Does NASCAR Need a New Season Opener?

The Daytona 500 has been the first points race of the NASCAR Cup Series season since 1982.  As soon as a champion is crowned in the championship race, NASCAR fans everywhere begin the countdown to the Daytona 500.  It has become something that fans take for granted.

While this tradition has become something we all expect, many now question its status as the season opener.  Recently, Essentially Sports reported that both Denny Hamlin and Hailie Deegan had questioned the season opener status of Daytona.  This is understandable.  First, the Daytona 500 is considered NASCAR’s biggest race of the year.  One could see it as odd to have the biggest race of the year as the season opener.  Second, it has become known for being somewhat of a “wild card” race.  This is to say that it doesn’t really tell the viewer a lot about the strength of the teams in the field.

In this article, I look at both the strengths and weaknesses of Daytona being the season opener.  Furthermore, I also look at which possible tracks could replace it as the first points race of the season.  Finally, I also look at where NASCAR could put the 500 in the schedule, were NASCAR to switch up its place in the season schedule.  Each of these questions must be considered, when we ask whether or not we need a new season opener.

Keep the Season Opener at Daytona:

In my mind, the biggest argument in favor of keeping the season opener at Daytona is tradition. The Daytona 500 has been the season opener for my entire life.  Furthermore, NASCAR has made so many changes to the schedule that changing the season opener may be considered, by some, to be going too far.

Secondly, having the sport’s biggest event of the year, sets NASCAR apart from other sports.  Think about how much Mike Joy revels in telling us each year that our sport’s “Super Bowl” is the first event rather than the last.  It really does make NASCAR unique.  I cannot think of anything comparable in another sport.  There’s opening day games in baseball, but that isn’t even comparable to what the World Series is to that sport.  To be frank, it is refreshing–in a time in which NASCAR is desperately trying to be like other sports–to see that we still start the season with our biggest race.

Starting the season at what would be considered a “wild card” race, if it were within the playoffs, has its positives.  First, it gives less successful teams and drivers a shot at exposure that they otherwise wouldn’t have.  Ricky Stenhouse won this year’s 500.  Kevin Harvick announced his retirement during the off-season.  Stenhouse has a better chance at getting that ride in 2024 having just won the 500.  Furthermore, “wild card” races are exciting.  Opening the season at Daytona is likely helpful in bringing in more viewers for the upcoming season.

Time for a New Season Opener:

Starting the season at Daytona may be a way to bring in new viewers as well as keep current fans happy without unnecessarily changing it, but it isn’t necessarily the greatest situation for the teams.  There are often accidents which take out a lot of teams.  This isn’t a great way to start the season.  Furthermore, the early season west coast section of the series begins with the next race.  In less than ideal conditions, this can lead to some difficulties.

The 💩the truckers have been thru the last couple weeks is crazy… And scary as hell.. Hoping everyone makes it back out west safe and sound! 🙏🏼🙏🏼 https://t.co/A7DNiNju6a

— Rodney Childers (@RodneyChilders4) March 2, 2023

Beyond these issues, there is also the issue that when the season opener is complete, fans haven’t learned a whole lot.  Daytona producing something of a “wild card” season opener doesn’t really allow for many takeaways.  We have already waited through the off-season and the exhibition race of the Clash.  Starting the season at Daytona really requires us to wait another week to get an idea of which teams are going to have strong seasons.

Finally, NASCAR has shown that it is just about willing to change anything about the sport in order to bring in new fans.  The next gen car is the biggest example of this, but also the fact that we’ve seen Atlanta transformed into a shorter version of Daytona and Talladega.  Auto Club Speedway will be a short track in a couple of years.  There are ovals at which NASCAR will allow racing in wet conditions.  So, why not change the season opener?

Possible Locations for a New Season Opener:

If NASCAR were to change up the season opener, it would make sense to pick a track in the west.  Currently, the Clash is held in LA, then the teams go back to Daytona for the season opener.  The teams then head back west.  This current season, it was back out to Auto Club Speedway.  The track produced good racing, but this was its last year.  Depending on whether or not NASCAR gets the next gen performing decently on the short tracks, once the track is converted to a short track that could be an option.

The idea of having a points race at the LA Coliseum has been mentioned.  Yet, given that the track is both temporary and .25 miles, this doesn’t seem like the best idea.  Las Vegas and possibly, Texas could be considered as well.  Yet, both of these options also depend on getting some of the next gen issues corrected.  Las Vegas didn’t produce the best racing.  Furthermore, the last time they raced at Texas most teams couldn’t go anymore than 35 laps without blowing a tire.

I feel like the best option could be Phoenix.  The championship race is currently held there.  It would be interesting to see the season opener at the same track at which the championship is decided.  It would definitely add something to the excitement of a new season.  Teams that fell short in the championship race would be coming back to the track with something to prove.  It might be the best option other than keeping the season opener at Daytona.  This, of course, all depends on the racing we see this upcoming weekend at Phoenix with the new rules package.

Where to place the Daytona 500:

If NASCAR were to change the season opener, the next biggest question is where to place the 500 in the schedule.  The Daytona 500 can’t just be any week of the season.  It would need to be placed somewhere with some significance.  The second race at Daytona used to be associated with the 4th of July.  Currently, the second race at Daytona is the last race of the regular season.

This opens up two distinct possibilities.  The Daytona 500 could be held as a night race on the 4th of July weekend.  It could also be the final race of the regular season.  These two races at Daytona would be relatively very close together however.  Of course, there is also the possibility of just having one race at the Daytona tri-oval.  This one race would need to be the 500, and in such a case, I believe it would be better held as the last race of the regular season.  Given the popularity of what used to be called “plate” tracks, I doubt NASCAR would go with this option.

There is also the possibility of putting the Daytona 500 in the playoffs.  Honestly, I feel like Darlington is a great track to start the playoffs.  Also, no one wants to see the championship decided at a track like Daytona.  The championship format could end up losing even more credibility than it has already.  At the same time, the Daytona 500 is too big of a race to just be another playoff race.  If the 500 were to be scheduled within the playoffs, perhaps the best place for it would be the final cut off race, where Martinsville currently is scheduled.

Conclusions:

While as a fan, I am often upset by NASCAR’s decisions, I certainly do not envy them.  There is a lot to consider before moving just one big race around within the schedule.  Personally, I would like to see NASCAR make a change in the season opener.  If the new rules package for tracks like Phoenix produces exciting racing, Phoenix might be a great place to start the regular season.  Having said that, I am not going to complain if the Daytona 500 remains the season opener.  Let us know what you think regarding this topic in the comment section below.