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With the potential return of the Brickyard 400, the IndyCar/NASCAR doubleheader weekend is potentially in jeopardy. Just because Indianapolis may not be an option anymore does not mean that NASCAR and IndyCar cannot collaborate on a race weekend once again. What are some potential locations for the next IndyCar/NASCAR doubleheader?
This race track is at the top of the list because of the crowds it brings in for both series. The race track has a great marketing team that helps bring in great crowds for both the IndyCar and NASCAR races at the venue. Why not combine the two and give some fans more racing to watch?
Yes, the racing product may be hit or miss for the Cup Series on a flat race track like that, but the first couple of Gateway races have been fun, and the IndyCar races there are pretty exciting as well. It seems that area loves racing, and they deserve as big of an event as they can get. It may be a hard sell to the track since they would go from two major race weekends to only one, but, it would be awesome for the fans.
Sadly, IndyCar races on superspeedways are becoming fewer and farther between. However, NASCAR at Michigan is probably about as popular as it has been in years with two incredible races in the Next-Gen era. If IndyCar could be convinced to add another superspeedway, Michigan would be a great race.
Imagine the revitalization of another 500-mile IndyCar race at Michigan combined with a NASCAR race on the same weekend. The Michigan 500 used to be one of the most prestigious races in IndyCar, and, without an IndyCar race currently there, it would be a far easier sell than at a track like Gateway where you go from two weekends to one. For those who appreciate auto racing history, this would be a can’t-miss event.
Road America has one of the most loyal followings of any race track. Whether it’s NASCAR, IndyCar, sports cars, or whatever machine with an engine rolls through, fans show up. When NASCAR decided to get rid of Road America on the 2023 schedule, it was met with sadness from NASCAR fans.
Bringing back a great event to combine with another great event would be awesome for fans attending the race track. There are few race fans more loyal than those at Road America, and a doubleheader weekend would no doubt be met with excitement from these fans.
Barber has become a solid venue for IndyCar racing over the years, and, being in the state of Alabama, there are plenty of NASCAR fans there. The track is situated about 45 minutes away from Talladega Superspeedway, so fans in that area could come out to see another NASCAR race in their area. Add that to the IndyCar weekend, and it becomes a can’t-miss event.
The problem with this venue definitely lies in whether or not NASCAR would be over-saturating the market. That is part of the problem with going to a track like Rockingham, and Barber is close to Talladega with Atlanta not too much further away. If they could work past that, this could be a dark horse venue for a doubleheader weekend.
NASCAR has pretty well established itself at the Circuit of the Americas, but IndyCar has not. IndyCar ran one race at COTA in 2019 before leaving the venue. Now that, NASCAR is there, would a doubleheader weekend allow both racing series to thrive at the venue?
IndyCar’s current status at Texas Motor Speedway is an interesting one as Eddie Gossage previously was adamantly against any racing series at his venue racing at COTA. Now that NASCAR has done it and succeeded, would IndyCar be willing to try again? It could be quite the weekend at the race track.
It would be a shame to see the IndyCar/NASCAR doubleheader be dropped from both schedules. Maybe these venues could save the weekend for customers at these race tracks.
