Blame NASCAR's Scheduling, Not Weather, for Daytona Finish

A friend from Denver -- a new NASCAR fan -- called up the morning after the Daytona 500 disappointed and feeling like he got short-changed.

He said stopping the race 48 laps short felt like watching an NFL game being played in bad weather with the referees just deciding whoever was ahead in the third quarter got the win.

As I explained to him -- and as Daytona 500 winner Matt Kenseth has unfortunately felt obligated to explain on every talk show appearance he's made since earning his first 500 trophy -- everyone knows the game and Kenseth's team simply played it best.

Every crew chief had the same access to the weather reports and knew rain was on the way. And since the race was well beyond the 101 laps (halfway plus a lap) needed to make it official, it was time to mash the pedal.

And that's exactly what Kenseth, Kevin Harvick, A.J. Allmendinger, Clint Bowyer, Elliott Sadler and the rest of the top-finishing drivers did. It's called strategy.

NASCAR's problem is getting that message out to new fans or those casual observers that tune in to the biggest races such as the Daytona 500, but don't follow the sport regularly.

Could NASCAR have waited out the rain shower and re-started the race?

As one reporter cynically noted, a couple of FOX's biggest hit shows, "The Family Guy" and "The Simpsons" were on deck anyway. And we know modern day NASCAR is all about what works best for network TV. Clearly, a rain delay didn't.

But maybe the point isn't how the race ended, but when races begin.

NASCAR should have the flexibility to start these races sooner. When bad weather is approaching, speed up driver introductions, run fewer pace laps and nix part of the pre-race entertainment or commercial time-outs. Ninety percent of the fans are there by driver intros and TV could shorten its pre-race show.

Ironically, NASCAR may have to deal with this again this week in Southern California, which is getting deluged with rain.

The late starting times are one of the worst moves NASCAR has made in recent years. For decades, fans could count on a 1 p.m. Sunday afternoon start -- and the consistency was vital in building the fan base and audience.
But like the Daytona 500, this week's race in Fontana, Calif. is a 3 p.m. local start -- 6 p.m. EST. Only two of the 36 races will begin before 2 p.m. -- 10 will be night races.

NASCAR won't be changing its schedule any time soon, so in the meantime, don't begrudge Kenseth his Daytona win.

There may be a lot more decided this way.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

2-17-2009 @ 9:07PM

illsell4u said...

I would say the majority of people understand how the game is played. They just don't like it. Rarely when a race is called early is the man in the lead the best car on the track. Deep down people know that Nascar is not going to start a race early and lose out on the TV money it needs to keep their pockets full.
How about some reporting on Nascar considering changing the lineups on the restart to keep the lapped cars at the back of the pack where they belong instead of getting in the way of and wrecking the best teams on the track? When Nascar introduced the "Lucky Dog" they should have done away with this out of date, and now unnecessary advantage, they give to the back markers.
MBL

2-17-2009 @ 11:36PM

dryan73072 said...

This 3:30 start time is ridiculous. I was there with my son in 05" and it was one of the loooooongest days I ever spent at an event of any kind. We need to get things back to where they were years back cause all these "new" ways ain't workin' out too well.

2-17-2009 @ 11:48PM

Rick62 said...

whats wrong starting the races at 1:00pm local time like they used to do alot of people are on their way to chuch service at the end of the races now so that is where nascar can do what they want since no one is watching

2-18-2009 @ 8:37AM

buttcrackobamy said...

Brian France is as out of touch with the folks as the Queen of England. This guy just doesn't get it..

2-18-2009 @ 10:01AM

How about an objective tv person, not afraid to give their opinion? alan bestwick is a GM buttboy, dw has ownwership interests with toyota, mike joy is a GM buttboy, the pit reporters are a disgrace, every race is like a driver love fest. Hammond,and McReynolds are the only guys even close to being objective.

2-18-2009 @ 10:30AM

Jayson said...

They should have waited under red for an hour or two to make sure the rain wasn't going to stop. I was watching post race coverage and they were talking about how it stopped raining. I don't know if it started back up later as they left the air but come on it's the 500 give it an hour or two. Also they need to change the format and make it so they will try to finish the race the next day (even if it's past half way), if it's still raining the next day then make the car leading winner.

2-18-2009 @ 11:25AM

RMAGGIE2 said...

THE RACES START LATE SO THE TRACKS CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ALL THE EXPENSIVE LIGHTING THEY BOUGHT. IT MAKES A BETTER SHOW ON TV. THEY DON'T CARE IF THE FANS HAVE TO SIT THERE ALL DAY. THE HOUR AND A HALF PRE SHOW SHOULD BE CUT TO HALF AN HOUR.

2-18-2009 @ 12:35PM

DICKIE said...

