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The NASCAR Cup Series schedule has gone through major changes in recent years, and that includes some tracks losing their spot on the schedule for one reason or another. With plenty of new tracks that both fans and NASCAR are looking at for future races, that means that some tracks may have to give in, whether there is a new market NASCAR wants to race at or a better track within the market. Which tracks are the ones to watch for in this regard?
The Charlotte Roval has fallen out of favor with the fanbase over the years for two reasons. First off, the Next-Gen car races really well on the Charlotte Oval, but it is not as good on road courses. On top of that, there are plenty of natural road courses on the Cup Series schedule, so, does the Roval still serve the purpose it once did?
Marcus Smith seems to like the versatility that the Roval provides to Charlotte Motor Speedway, so, that may keep it on for a while. However, fan sentiment may not be on Smith’s side in this instance.
The LA Coliseum enters its third and final year of a contract to host the season-opening Clash in 2024. The 2023 race still had a solid crowd, but the TV audience dropped sharply. On top of that, the race was a wreck fest, marred by 15 caution flags.
As long as Auto Club Speedway remains out of commission, the LA Coliseum has a good reason to stay on the calendar. However, the event did open up a lot of interesting ideas for where NASCAR could host this event, so, could NASCAR look to get creative in the near future?
The issue with Nashville Superspeedway is not the track or the market, but, there may be a better option within the market that could open up soon. The Nashville Fairgrounds is a classic venue that is in Nashville, unlike the Superspeedway, which is in nearby Lebanon. Should the Fairgrounds open, would NASCAR like two races at two different race tracks in the same market?
There is an argument to have both tracks on the schedule since other tracks have two dates, but, that would require another track to give up a date. It’s also possible that NASCAR could rotate between the two venues on a yearly basis. Either way, NASCAR may need to one day choose between Nashville Superspeedway and the Fairgrounds.
This may be a long shot, but, SMI has potentially two race tracks that could be primed for a points date in the near future. If that happens, something has to give, and Dover has a spring date that a track like the Fairgrounds or North Wilkesboro could slot nicely into. Dover is a track that recently lost its’ second date as well.
It’s in a market that is not very big, and it is not a major NASCAR TV market. On top of that, the track has torn down a large portion of their grandstands in recent years due to dwindling crowds. It’s not super likely this track loses its’ spot, but, if things change, it may be the first SMI track to go.
Could these tracks be off the schedule in the near future? Time will tell, but, these are some tracks to watch.
