This weekend’s race at Watkins Glen International will be the first to test controversial changes at the track. This year, the Glen made dramatic changes to the iconic Bus Stop turn, sparking an online debate amongst fans and drivers on whether this was the right move.
The Watkins Glen Bus Stop is a designed braking zone on the backstretch of the track. The backstretch leading into the Bus Stop is an all-out section of speed, with drivers utilizing it like a back stretch on an oval track.
Cars entering the Bus Stop is an iconic camera shot in NASCAR. Drivers go all out, bouncing and jittering off the curbs and the track surface. While that doesn’t sound ideal, it was necessary. If you, as a driver, weren’t willing to go all out through the turns, someone else would.
However, changes to the curbing upon entry will cause the area to become a heavier breaking zone. The interior elevated curbing is not too drastic of a change. Regardless, further away from the track surface, toward the outside barrier, there are larger curbs.
These far curbs will more than likely cause drivers to slow down, as clipping one could result in damage.
Drivers and fans were disappointed about this change. However, Hendrick Motorsports driver Kyle Larson clarified that the forces a driver experienced in the Bus Stop in prior years were too much to justify the speeds.
So, what could be different at the Glen this weekend?
While we won’t get to see cars flying through this iconic section like they used to, slowing down may not be the worst thing.
Since the introduction of the Next Gen car, some fans have been worried about the product on road courses. The once-shoot-out, beating, and banging of the COT and Gen 6 era has seemingly faded.
Whether it’s the Next Gen car or the car combined with increased driver skill, the product could use a boost. That’s where the new Bus Stop comes into play.
Creating a heavier breaking zone allows the opportunity for more passing. However, passing now comes with a risk. Do you try to outbreak your opponent and risk bouncing off the new curb?
With Cup Series in their Playoff and the Xfinity Series starting theirs, it will be interesting to see what drivers, if any, take this risk heading into the Bus Stop in hopes of Playoff glory.
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Two NASCAR Cup Series crew members for Ross Chastain’s No. 1 team were suspended following the race at Circuit of the Americas
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On February 17, Ubisoft released a trailer that confirmed that NASCAR would be included in The Crew Motorfest’s next season update. Details were limited at the time, but in a press release issued today, Ubisoft revealed the full details of the update ahead of its March 4 launch.
Ubisoft says drafting will affect car speed and help save fuel, implying that drafting will be a huge factor in the game, at least with these cars. You can check out this and much more on Ubisoft’s official post linked below
Earlier this Tuesday, the official The Crew Motorfest account clarified confusion around the NASCAR bundles. The Crew Credit (CC) bundles only include cosmetic team liveries, not additional cars. The 3 base Next Gen cars (Ford Mustang Dark Horse, Toyota Camry XSE, and Chevrolet ZL1) are part of the free Season 9 update and can be purchased separately.
Mitch Rasmussen, NASCAR’s Senior Director of Interactive, said in the press release:
We’re excited to bring our iconic brand to life in The Crew Motorfest. This collaboration represents another important step in our strategy to bring NASCAR into the digital spaces and places where next generation fans spend their time, giving players new ways to interact with the culture and communities they love.
The content arrives as part of Year 3 Season 9 and is officially licensed by NASCAR. You can watch the first trailer and learn more in the article linked below
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Four road courses on the schedule, and somehow that’s enough to spark one of the biggest debates in the garage. After recent comments from Brad Keselowski questioning the business value of road racing, the conversation has picked up serious steam. Is NASCAR leaning too far into it, or is the current balance about right?
There are valid points on both sides, from sponsorship realities to fan traditions to competitive diversity. Some tracks have gained traction. Others have struggled. The question isn’t just whether road courses belong, but how many make sense within a 36-race season. It’s less about extremes and more about direction. And with future schedule changes always looming, this debate probably isn’t settled anytime soon.
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