. Lowe's (I) 5/28/06 12. Lowe's (I)
13. Dover (S) 6/4/06 13. Dover (S)
14. Pocono (I) 6/11/06 14. Pocono (I)
15. Michigan (I) 6/18/06 15. Michigan (I)
16. Infineon (Rd) 6/25/06 16. Infineon/Watk Glen (Rd)(alt.)
17. Daytona (R ) 7/1/06 17. Daytona (R )
18. Chicago (I) 7/9/06 18. Chicago (I)
19. New Hampshire (S) 7/16/06 19. New Hampshire (S)
20. Pocono (I) 7/23/06 20. California/Darlington (I)
Week off 7/30/06 Week off
21. Indianapolis (I) 8/6/06 21. Indianapolis (I)
22. Watkins Glen (Rd) 8/13/06 22. Michigan (I)
23. Michigan (I) 8/20/06 23. Bristol (S)
24. Bristol (S) 8/26/06 24. Texas (I)
25. California (I) 9/03/06 25. Richmond (S)
26. Richmond (S) 9/9/06 Week Off
Chase for the Championship:
27. New Hampshire (S) 9/17/06 26. Vegas/Chicago (I)
28. Dover (S) 9/24/06 27. Martinsville (S)
29. Kansas (I) 10/1/06 28.Infineon/Watk. Glen (Rd) (alt)
30. Talladega (R ) 10/8/06 29. Kansas (I)
31. Lowe's (I) 10/14/06 30. Dover (S)
32. Martinsville (S) 10/22/06 31. Talladega (R )
33. Atlanta (I) 10/29/06 32. Lowe's (I)
34. Texas (I) 11/5/06 33. Phoenix (S)
35. Phoenix (S) 11/12/06 34. Atlanta (I)
36. Homestead (S) 11/19/06 35. Homestead (S)
No comments:
Post a Comment