Numerous tracks have hosted the NASCAR finale within the sport’s previous, however solely 4 at present on the schedule have ever held the dignity earlier than. However none held it longer than Homestead, internet hosting the championship-decider yearly between 2002 and 2019.
The season finale has turn into more and more essential up to now decade as a result of introduction of the knockout-style playoff format. 4 drivers, equal on factors, enter the finale annually in a one-race battle to win all of it. The identical group has gained the title at Phoenix all three years of the Subsequent Gen period and a number of other have been vital of the monitor’s potential to placed on a present. The monitor did make a number of spectacular upgrades, town did loads of promotion, however the racing product has been missing.
This week, NASCAR’s Ben Kennedy talked about what it takes to be thought-about for the finale as the game embarks on this plan to rotate the thirty sixth points-paying race of the 12 months. Among the keys: Should be situated in a engaging market, a good local weather for November, a robust on-track product, and a scarcity of a wildcard issue.
Based mostly on Kennedy’s feedback, superspeedways and street programs are out of the query for the rapid future. In order that leaves us with intermediates and brief tracks, however the brief monitor bundle has been severely missing lately. Excluding Homestead and Phoenix, let’s check out the opposite tracks which are doable frontrunners to hitch this rotating schedule and in the future turn into the season finale.
1. Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Las Vegas is a large market with plenty of eyeballs, which is a significant plus, however LVMS can also be an exhilarating intermediate monitor with nice racing. The present technology of automobile races greatest at these 1.5-mile ovals, and Vegas has proven curiosity in internet hosting the finale earlier than. There’s additionally minimal hazard of a rainout, so it is exhausting to examine a cause to not give it a strive.
2. Charlotte Motor Speedway
This metropolis is the heartbeat of the NASCAR world and already hosts a crown jewel with the Coke 600 in Might. And what higher place to crown the champion of NASCAR than in NASCAR’s personal yard? Whereas the autumn race at present takes place on the Roval, a return to the oval format must occur if CMS turn into the title-decider. And sure, as one other intermediate oval, there needs to be no concern over the on-track product.
3. Kansas Speedway
Not essentially the most flashy of locations, however there isn’t any denying that Kansas is the motion monitor of recent NASCAR. Almost each race there lately has been crammed to the brim with drama. It is just like Vegas in some methods, but in addition distinctive because the artwork of working proper towards the wall is vital to be quick. It additionally holds the file for the closest end in the complete historical past of the Cup Sequence, set when Kyle Larson beat Chris Buescher by 0.001s in 2024.
4. Nashville Superspeedway
Please ignore the official monitor identify as it is not a real superspeedway, however a singular intermediate monitor. This can be a market that additionally loves its NASCAR. The summer time race at Nashville has solely graced the sequence’ schedule for a couple of years, but it surely has shortly turn into one of many extra in style ones and has produced a number of nice moments. And there is that iconic guitar gifted to the race winner. Nashville can also be completely different from many of the different bigger ovals on the schedule as a concrete monitor measuring 1.330 miles in size. And it is Nashville, which has hosted the end-of-year banquet earlier than, so why not the finale?
5. Darlington Raceway
Like Charlotte, Darlington already hosts a crown jewel — the oldest in NASCAR with the Southern 500 courting again to 1950. Sure, Darlington is dripping with historical past, but it surely’s additionally one of the troublesome tracks on the complete schedule. The monitor by no means fails to placed on a present and it’s unforgiving when drivers make errors. As a real problem for the very best drivers within the sport, it is the right place for placing the Championship 4 to the final word check. However there’s a disadvantage: You would need to transfer the Southern 500 from its conventional Labor Day weekend slot, and it is not precisely a thriving market both.
6. Texas Motor Speedway
Folks undoubtedly have causes to be hesitant about Texas, however we can also’t ignore the advantages both. It is situated within the coronary heart of Texas close to a metropolis of 1 million individuals and regardless of the botched reconfiguration, the circuit has placed on some dramatic reveals lately — principally on account of how difficult the monitor is to navigate. It is also in an incredible location when taking a look at November. The monitor is growing older effectively and whereas passing is troublesome, however the latest Cup races there do not actually classify as ‘boring.’ Definitely not a favourite, however one which NASCAR certainly has to contemplate (after the 5 forward of it in fact).
7. Richmond Raceway
We’ve got kind of run out of practical intermediate tracks at this level. And as a lot as I might like to throw Michigan on this record, the climate holds me again. If solely there was one other monitor just like Michigan that has nice November climate…maybe one situated in California. Sadly, that monitor is now misplaced to us, and when taking a look at brief tracks, this one is main the way in which. It is simpler to cross than at a Martinsville and if there have been a number of tire compounds like we noticed in 2024, then we may actually be in for a present. It is location is nice and the climate needs to be effective in Virginia.
8. Bristol Motor Speedway
Bristol appears like a title-decider and it appears like a title-decider. It has the whole lot you could possibly need when speaking about environment, however the monitor has seen some uninteresting races with this automobile. If NASCAR can repair the brief monitor bundle, Bristol would vault ahead on this record, however presently, eighth is the very best we are able to do for the ‘Final Nice Colosseum.’
9. Martinsville Speedway
Already near the tip of the 12 months, Martinsville was as soon as a spot — like Bristol — the place motion was assured. It too has suffered with the present brief monitor bundle and sure should not be thought-about until a repair is discovered. Passing is sort of not possible and excluding Ross Chastain heroic wall-ride, it has been missing in drama. Bonuses are its deep roots within the sport and weather-friendly location.
10. A monitor but to hitch the schedule
We’ll name this the thriller spot. NASCAR is all the time tweaking their schedule and who is aware of what tracks on the market may find yourself as a part of the 36-race season sooner or later. Gateway and Iowa just lately joined and there are many different circuits on the market.
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