Originally posted on Foxsports blogs on August 20, 2007.
I have a semi-secret routine. On Friday night, I go to a dirt track and watch door to door racing. Saturday night, repeat. Sunday, go to church, read the newspaper, and cheer on my favorite Cup driver. Top off with Wind Tunnel, and I'm blissfully happy when Monday morning arrives.
That is, until Nascar schedules a Saturday night race.
Then I'm torn between going to the track and staying home to watch. Why the dilemma?
S - Short tracks like Phoenix, Bristol and Richmond promote the best racing. Night races are run at "longer" tracks like Charlotte and California, but shorter is better.
A - Accidents. Nighttime fosters spectacular crashes: sparks fly, sheet metal crunches, and the carnage looks worse than in daylight.
T - Tracks, primarily local ones, suffer with the night schedule. Go to your local track on Cup race night, and you'll park next to the promoter. Local tracks patchwork dates to not step on each other's toes. Schedule realignment isn't possible, because there aren't enough nights available. Kill local tracks, kill the system developing the next superstar.
U - Up all Night watching the race. Running 500 miles starting at 7 p.m. means the race won't end until after 11. Time zones exacerbate the problem on both coasts.
R - Rivalries explode during night races. Remember Wallace - Gordon? Or Waltrip - Yarborough?
D - Daylight blinds drivers before sunset. Windshield and helmet tear-offs become driver's best friend.
A - Available seats may be hard to come by. Ask Bristol wannabe ticket holders. Go to California, and there are seats aplenty.
Y - Yellow flags lengthen the races. Infamously, Charlotte's 2005 Coca-Cola 600 had over 22 yellow flags.
N - New paint schemes debut on track, running only once.
I - Intimidator. Who can forget his runs at Bristol in 1995 and 1999? He, more than anyone, made night racing exciting.
G - Glowing brake rotors from hard charging the corners signify short track night racing.
H - Heat dissipates as the night advances. Given hot summer weather, everyone welcomes a cool night.
T - Truncated weekends equals support series issues. If Cup runs on Saturday, that leaves Friday for truck or Busch series. Night racing does not mean shorter weekends: it typically requires 2 days travel and 2 days for racing, if attending both races.
For me, the balance has tipped, as I can track the Nascar race and be at the track. With my web-enabled cellphone churning out updates while watching live racing, I can then listen to the end of the Cup race on the drive home, possibly catching the last laps on TV.
Night races are special occasions - because they're rare. Adding more dilutes the excitement, the uniqueness. Leave me Phoenix, Bristol, and Richmond, but I'm with Bill France, Sr. :
"Stock car racing has got distinct possibilities for Sunday shows and we do not know how big it can be if it's handled properly." December 14, 1947.
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