I would really have to disagree. The Lack of Road Racing is the single biggest reason we see crap loads of cautions in a race because people simply can't drive. Sure, they "test" and get practice at various tracks but testing doesn't not do much, especially since its at two completely different tracks. I also disagree that Watkins Glen doesn't have enough passing zones as their are plenty. Is just again, the lack of road racing that makes Stock car racing there usually a wreck fest. I personally think they should remove any Oval that isn't bringing the crowds and replace it with Montreal and Road America. As seen with the Nationwide races, both sold out and had record number crowds that far exceeded the attendance on the ovals. I also think Both the Glen and Sonoma should have races featuring the full course configurations instead of these somewhat lack luster Short courses.
Im against more road races because NASCAR is an oval racing series. It's what all the local short trackers look up to. What are they going to do if NASCAR gets more and more road races and all their oval skills learned from the lower levels dont mean as much anymore? Or they get done running an oval race Friday night on the 1/4 mile and on Sunday the Cup drivers are racing at Road America?
Before I go further I should say that to me every racing series should be an equal mix of short ovals, medium ovals, long ovals, street courses and permanent road courses. Sort of what CART had in the 90s. However, like I said earlier, when F1 starts adding ovals then NASCAR should add more roadcourses. F1 is so far stuck up their butts every team refused to even run a few parade laps around the oval during the USGP. "That's not what we're here for." NASCAR is a oval racing series. I dont want to see more road courses. F1 is a road racing series. Im sure their fans dont want to see ovals. Does NASCAR provide fabulous road racing? Yes. Would F1 provide fabulous oval racing? I think so, but do they race them? No.
Also, lack of experience on road races is not totally responsible for the wreck fests. These cars weigh so much, have so much power and so little brake with skinny tires. Everyone today missed a corner and had damage. With so many passing opportunities and hard braking zones because of the cars they were bound to get tore up. It would be reduced if the oval track drivers had more experience, but with the nature of the cars it wouldnt disappear
Im not sure if replacing poor attendance ovals with road courses is the way to go. I think poor attendance on some ovals is due to either hte oval being another cookie cutout or some fans getting sick of the Busch whackers. At the Cup level casual fans dont like Little E not being competitive. Gordon isn't winning. Only hated drivers like Johnson Ky Busch are winning. But this discussion is for another day.
CART was my favorite racing series of all time because they had the perfect mix of race tracks.
Im looking at the '94 season now...
6 street/airport courses
4 short oval (1 mile or shorter)
4 permanent road course
2 long oval (2 miles or longer)
Perfect 50/50 mix of ovals and street courses. That's what made CART so unique. NASCAR is unique because its the only real major racing series in the WORLD that is ovals only. I think there is great racing on ovals so I dont see any reason NASCAR needs to stop dropping oval dates for road courses. If go to unique ovals in Europe
