The 2024 NASCAR schedule came into clearer focus on Thursday with an announcement from none other than the governor of North Carolina, Roy Cooper. Cooper announced on Twitter that the All-Star Race would return to the track in 2024.
The All-Star Race was an absolute win as an event in 2023, but there are absolutely ways to make the event even bigger and better in 2024. However, the biggest thing to consider is how to improve the racing product for the All-Star Race. So, how can the All-Star Race be even better?
One of the coolest parts of All-Star Race week was the sheer amount of racing that happened in the days leading up to the race. Not only was there Cup Series racing and the Craftsman Truck Series, but there were also CARS Tour late models and the ASA Series. Why not bring in more racing that week?
Maybe the Mazda MX-5 Cup could add an extra race during the week given their recent test at Martinsville Speedway. Why not add more races to make the event that much better? Maybe even
The Cup Series race left a lot to be desired from a racing product standpoint. Now, NASCAR could make some changes to the short track package in the offseason which could help the racing product. However, they can help to improve the event by also shaking up the format.
The easiest way to do it would be to add a couple of mandatory caution flags in the race so that there is some strategy for when it is best to take tires and fuel and keep the field bunched up. North Wilkesboro will be repaved heading into next year, so, tires will not be quite as critical as it was this season. However, a repaved race track could produce tire wear if it is repaved with enough character.
If Bristol taught us one thing about the short track package, it’s that the Next-Gen car works much better on short tracks with multiple grooves. Multiple grooves mean more side-by-side racing and less aero push. It may not solve all of the problems with the car, but it does play to the strengths of the car.
SMI could do this by adding some variable banking into the track to allow for multiple grooves from day one. They could try to add more banking to make the track faster. Which, the Next-Gen car tends to race better on faster race tracks anyway, so, maybe that could work. Now, North Wilkesboro does have to be careful with whatever NASCAR tries to do to improve the
North Wilkesboro gets the All-Star Race again next year, and it will be interesting to see what they try in 2024. Will any of these suggestions actually happen?