CUT THE PRERACE SHOW. IF RACE IS NOT COMPLETED GIVE THE FANS THEIR REFUND.ITS LIKE A HOME PROJECT YOU START DOING AND IT RAINS. YOU DONT CALL IT FINISHED AND COME BACK NEXT YEAR.WE NEED A DOME OVER THE TRACKS...YEA HOW ABOUT IT.???????

2-18-2009 @ 1:47PM

mike said...

nascar gave kenseth the race....

2-18-2009 @ 2:30PM

television commercials are more expensive at night..

2-18-2009 @ 2:55PM

gorjing said...

NASCAR need to get their head out of their ass and start the races at a realistic time!

2-18-2009 @ 4:22PM

bjohnboy1 said...

the longer the race is the more money they can make,they start the race late and have all day to make money,that what counts in nascar nothing esle, the fans are last on nascar minds,and they will have old DW tell you the same next week that they were right,they have to say what nascar tells the to say,so they can kiss all the drivers for sucking up to nascar,and by the way Matt won just get over it we know that you all wanted Jr to win but the boy just cant drive

2-18-2009 @ 4:25PM

thats good,i am glad no GM driver won they are in nascar pockett,and JR cant drive a lick,and look at all them races nascar gave Gorden and Jimmie and that no driving Dale Jr

2-18-2009 @ 7:40PM

Marilyn said...

if you all remember micheal waltrip won the daytona the same way and am not talking about the one where dale got killed 1 year later rain start it at noon central time and you wont have this problem . love nascar

2-18-2009 @ 11:08PM

Bob said...

Hey Dickie, I think you may be on to something. Not the domes, but the tickets--they should pass a rule where the ticket prices are pro-rated by the amount of laps run. If NASCAR chooses to end a race early, without at least waiting a certain number of hours, then they must refund from the ticket price whatever percentage of laps were not completed. For example, this race lost roughly 25% of the laps, so the people should get back 25% of the ticket price. Do I think NASCAR would go for it? No. It's about RACING to us, but it's about MONEY to them.

2-19-2009 @ 8:43AM

tebo5692 said...

you know that the real problem is the time they start ,now in calf a start time of 3:oopm est is ok because of the time zone , but we really need to do is get rid of those gas bags that suck up two and a half hours ,, talking about the same stuff you hear about all week long , stop wasting time with that bull of talking and lets go racing , i run my sprints cars in the summer .and still try to watch nascar to , but this year ,i'm going to leave the tv home!!!!!!!!!!

2-19-2009 @ 10:05AM

John said...

What I dont understand is why NASCAR, when it was known, they could not reclaim the track, didnt just come back the next day. Its the Daytona 500, the "Super Bowl" of NASCAR. That question seems to be the leper of the week. Is it because NASCAR has crufified the schedule so badly by having a west coast swing the very next week?

I think they should start all races no later than 1:30 pm of the time zone of the track. They should also have the flexibility to move races up, if they have enough knowledge of impending weather.

2-19-2009 @ 3:39PM

darbar said...

First of all, the rain didn't totally stop until after 10pm. It takes three hours to dry the 2 1/2 mile track. Do you really think it's safe to put those drivers back in race cars after all that time and so late? They would be so tired and a tired driver is a dangerous driver.

As for restarting the next day, that could not happen. Teams needed to get back to Charlotte and repack their haulers and get on the road to Fontana no later than 10am on Tuesday. If they pushed the race to Monday, the teams would not be able to be in California in time.

Nascar is still trying to please the California fans, and most of us know that there are few fans in that state. To hell with the West Coast fans, start the races at 1pm. If they're real fans they won't have a problem with watching a race that starts at 10am. Hell, they don't seem to have a problem watching NFL games that start at that time.

2-19-2009 @ 4:28PM

nascar just cant do much of anything right....that race sunday was a mess.....why didnt they announce the race would be called on a certain lap? i like the roush teams, but this was just too much....like referees in a football game just deciding to quit one one team is ahead....

2-19-2009 @ 7:56PM

Casino31 said...

Good points by Ms. Cain.

1. NASCAR needs to go back to having the 2nd race of the year in Rockingham, N.C. After spending 2 weeks in Daytona, it be most convienient to have the next race close to their Charlotte shops and the Rock provided that benefit.

2. 3:30 Eastern is a little ridiculous for the Daytona 500. Move it up to 2 Eastern and that would be a more fair compromise. NASCAR is not immune to being blinded by $$$.

Now my response to others.

DICKIE - A dome would be a little too extreme. The refund for not a completed race is a good idea.

bjohnboy1 - Cut some GM drivers some slack. Namely Mark Martin and Jeff Burton. If one of those two won, they could be driving a Subaru and many would still be happy.

Marilyn - It was 2 years later. Ward Burton won the one 1 year after Dale Earnhardt's death.

I do agree with John of outside the 500 (no later than 2 Eastern) and the Saturday night races, the day races should be no later than 1:30 local time.