It was Bill France’s foresight that reshaped the sport, cutting the number of events to create a more balanced, sustainable schedule. One that, between 1982 and 1993, rarely exceeded 30 races. Decades ago, before NASCAR’s partnership with RJ Reynolds Tobacco Co., the calendar featured an astonishing 62 races. But since 2001, the number has crept back to 36, reigniting an old debate. Stretching from early February to November, the NASCAR season has long been a test of endurance.
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Across 36 grueling races held almost every week, the schedule pushes even the most seasoned drivers to their limits. Yet, the conversation around trimming it down is nothing new. The NASCAR season is more of a marathon than a sprint. Many drivers have voiced concerns, and now one prominent NASCAR insider has stepped forward to echo that sentiment, calling for a bold rethink of the sport’s marathon-like calendar.
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Barstool employee calls for shorter schedule to boost popularity
Taking to X, Rubbing is Racing co-host Moonhead, itched the scab off the skin. He said, ” I’m of the belief that in today’s world a shorter NASCAR season could be the ticket back into mainstream success.” It is definitely no secret that NASCAR seems to be struggling on that front. Right from TV viewership taking a hit to fans complaining about the coverage, playoff format, and much more, the prolonged schedules also add to it.
There are 52 Sundays in a year, and NASCAR races on 36 of them. That’s approximately 70% of the whole year! Leaving only 30% post-season for drivers to wind down. Earlier this year, 23XI Racing’s Bubba Wallace opened up about the growing concern about the relentless length of the season.
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Wallace pointed out how little downtime drivers actually get, saying, “The thing is you only get the month of December off. From the social side of things that ramps up week one for me, it was week one of January, and then leading up into the Clash now, it’s you get one month off.” The 23XI Racing driver further admitted, “So, I mean, yeah, I think we all are agreeing that it’s too long, but I don’t know if we’re ready to have the conversation of what it’s going to take to condense it the right way.”
From sponsor commitments and media appearances to simulation work and travel, Wallace revealed the drivers rarely experience a true off-season, just a fleeting window before the grind begins anew. But Wallace isn’t alone on this one. Alex Bowman, too, has voiced support for a shorter schedule, though his concern centers on the road crews rather than the drivers themselves.
As he explained, “Their hours are insane. There are nights at HMS they’re there till 2 or 3 o’clock in the morning. The cars have to be ready, there’s no way around it and the hours that people work to try to maximize everything and make things the best they can be, it’s pretty crazy.” Yet not everyone agrees.
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However, three-time Cup Series champion Joey Logano remains skeptical about trimming the calendar, reasoning that while a shorter season might improve work-life balance, it could also hurt the sport financially. The Team Penske driver said, “I would like that but there’s so many other things. I think it kills the momentum of the sport for one I think that’s not really good. I think if you shorten the season well everyone you got to justify everybody’s salary somehow. So, that’s got to go down. Some of us are going to make less money. So there’s less sponsors there’s less like all that like comes down everything shrinks a little bit.”
Still, evidence of potential benefits does exist, like last year’s two-week Olympic break, which helped recharge Kyle Busch, allowing him to rebound with two runner-up finishes and another top 5 to close the regular season. After all, NASCAR has never been afraid to reshape the calendar, from just eight races in 1949 to a staggering 62 in 1964; perhaps the time has come for another evolution.
NASCAR isn’t afraid to make changes, though. While fans are rallying behind the old Chase format, the sanctioning body has quietly increased the horsepower limit to 750 from 670 hp for Next-Gen cars. Sure, Kyle Larson might not feel the jump, but the sport is taking steps to keep fans engaged and watching. But could this new debate push the hierarchy to get back to the drawing board? Time will tell. But for now, the fans are definitely interested in the idea of a shorter schedule.
Fans rally behind a shorter NASCAR season
Fans seem to have found common ground on one of NASCAR’s most debated issues, the length of the season. One fan bluntly said, “Yes! Over saturation has hurt the sport recently. Supply/Demand is out of balance. Look at some of the tracks that are now down to 1 date…It has helped in more than one instance.” Another one echoed a similar sentiment but with more nuance, saying, “I somewhat agree. I think the schedule is getting better unless you’re Daytona, Bristol, or Talladega. Any place should have one date only.” Currently, a few tracks host a spring and a fall race in the year, as NASCAR revisits the same track twice. This comment reflects reducing those trips to one time.
It also reflects a growing frustration with what fans see as a bloated calendar that leaves little room for anticipation or scarcity, something that once kept the sport’s biggest event special. Others took the idea even further, calling for a major shake-up to restore balance. “Literally every person agrees with this position. 30 races per season, maximum,” one fan argued, while another went full traditionalist: “26 races zero playoffs, 1000 horsepower 10 inch wheels. Numbers back on the door 5 lug rims.”
Even those open to compromise acknowledged the business realities behind NASCAR’s long schedule. As one fan put it, “I’d like to see a shorter season too, I’d be go with 20 to 25 races. But NASCAR just sold 40 events to the networks. If they drop even 10 races, they will be writing a heck of a check.” Between nostalgia and network deals, the debate lays bare a bigger question- what’s best for the sport? Find demand or finance supply?